{"id":313973,"date":"2025-08-03T07:42:19","date_gmt":"2025-08-03T07:42:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/313973\/"},"modified":"2025-08-03T07:42:19","modified_gmt":"2025-08-03T07:42:19","slug":"pavement-pints-al-fresco-dining-and-street-parties-what-pubs-and-bars-make-of-proposed-overhaul","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/313973\/","title":{"rendered":"Pavement pints, al fresco dining and street parties… What pubs and bars make of proposed overhaul"},"content":{"rendered":"

A spate of reforms from the government aimed at removing rules and restrictions on the hospitality industry have been announced. Adam Maidment went to gauge the response.\"RobRob Norbury, who runs Muse in Uppermill and The Farrars Arms pub in Oldham, has spoken about the planned reforms on the hospitality industry(Image: Manchester Evening News)<\/p>\n

Earlier this week, the government announced plans to introduce a series of new reforms which could remove \u2018clunky, outdated\u2019 rules and restrictions that would help slash the red tape on the UK\u2019s hospitality industry.<\/p>\n

The reforms<\/a> include plans to overhaul the planning and licensing rules that would make it quicker for new cafes, bars<\/a> and music venues to open in disused shop locations, as well as \u2018fast-tracking\u2019 permissions for \u2018hospitality zones\u2019 that will encourage outdoor drinking and dining. It will also potentially make it easier for businesses to apply for extended opening hours.<\/p>\n

Across Greater Manchester, the owners of pubs,<\/a> bars, cafes, hotels and restaurants have reacted to the plans with a mixture of trepidation and positivity on what it could lead to.<\/p>\n

Rob Norbury, who runs the Farrars Arms pub in Oldham<\/a> and Muse in Uppermill, says he fears the reforms are catered more towards new rather than existing businesses and says it\u2019s important not to overlook how they also exclude any relief when it comes to on-going increases on business rates and national insurance.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think in terms of cutting the red tape, and making it a little easier for places to extend their licences, that all sounds great but, to be honest, most people are looking for actual financial support right now,\u201d Rob tells the Manchester Evening News.<\/a><\/p>\n

\"NewNew Government reforms could remove some of the ‘red tape’ impacting pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants(Image: Manchester Evening News)<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need assistance with the hikes on business rates and national insurance. Costs keep going up and our margins keep getting tighter, but if we increase our prices then people just won\u2019t come out. Our margins have dropped by around 50% this year.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt kind of feels to me like when your phone contract is coming up and all of a sudden everyone except your current provider is able to offer you a better deal. A lot of the reforms seem to be designed to help sign new people up rather than those who already have sites and are doing the hard work already.”<\/p>\n

It\u2019s something that Neil Burke, who runs The Black Friar in Salford<\/a>, agrees on. \u201cThe best and quickest way to support the hospitality industry would be cash in the bank and that would be through reducing VAT,\u201d he explains.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve had a \u00a370,000 increase in costs this year. That\u2019s not by doing anything different on our side, that\u2019s from increases heading our way. And then with costs going up, people don\u2019t come out as much because it gets too expensive – it\u2019s really difficult.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"NeilNeil Burke, landlord of the gastro pub The Black Friar in Salford(Image: Andy Stenning\/Daily Express)<\/p>\n

The reforms, which are still subject to an initial Call for Evidence, could also put the responsibility on developers when it comes to soundproofing their buildings if they are built near existing pubs, clubs or music venues.<\/p>\n

It would mean that businesses could potentially avoid having to go through similar experiences as the owners of Night & Day in the Northern Quarter<\/a>, which was subjected to a lengthy three-year court battle<\/a> with the council over noise complaints. It was eventually decided the venue could continue operating, but with noise-limiting restrictions in place.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt the moment, developers are digging deep into their pockets to secure land and probably have had quite a bit of a leg-up because of that,\u201d Neil says. \u201cSo, in terms of soundproofing, I think that could be really effective in terms of not putting the cost on the business to remodel their whole venue after people in the new development next door start to complain.\u201d<\/p>\n

In Deansgate<\/a>, P\u00e1draig Brady runs Mulligans, which is the oldest Irish bar in the city and is based within a building that dates back over 150 years. He too thinks the soundproofing reforms could be good for the industry.<\/p>\n

\"MulligansMulligans owner P\u00e1draig Brady says he welcomes the proposed reforms on hospitality zones and soundproofing responsibilities<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve long wished that there would be protections in place for this,\u201d he explains. \u201cIf a developer was to drop plans for 50 apartments next door to us and then, all of a sudden, us as a business which has existed for 150 years has to change how it operates, how is that fair? There shouldn\u2019t be an expectation for venues to turn away their main operating income just because someone has decided to build next to them.\u201d<\/p>\n

One aspect that has got some businesses interested is the idea of the new \u2018hospitality zones\u2019 that would encourage outdoor drinking and dining and welcome more street parties.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think there\u2019s many people who have been to the Mediterranean and not been envious of the outside eating and drinking culture they\u2019ve got over there,\u201d Mof Gimmers, the Marketing and Events Manager for venues including Bunny Jackson\u2019s, BJ\u2019s Country Club and Lost Cat, says.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile we might not have the Med\u2019s weather, in principle, if pubs can be a bit more spontaneous with their events and take advantage of any random bursts of good weather then it\u2019s a fun idea.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Rob,Rob, of the Farrars Arms in Oldham, said ‘anybody who is still here today has already had to adapt many times in order to survive'(Image: Manchester Evening News)<\/p>\n

The reforms could also ease some of the stringent restrictions when it comes to what customers can and can\u2019t do whilst enjoying themselves outside their venues.<\/p>\n

Earlier this year, BJ\u2019s Country Club, on High Street in the Northern Quarter, ruffled a few feathers with some \u2018cheeky\u2019 signs that highlighted the specifics of outdoor licensing rules from Manchester Council – notably that guests \u2018cannot stand up and drink, but you can sit down and drink\u2019.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were just having a bit of fun really,\u201d Mof said of the signs, which appeared outside the venue in June. \u201cBut maybe our signs were exactly the kind of \u201cclunky, outdated rules\u201d that the current government was referring to in their latest statement.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jobe Ferguson, who is behind venues like the Bay Horse Tavern, Smithfield Social and Cane and Grain all on Thomas Street in the Northern Quarter, agrees that it could be time for a shift on the specifics of what guests can and can\u2019t do when it comes to outside drinking.<\/p>\n

\"TheThe ‘cheeky’ sign outside Bunny’s Country Club in the Northern Quarter regarding outside drinking rules<\/p>\n

\u201cThe rules can be really annoying,\u201d Jobe explains. \u201cCustomers think we are treating them like children and telling them off because we\u2019ve got to make sure they\u2019re sitting at the table and not standing up, and they have to have their drinks in plastic cups.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t understand the reasoning over vertical drinking. If someone is kicking off, I don\u2019t think it really makes a difference if they\u2019re sat down or stood up. You can walk past any pub in London and it\u2019ll be full of people standing outside with a pint in a glass and having a good time.<\/p>\n

And when the Christmas<\/a> Markets are on, there are people who will walk around with drinks in their hand with no problem. So, it\u2019s just a bit of a funny one for us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jobe says that recent events in the Northern Quarter have shown that outdoor drinking can be done right in terms of safety and in supporting trade.<\/p>\n

\u201cDuring the Oasis gigs, we had the Northern Quarter Block Party going on and it was just such an amazing atmosphere,\u201d he explains. \u201cThe council eased a few of its rules for that and it meant we could remove some tables and people could stand up if they wanted to.<\/p>\n

\"TheThe owners of Smithfield Social said they had a record week during the Northern Quarter Block Party, which was held at the same time as the Oasis gigs(Image: Manchester Evening News)<\/p>\n

\u201cIt increased our capacity more and had a really positive impact on business. We had a record week for the Smithfield Social and for Crazy Pedros on Bridge Street, which came at just the perfect time because June was terrible for us. It was a much needed bit of respite financially.”<\/p>\n

Padraig at Mulligans says he already has an idea in mind for a new \u2018hospitality zone\u2019 near his venue, and thinks the reform could be \u2018brilliant\u2019 for business.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs the city moves towards no cars and being more pedestrianised, it leaves an awful lot of side roads and back lanes which end up being used as rat runs,\u201d he explains.<\/p>\n

\u201cSouthgate outside of Mulligans could be used for deliveries in the morning and then we could put tables and chairs out and turn it into a vibrant space. It would increase revenue for us, it would benefit the council, and it would also put a stop to the rat runs. It would be a win-win really.<\/p>\n

\"MulligansMulligans would like to have a new ‘hospitality zone’ outside its venue, which would create a ‘vibrant area’ for customers<\/p>\n

\u201cWe all know that the hospitality industry is facing a very difficult time with all the increases and, sadly, I don’t think the Government will lower taxes on businesses because they can\u2019t afford to. The country as a whole just can\u2019t afford it, so maybe we just need to start thinking smart about what else could be done to help us.\u201d<\/p>\n

For Rob at the Farrars Arms, he believes that \u2018quantifiable reforms\u2019 would be better proposed by the government so far. \u201cWhen the VAT was reduced during Covid, we were able to see notifiable changes,\u201d he explains.<\/p>\n

\u201cPoliticians work on the idea that they need to be shown to be doing something. I think there\u2019s a level of appreciation where it could have so much better if they hadn\u2019t dropped both the minimum national wage and the business rates increases on us at the same time.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just these really big huge increases all at once that means we can\u2019t refill the pot ahead of the quiet periods after the winter, and that\u2019s a big worry for many of us. I think in the next few months there is going to be lots of bad news coming our way.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"NeilNeil Burke, of the Black Friar, says its hard to find an acceptable price point whilst still managing increased costs and lower margins(Image: Supplied)<\/p>\n

Mof, at Bunny Jackson\u2019s, adds: \u201cRelaxing some of the red tape feels like a good idea, but if businesses in the community are still being hit hard with rates, spiralling bills, and everyone\u2019s suppliers and customers are dealing with the same costs, so relaxed rules can only do so much. Without being cynical though, it\u2019s nice that this is being looked at in some regard.”<\/p>\n

Neil says that, in the face of rising costs, businesses have had to adapt and change as a result. The Black Friar for example now has a bigger focus on hosting weddings and events. But it\u2019s also come at the cost of upsetting some customers.<\/p>\n

He explains: \u201cWe get a lot of bookings for weddings and events, which we are very fortunate for, and we had put a cap in place to ensure we weren\u2019t closing for customers too often. I never wanted to close more than two Saturdays in a month, for example.<\/p>\n

\"PeoplePeople enjoying the Northern Quarter Block Party on Thomas Street during the Oasis gigs<\/p>\n

\u201cBut we\u2019re totally having to backtrack on that now because it\u2019s guaranteed money for us. We\u2019ve had complaints from customers that we\u2019ve been closed when they\u2019ve visited but we possibly won\u2019t survive if we don\u2019t adapt.\u201d<\/p>\n

Whilst it is a difficult time for the industry, those within it are still keen to showcase the very best in what they do – and to make a success despite the challenges thrown at them.<\/p>\n

“When it boils down to it, most people love a good pub, caf\u00e9 or restaurant,\u201d Mof explains. \u201cIt\u2019s extremely important to have somewhere to be with people that isn\u2019t your home or the place you work. Pubs, cafes and restaurants have been hugely important in that regard. Socialising for the sake of it is a great thing, and towns and cities are defined by their venues.”<\/p>\n

Rob adds: \u201cWe all got into this industry knowing fully well that the margins were never going to be the biggest, so anybody who is still here today has already had to adapt many times in order to survive.<\/p>\n

\"VenuesVenues said they would appreciate an ease on outdoor drinking rules which would make it easier for people to enjoy themselves(Image: Manchester Evening News)<\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t want handouts, we don\u2019t want people to feel sorry for us, that\u2019s not the name of the game. We just want to be able to make relatively low percentages on our turnover, we want to be able to reinvest in our buildings, and we want to have the right staff that are working optimally rather than feeling overworked.\u201d<\/p>\n

A spokesperson for Manchester City Council said: “Although we do not yet know the detail of the proposed new framework, we are looking forward to receiving them and working to ensure that any changes to the law can best serve the people of Manchester and its range of licensed venues.<\/p>\n

“On the whole we have a positive and reciprocal relationship with the businesses that engage with licensing and when issues arise we do our best to ensure that a positive outcome can be arrived at.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A spate of reforms from the government aimed at removing rules and restrictions on the hospitality industry have…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":313974,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8813],"tags":[748,17630,393,4884,2465,18960,8086,8828,12038,9158,1286,285,8937,1290,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-313973","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-manchester","8":"tag-britain","9":"tag-deansgate","10":"tag-england","11":"tag-great-britain","12":"tag-manchester","13":"tag-manchester-bars","14":"tag-manchester-city-centre","15":"tag-manchester-council","16":"tag-manchester-pubs","17":"tag-northern-quarter","18":"tag-oldham","19":"tag-politics","20":"tag-pubs-and-bars","21":"tag-salford","22":"tag-uk","23":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114963713251260100","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/313973","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=313973"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/313973\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/313974"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=313973"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=313973"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=313973"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}