The City of Glasgow Licensing Board published their new statement of licensing policy at the beginning of November 2023. The new statement has introduced some significant changes to licensing policy in Glasgow, one of the most notable changes being the introduction of a new 1am pilot scheme for pubs and bars within the city centre.
This new 12-month pilot scheme will enable certain on sales premises in the city centre to remain open until 1am instead of the current general terminal licensed hour of 12 midnight. This new pilot scheme follows a trial of 4am licences for nightclubs within the city centre, which following its success, has now recently been made permanent. It is hoped that this similar trial aimed towards bars and pubs may give the late-night economy in Glasgow a further boost after a challenging few years following the COVID-19 pandemic, while also allowing time to fully assess the impact of the change on matters such as public health, anti-social behaviour and alcohol-related crime and disorder.
Susan Aitken, leader of Glasgow City Council, welcomed the policy change, noting that “The impact of the pandemic has been existential for many in the sector and combined with the impact of the cost of living crisis and rampant inflation and the very real consequences of Brexit, and it’s safe to say that hospitality probably hasn’t faced a set of pressures like this in generations... Extending pub hours to 1am can, I hope, give many businesses a shot in the arm and encourage more people to come into the city centre in the knowledge they can in turn extend their evening out”.
If the trial of 1am licences in Glasgow is successful, then this change could also potentially be made permanent. If this change is made permanent in the future, then this would bring Glasgow in line with Edinburgh in terms of general terminal licensed hours for on sales premises within the city centre.
Those premises within Glasgow city centre that wish to take advantage of this new pilot scheme are obliged to apply to join the pilot by submitting a Major Variation application to the Licensing Board before the deadline date of 31st January 2024. Each application received by this date will be considered on its own individual merits at meetings of the City of Glasgow Licensing Board.
The policy statement outlines a list of specific criteria which those premises applying for the pilot scheme will need to consider and satisfy. Premises are also being strongly urged to recognise the importance of ensuring that their staff who work late have appropriate travel arrangements to ensure they arrive home safely.
The criteria which the City of Glasgow Licensing Board will take into account when considering applications are as follows:
- Premises with less than 75% of the floor area given to the provision of full restaurant facilities;
- Premises with a terminal licensed hour of 12 midnight;
- Membership and accreditation of industry recognised award schemes such as Best Bar None;
- History of established complaints regarding the operation of the premises;
- Evidence of a commitment to ongoing staff training and social responsibility, including transport arrangements for staff home;
- Arrangements for the dispersal of customers from the premises;
- The extent of CCTV throughout the premises;
- The availability of written policies and procedures for customer safety and approach taken to customers who have become unwell on the premises or who are vulnerable; and
- Terms of any reports provided by Licensing Standards Officers and separately Police Scotland, and any objections and representations in relation to the application.
For clarity, not all of these criteria have to be satisfied and in place on the date of lodging the Major Variation application; however, each of the above criteria will be taken into account at the Licensing Board hearing.
To quote the Board’s policy directly, “if a licence holder wants an extra hour of opening for their venue as part of this pilot, then they have to show a willingness to go the extra mile in how they operate.”
As per the Board’s policy, any successful application to extend a premises terminal license hour to 1am will be for a 12-month period only. At the end of the 12-month period the Board will review the scheme. If they are, thereafter, minded to extend the pilot scheme beyond the initial 12-month period and they opt to make the change permanent, a subsequent Major Variation application will be required in order to make the 1am terminal licensed hour permanent for each specific premises. This Major Variation application would again be subject to a hearing before the City of Glasgow Licensing Board.
If you require assistance in the application process for the 1am pilot scheme, our Licensing team is here to help. We understand that each business is unique and has its own set of challenges, and we are committed to understanding yours. Our goal is to provide you with tailored solutions that can truly make a difference. We invite you to contact us now to discuss your requirements 0141 333 0636.
