London Borough Late Night Levy to be implemented

“The Late Night Levy for London Borough of Southwark will be introduced on the 1st September 2019 after the full Council agreed it’s introduction at a meeting on 18th July 2019. This will be the 11th Late Night Levy to be introduced across the country and the 6th in London.

The full Council have agreed to the following:

• the levy shall apply to premises permitted to sell alcohol between 00:01 to 06:00 hours
• net monies raised by the levy after the payment of administration shall be used as follows:

1. to pay for the full costs of the police night time economy team;
2. to pay for the Council resources within the night time economy team; and
3. the use of the surplus to be decided by a Board made up of representatives of the Council, Police, licensed trade and residents;

• The Council has decided that a reduction of 30% be granted to premises licence holders in relation to on-trade premises that are in receipt of Small Business Rate Relief (as specified in Part III of the Local Government Finance Act 1988) and have a rateable value of £12,000 or less;
• exemptions to the levy are to be applied to the following categories of premises:

a hotel or guest house, lodging house or hostel at which the supply of alcohol between midnight and 6am on any day may only be made to a person who is staying at the premises and for consumption on the premises;

a theatre at which the supply of alcohol between midnight and 6am on any day may only be made to a person for consumption on the premises who is a ticket holder in relation to a relevant production at the premises, concerned in the performance, organisation or management of the relevant production, or invited to the premises as a guest to attend an event to which the public do not have access;

a cinema at which the supply of alcohol between midnight and 6am on any day may only be made to a person for consumption on the premises who is a ticket holder in relation to the exhibition of a film at the premises, or invited to the premises as a guest to attend an event to which the public do not have access;

a club which is registered as a community amateur sports club by virtue of section 658 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010(2); and

a licensed premises which is authorised to be used to supply alcohol for consumption on the premises between midnight and 6am on 1st January in every year (but are not so authorised at those times on any other day in any year).

If you wish to avoid the levy charge, then you will need to apply for a minor variation to reduce your licensable hours. Please note this must be done between 26 July 2019 and 30 August 2019 and this will be free of charge.

We will keep you informed of any further developments.”

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For operators in Southwark, or in other areas where a Levy is either in place or being proposed please contact licensing solicitor Suraj Desor to discuss what options are available to you at s.desor@popall.co.uk or call 0115 953 8500