We continue to work extensively with publicans, local authorities and local communities to ensure that licensing hours and conditions are appropriate and take account of the opportunities and interests of all parties. Through its membership of the BBPA, the Group continues to engage with Government departments within the Home Office and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, to promote understanding of, and compliance with, the licensing regime.
A ban on smoking in public places was introduced across England and Wales in 2007. We continue to work extensively with publicans to provide appropriate solutions in pubs which balance the interest of smokers and non-smokers alike. The Group’s capital investment programme continues to reflect opportunities to enhance the retail proposition of pubs in the post ban era.
In addition:-
- We are committed to high standards of customer service to our publicans and gives serious consideration to complaints from the local community. Procedures are in place to ensure disputes are monitored and dealt with quickly;
- Training is arranged to provide support to our publicans and to develop business potential;
- We have a Code of Practice (with ‘benchmarked’ status from the BII Benchmarking and Accreditation Services) under which we manage its relationships with publicans, and includes provisions in its agreements with publicans requiring licensed premises to be operated in a responsible manner; and
- We seek to ensure that appropriate and reasonable actions have been implemented across the pub estate to ensure our publicans comply with the Disability Discrimination legislation.
- In 2009 we introduced a Health and Safety & Statutory Compliance service to help our publicans operate in a responsible manner. 2050 publicans are now signed up to this scheme. Our target is to roll this out to the whole Estate by 2013.