
Wakefield pavement cafes allowed outdoor seating until midnight
The committee voted unanimously in favour of the changes at a meeting on Wednesday, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.The move was supported by the council's city centre management group Wakefield Business Improvement District (BID) and Daniel Wilton, the council's cabinet member for communities.Councillors were told a consultation, to involve the public, police and environmental health officers, would be carried out over the winter.According to figures in February this year, there were 51 active pavement cafe licences recorded in the district, including 37 in Wakefield, seven in Pontefract and two in Castleford.Thomas Wales, chief executive of Wakefield BID, said: "This is a really positive step forward for Wakefield."Extending outdoor trading hours gives our hospitality businesses the flexibility they've been asking for and helps create a more sociable, welcoming city centre in the evenings."It's a small change with a big impact - supporting jobs, boosting business, and helping Wakefield feel alive after dark."
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Telegraph
22 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Reeves: I'll protect ‘pavement pints'
Rachel Reeves has promised to slash red tape on pubs and bars to 'protect pavement pints'. The Chancellor said that a new licensing framework would encourage al fresco dining and street parties 'not just for the summer, but all year round '. Ministers have also pledged to make it easier to open new bars, music venues and cafes as part of plans to rejuvenate the high street. The new licensing arrangements will fast-track permissions for outdoor dining in dedicated areas, ministers said. More disused shops are expected to be converted into pubs, bars, cafes and other venues under the plans for dedicated 'hospitality zones'. The zones could have permissions for outside dining, street parties and extended opening hours pushed through quickly. Developers in the zones will be made responsible for soundproofing buildings they construct near pubs or clubs, to protect existing venues from noise complaints. The Chancellor said: 'Whether it's cheering on the Lionesses or catching up with friends, our pubs and bars are at the heart of British life. 'For too long they've been stifled by clunky, outdated rules. We're binning them – to protect pavement pints, al fresco dining and street parties – not just for the summer but all year round.' Jonathan Reynolds, the Business Secretary, said: ' Red tape has stood in the way of people's business ideas for too long. 'This Government has a plan to replace shuttered shops with vibrant places to socialise, turning them into thriving cafes or busy bars which support local jobs and give people a place to get together and catch up over a beer or a coffee.' But Andrew Griffith, the shadow business secretary, said: 'Though any cutting of red tape for hospitality businesses is welcome, this is pure hypocrisy and inconsistency from Labour. 'This socialist government is crippling the hospitality industry by doubling business rates, imposing a jobs tax and a full-on strangulation of employment red tape. 'As a result, shorter opening hours, shedding jobs and expensive pints are becoming the norm. 'Only the Conservatives are on the side of the makers and will support businesses across Britain to create jobs and wealth.' The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) warned in July that the equivalent of more than one pub a day will close across the UK in 2025 after spiralling bills and taxes. The BBPA estimated that 378 pubs will close in 2025, amounting to more than 5,000 job losses. In 2024, 350 pubs closed. Brewdog, the brewery and pub chain, announced this week that it would close 10 of its venues. James Taylor, Brewdog's chief executive, told staff that the cuts were partly a response to 'rising costs, increased regulation and economic pressures'. Trade body UK Hospitality 'strongly welcomed' the proposals. However, they warned: 'They can't on their own offset the immediate and mounting cost pressures facing hospitality businesses which threaten to tax out of existence the businesses and jobs that today's announcement seeks to support.' The Government has said the plans will be subject to a call for evidence.


Sky News
a day ago
- Sky News
Govt vows to protect 'pavement pints' and make it easier for pubs to extend their opening hours
"A wave of new cafes, bars, music venues and outdoor dining" could come to the UK - as the government unveils plans to overhaul planning rules and "breathe new life into the high street". Under the proposals, ministers also want to reform licensing rules to make it easier for disused shops to be converted into hospitality venues. In a statement, Chancellor Rachel Reeves said she planned to scrap "clunky, outdated rules... to protect pavement pints, al fresco dining and street parties". The reforms also aim to prevent existing pubs, clubs, and music venues from suffering noise complaints when new properties hit the market. Developers who decide to build near those sites will be required to soundproof their buildings. As part of dedicated "hospitality zones", permission for al fresco dining, street parties and extended opening hours will be fast-tracked. The government says the reforms aim to modernise outdated planning and licensing rules as part of its Plan for Change, to help small businesses and improve local communities. The rough plans will be subject to a "call for evidence" which could further shape policy. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said the proposals will "put the buzz back into our town centres". "Red tape has stood in the way of people's business ideas for too long. Today we're slashing those barriers to giving small business owners the freedom to flourish," he said. The hospitality industry has broadly welcomed the changes but argued tax reform was also essential. Kate Nicholls, chairwoman of UKHospitality, described the proposals as "positive and encouraging". However, she added: "They can't on their own offset the immediate and mounting cost pressures facing hospitality businesses which threaten to tax out of existence the businesses and jobs that today's announcement seeks to support." While supporting the reforms, Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA), had a similar message. "These changes must go hand in hand with meaningful business rates reform, mitigating staggering employment costs, and a cut in beer duty so that pubs can thrive at the heart of the community," she said. In July, BBPA estimated that 378 pubs will shut this year across England, Wales and Scotland, compared with 350 closures in 2024, which it said would amount to more than 5,600 direct job losses. 2:03 Bar chain Brewdog announced this week that it would close 10 sites, partly blaming "rising costs, increased regulation, and economic pressures". Andrew Griffith MP, shadow business secretary, said: "Though any cutting of red tape for hospitality businesses is welcome, this is pure hypocrisy and inconsistency from Labour." He said the government was "crippling the hospitality industry by doubling business rates, imposing a jobs tax and a full-on strangulation of employment red tape".


The Independent
a day ago
- The Independent
Ministers seek to overhaul rules to make it easier to open pubs and music venues
Ministers have pledged to make it easier to open new bars, music venues and cafes as part of plans to rejuvenate the high street. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has said she wants to 'protect pavement pints' as a new licensing framework will also fast-track permissions for al fresco dining in dedicated areas as the Government looks to modernise planning rules. The Government wants to make it easier to convert disused shops into venues, and dedicated 'hospitality zones' will be brought forward that could see permissions for outside dining, street parties and extended opening hours pushed through quickly. Developers will also be made responsible for soundproofing buildings they construct near pubs or clubs, to protect existing venues from noise complaints. The Government has said the plans will be subject to a call for evidence. The Business Secretary has said that 'red tape has stood in the way of people's business ideas for too long'. Jonathan Reynolds said: 'This Government has a plan to replace shuttered up shops with vibrant places to socialise, turning them into thriving cafes or busy bars, which support local jobs and give people a place to get together and catch up over a beer or a coffee. 'Red tape has stood in the way of people's business ideas for too long. Today we're slashing those barriers to giving small business owners the freedom to flourish.' Ms Reeves said that 'pubs and bars are at the heart of British life'. 'For too long, they've been stifled by clunky, outdated rules. We're binning them, to protect pavement pints, al fresco dining and street parties – not just for the summer, but all year round,' she added. An industry body warned earlier in July that the equivalent of more than one pub per day will close across Great Britain this year, pointing to high bills and taxes. The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) estimated that 378 pubs will close this year across England, Wales and Scotland, which it said would amount to more than 5,600 direct job losses. The projected 2025 figures compare with 350 closures in 2024. Bar chain Brewdog announced this week that it would close 10 of its venues, as chief executive James Taylor told staff it is partly in response to 'rising costs, increased regulation, and economic pressures'. Representatives of the hospitality industry welcomed the changes but said they should go hand in hand with a cut to business rates as cost pressures threaten to 'tax out of existence' some businesses. Kate Nicholls, chairwoman of UKHospitality, said: 'We strongly welcome these proposals to cut red tape and make it easier to open and operate hospitality venues, create jobs and grow the economy. 'But positive and encouraging as these measures certainly are, they can't on their own offset the immediate and mounting cost pressures facing hospitality businesses which threaten to tax out of existence the businesses and jobs that today's announcement seeks to support.' Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, said: 'After bringing together key voices in the pubs and the wider hospitality sector, it's great news that many of the industry's recommendations on how best to cut red-tape and support growth will be acted on. 'These changes must go hand in hand with meaningful business rates reform, mitigating staggering employment costs, and a cut in beer duty so that pubs can thrive at the heart of the community.' Andrew Griffith MP, shadow business secretary, said: 'Though any cutting of red tape for hospitality businesses is welcome, this is pure hypocrisy and inconsistency from Labour.' He said the Government was 'crippling the hospitality industry by doubling business rates, imposing a jobs tax and a full-on strangulation of employment red tape'. 'As the result, shorter opening hours, shedding jobs and expensive pints are becoming the norm.'