LICENSEES in Lancaster and Morecambe are being urged to check they are not breaking the law after a recent court case changed the rules. Premises that hold a 'special hours certificate' may now be operating unlawfully without realising it, following a decision by the Court of Appeal. Certificate holders are being warned by the police to make sure they comply with the new terms and conditions or face prosecution.

Special hours certificates allow premises to carry on serving booze after hours but a recent case in Stafford means 'special hours' cannot simply be bolted on to the normal permitted hours.

The implication of such a change is that drinking must be "ancillary" to the provision of food and entertainment throughout the day. This could lead to wholesale changes in the way some premises are run.

A Lancashire Constabulary spokesman said: "We believe most licensees will comply with the new restrictions voluntarily even though they may have to make some changes to their organisations. Licensing Justices will in future impose a start and finish time on special hours certificates and issue them only to premises where they will be regularly used. It is unlikely that they will be granted to ordinary pubs."

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