Well, for what it's worth (which isn't a great deal) the figure for annual inspection charges Howells gave was surely £50 to £100. With around 30 pubs in our town that wouldn't amount to much income for the council.

I'm sure they'll find ways to jack it up, but they'll have to jack it up a hell of a lot to get any worthwhile income from it - the way that some London Councils have with the PEL.

The main problem, I think, isn't likely to be the licensing charge but the cost of the "improvements". Though I suspect we're going to find that these are going to be imposed by a lot of councils irrespective of whether the pubs are going for the entertainment option or not, since it won't be magistrates any more but council officers. Which is likely mean that we are going to lose even more pubs to be turned into private dwellings.