More pubs closed after licences expire

More pubs closed after licences expire

12 February 2014

DOZENS of people have been temporarily put out of work across the district following the closure of several more pubs over expired liquor licences.

The doors to the Ramery Inn in Ballynahinch, the King’s Inn in Castlewellan and The Corner Inn in Crossgar are now closed after publicans realised their licences had expired. The Dufferin Arms in Killyleagh has also been closed for several weeks since the licensing crisis first emerged.

The publicans involved in the closures estimate that around 50 members of staff, both part and full-time, have been put out of work as a result. The pubs are not expected to reopen until at least March 4 when re-licensing applications will be made before a Downpatrick judge.

Mr. John King, from the King’s Inn in Castlewellan, has had to temporarily lay off 25 members of staff since realising his licence had lapsed last week.

The third generation pub owner said it was the first time his family had ever operated with an expired licence and said he believed the system could be altered with the introduction of renewal notices to keep landlords up-to-date with the length of time left on their liquor licences.

He said he was concerned how the enforced closure would affect his business over time and said pubs were already operating in a difficult climate due to general economic hardship.

“It has been very stressful to let staff go, particularly some who have been with us for a very long time,” he said.

“Licences used to be renewed every year but when it is a five year period it is easier to overlook the renewal.

“It is no excuse but when you see the number of local pubs affected I think it shows the system is not working that well.

“I think a renewal notice would make a big difference to publicans. It is a silly mistake to have made but I have nobody to blame but myself.”

Publican Kieran McGoran, of the Ramery Inn, was also shocked to discover his licence was out of date when he was prompted to check its status due to the recent publicity over the closure of the Dufferin Arms in Killyleagh and the National-Trust owned Crown Bar in Belfast.

Mr. McGoran closed the doors of his family-run pub on Thursday, immediately after discovering that the one-year grace period offered by the courts for a renewal had expired.

He said the closure will affect several part-time and full-time members of staff, who have mortgages to pay and families to support.

Although he admits that he did not renew the licence on time, he is also critical of the licensing system, which means publicans are not given a personal reminder when their licences are due for renewal after five years.

Due to his oversight, he faces costs of around £10,000 that will include legal fees when he attends court seeking a new licence.

“I have closed because I discovered that I have been out of licence for three months,” he said.

“From what I gather, most pub licences expire around the same time and an advertisement is placed in the press as a reminder to the licensees. The problem is that if you miss that reminder, you could end up in the same boat as me.

“This is going to cost me and my staff dearly for something I do not believe is entirely my fault.”

Mr. McGoran said he was very stressed about the closure of the pub and concerned that he would lose customers during his period of closure.

“I feel like I have let my workers down,” he said.

“Times are already bad for this industry and this is an extra blow.

“But my hands are tied because I will not sell alcohol until my licence is reinstated, which I am hoping will happen in March.”