Only 3% of pubs and clubs have got their new licences under the 2003 Licencing Act and time is running short. The closing date is early August this year.

The reason is said to be Government Red Tape. Certainly the application form is complicated and the so called guidance is not helpful but please urge your local licensee to go along with this madness. If applications are not granted and sorted in time the rights and conditions of existing licences are lost and its start again.   Don't forget the live music box on the form!

LVAs can help and some have hired tame solicitors to help.

I am not advocating this nonesense but it is now an Act, despite the best efforts of the Musicians Performance Group ably led by Richard Bridge. This big brother tack of the Act is the world we have to live with(and put up with).