The latest Government figures for alcohol and late night
refreshment licences are out.
Two points stand out for me.
First, the ongoing climb in the number of premises licences
suggests a general resilience in the sector, which is encouraging.
Challenges obviously remain, broad figures should be
approached with caution, and there are still pockets of decline.
But there is nevertheless a steady upward trend.
Second, contrary to the popular perception, the number of pubs,
bars and nightclubs with 24 hour licences is very small (some 0.33%
of all licences), and diminishing. That decline is something
that can be seen in late licences generally, not just 24 hour
licences.
The latest Government figures for alcohol and late night
refreshment licences are out.
