Latest news with #bars
Telegraph
2 days ago
- Business
- 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 'For too long they've been stifled by clunky, outdated rules.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.
CTV News
6 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Liquor service hours extending in Vancouver
Vancouver Watch Vancouver city council is expanding operating hours for bars, clubs and some restaurants, allowing some to stay open until 4 a.m.
CBC
7 days ago
- Business
- CBC
Vancouver city council extends downtown liquor serving hours
Most downtown Vancouver bars will be able to apply to serve alcohol as late as 4 a.m., and bars outside the core will also be able to extend their hours after Vancouver city council voted unanimously to change its liquor serving laws on Tuesday. CBC's Johna Baylon reports.
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Vancouver city council extends downtown liquor serving hours
Most downtown Vancouver bars will be able to apply to serve alcohol as late as 4 a.m., and bars outside the core will also be able to extend their hours after Vancouver city council voted unanimously to change its liquor serving laws on Tuesday. Several business owners spoke at council in support of the motion, applauding the decision. "This is changing the perception of 'liquor primary licence' to 'vibrant gathering places' for communities to meet in real life," said Cameron Bogue, owner-operator of Mount Pleasant Vintage and Provisions. "I've opened one of the most successful restaurants in the city, with staggering year-over-year growth, because we're providing [what] the community wants — a place to socialize, rub elbows, simply stand with a drink, and dance where they can meet people in an engaging, high-volume cocktail bar." Where and when can you drink? Liquor-primary establishments like bars and pubs inside downtown Vancouver will be able to make an application to the province to serve alcohol until 4 a.m. Outside of downtown, businesses will be able to apply to serve drinks until 3 a.m. on weekends and 2 a.m. on weeknights. Restaurants will also be able to apply to sell alcohol until 2 a.m. The change, expected to be in place later this year, aligns with B.C.'s present rules on serving liquor from 9 to 4 a.m. Local governments are able to adjust their hours according to community needs. While others in the industry reflected Bogue's support, a Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) officer advised council to reconsider expanding drinking hours. Extending hours risky, says medical health officer "Increasing alcohol consumption into the late night or early morning hours is particularly risky, and the risk increases as you get later in the evening," said Mark Lysyshyn, medical health officer, VCH. "It's not so much that more people drink into the evening — it's just the type of drinking that's done in that timeframe is more risky, it's more likely to result in problems," he said referring to a risk of injuries, violence and the potential for harm to others compared to allowing earlier opening hours. Coun. Pete Fry said he would "reluctantly" support the motion and shared concerns about possible increased policing costs that may be incurred if serving hours extend to 4 a.m. "I say 'reluctantly' because I would have liked to see more staff input on what this means for resources, what this means for policing, and what this could potentially mean for opportunities, especially with FIFA coming," said Fry. "I imagine the majority of businesses won't support it unless there's a viable output for a 4 a.m. closure," he added. City staff don't expect every bar and pub in the city to extend their hours right away. "Staff anticipate it's likely going to be a slow uptake," said Sarah Hicks, chief licence inspector, with the City of Vancouver. "It really needs to make economic sense for businesses. In order to look at expanding those hours. There's increased costs for staffing. They have to consider being able to provide that ... [in] the application with the province in order to go through with that, so it's likely going to be a slower uptake with any of these changes." A staff report to council said that as of April 2025, Vancouver has licensed 209 liquor establishments, such as bars or nightclubs and 1,225 restaurants with liquor service.
CBC
22-07-2025
- Health
- CBC
Vancouver city council extends downtown liquor serving times
Most downtown Vancouver bars will be able to apply to serve alcohol as late as 4 a.m., and bars outside the core will also be able to extend their hours after Vancouver city council voted unanimously to change its liquor serving laws on Tuesday. Several business owners spoke at council in support of the motion, applauding the decision. "This is changing the perception of 'liquor primary licence' to 'vibrant gathering places' for communities to meet in real life," said Cameron Bogue, owner-operator of Mount Pleasant Vintage and Provisions. "I've opened one of the most successful restaurants in the city, with staggering year-over-year growth, because we're providing [what] the community wants — a place to socialize, rub elbows, simply stand with a drink, and dance where they can meet people in an engaging, high-volume cocktail bar." Where and when can you drink? Liquor-primary establishments like bars and pubs inside downtown Vancouver will be able to make an application to the province to serve alcohol until 4 a.m. Outside of downtown, businesses will be able to apply to serve drinks until 3 a.m. on weekends and 2 a.m. on weeknights. Restaurants will also be able to apply to sell alcohol until 2 a.m. The change, expected to be in place later this year, aligns with B.C.'s present rules on serving liquor from 9 to 4 a.m. Local governments are able to adjust their hours according to community needs. While others in the industry reflected Bogue's support, a Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) officer advised council to reconsider expanding drinking hours. Extending hours risky, says medical health officer "Increasing alcohol consumption into the late night or early morning hours is particularly risky, and the risk increases as you get later in the evening," said Mark Lysyshyn, medical health officer, VCH. "It's not so much that more people drink into the evening — it's just the type of drinking that's done in that timeframe is more risky, it's more likely to result in problems," he said referring to a risk of injuries, violence and the potential for harm to others compared to allowing earlier opening hours. Coun. Pete Fry said he would "reluctantly" support the motion and shared concerns about possible increased policing costs that may be incurred if serving hours extend to 4 a.m. "I say 'reluctantly' because I would have liked to see more staff input on what this means for resources, what this means for policing, and what this could potentially mean for opportunities, especially with FIFA coming," said Fry. "I imagine the majority of businesses won't support it unless there's a viable output for a 4 a.m. closure," he added. City staff don't expect every bar and pub in the city to extend their hours right away. "Staff anticipate it's likely going to be a slow uptake," said Sarah Hicks, chief licence inspector, with the City of Vancouver. "It really needs to make economic sense for businesses. In order to look at expanding those hours. There's increased costs for staffing. They have to consider being able to provide that ... [in] the application with the province in order to go through with that, so it's likely going to be a slower uptake with any of these changes."
