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UK Licensed Trade
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Full Terms and Conditions:
*Guaranteed
Monthly management Accounts:-
Sent out within 21 day of us receiving the last information
necessary to complete your accounts, this is usually by email.
Quarterly visits from our trade experienced BDM's:-
Our BDM's visit when the accounts have been prepared, if missing
information has delayed this process then we will not be able
to visit.
Stock Results on site:-
This is produced on the basis that all required information
is available on site and a senior staff member is available
to discuss the result.
We do not guarantee service to clients that are in arrears
with us or that we are unable to contact to discuss queries
with. |
News
Minimum wage will increase by 7p
© Morning Advertiser

By Gemma McKenna
12/05/2009 12:59
Minimum wage will rise by 7p to £5.80 an hour
from October, the Government announced today.
The rate for 18 to 21-year-olds will go up by 6p to £4.83
and for 16 and 17-year-olds it will increase by 4p to £3.57.
Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said: “The Low Pay Commission
has carefully examined the latest economic data before making their
recommendations on the minimum wage rate, balancing the needs of
workers and businesses in the current economic climate.”
The move was welcomed by Tony Payne, chief executive of the Federation
of Licensed Victuallers Associations, who said: “We appreciate
wages have to go up, even in a recession, and I think 7p should
be manageable. We want to make sure that pub staff are looked after.”
He said he was quite sure businesses could afford it, and added
that quite a lot of licensees already pay over the minimum wage.
John Cridland, the deputy director-general of the Confederation
of British Industry, said: “This moderate increase recognizes
that many businesses are struggling, and helps protect jobs at a
time of rising unemployment.”
The news comes shortly after the Government announced that from
October, employers would be banned from using tips and service charges
to “top up” staff pay to meet the minimum wage.
Trade rocked by further 2% duty hike
© Morning Advertiser

By Ewan Turney
22/04/2009 12:30
Chancellor Alistair Darling has stuck to his guns and
increased duty by 2% from midnight tonight.
The pub and brewing industry has lobbied hard, in the form of
the Axe the Tax campaign, but the pleas for a duty freeze have
fallen on deaf ears once again.
The hike is a further body blow to a beleaguered industry battered
by Government regulation and taxation.
Last year, Darling stunned the trade not once, but twice with
a combined duty rise of a mammouth 18% and promised further 2%
above inflation duty escalator increases for the next four years.
The Chancellor confirmed that the VAT level would increase in
December following the 2.5% cut in November, which will spark
a further increase in prices as the 8% duty hike introduced to
off-set the VAT drop on alcohol is permanent.
The British Beer and Pub Association has warned that a record
39 pubs are closing every week and that 44,000 jobs have been
cut from 2000 to 2005 — and a further 75,000 are now at
risk.
Death warrant for pubs
“Today’s Budget signs the death warrant for thousands
of Britain’s pubs and for tens of thousands of British jobs,"
said British Beer and Pub Association director of communications
Mark Hastings.
“Pubs play a vital role in the economy and in local communities.
Yet six are closing every day and more than 2,000 have gone in
the last 12 months alone. The Chancellor’s unfair and unjustified
announcement today condemns thousands more to shut for good.
“In imposing these additional beer taxes, the Government
has wilfully ignored the views of the public, landlords, consumer
groups, industry representatives and MPs from all parties who
have been calling for action to save the British pub.
“At a time when the rest of the economy is getting a supporting
hand, the beer and pub industry is being singled out for punitive
action.
"Last year the Chancellor raised beer tax by an eye-watering
18%. Today's rise is a further body blow. The result will be more
pubs closing, more jobs being lost and more people consuming alcohol
outside supervised, licensed premises."
Disappointing
Mike Benner, chief executive of the Campaign for Real Ale, said:
"It is disappointing that the Chancellor has ignored widespread
public concern about the plight of Britain’s pubs and decided
to press ahead with an increase which will result in yet more
valued community pubs closing down.
"Well-run community pubs are already struggling as a result
of last year’s 18% increase in beer duty and the recession.
This further beer duty increase will push more valued pubs over
the edge resulting in job losses, reduced Government tax revenue
and many more deprived of their favourite local pub.”
He added: "Well-run pubs provide an enjoyable and affordable
night out in a safe and supervised environment and this duty increase
will simply fuel irresponsible drinking of cheap discount alcohol
in people’s homes, public parks and on the streets.”
Wine & Spirit Trade Association chief executive Jeremy Beadles
said: "At a time when the Government is offering other industries
a helping hand it is extraordinary that it wishes to hurt the
drinks industry with further tax increases.
"Thousands of jobs have already been lost in the industry
and the decision to go ahead with a further tax increase puts
thousands more at risk. It's a bitter irony that with falling
sales, these tax hikes are unlikely to deliver the revenues forecast
by the Treasury."
Tory leader David Cameron criticised the hikes. "The tax
on beer will hit every drinker in every pub in Britain."
Government acts on rates burden
© Morning Advertiser
The Government has agreed to reduce increases in business rates
and help licensees hit by the scrapping of transitional rate relief.
Darling: plans to ease cash flow
The 5% increase for this financial year has been cut to 2%. Licensees
will be able to defer payment of 60% of the increase of their
rates bill for 2009/2010 until 2010/2011 and 2011/2012.
It comes as licensees complain to the MA about huge hikes in
business rates of up to 550% with the scrapping of transitional
relief.
Local authorities are set to write to businesses once the regulations
are in place, which is expected to be at the end of July. Half
of the deferred amount could be paid in 2010/2011 and the other
half in the following year.
Announcing the decision to cut the increase in business rates,
Darling told Parliament: “I am very conscious of the fact
that businesses in this country were faced with an increase to
business rates of 5% simply because the increase in business rates
is linked to the rate of RPI inflation last autumn.
“But RPI inflation has now fallen to 0% in the last month
and it is expected that it will fall further than that. So I want
to bring forward a measure that will help businesses.”
Martin Roslyn Managing Director of The Pub Accounting Company
said: “We welcome this last-minute move by the government
to back down on what could have been a crippling increase in business
rates for small businesses during what is already a very challenging
climate. However, due to the last-minute nature of this decision,
many small businesses will be left with more red tape in order
to agree revised payment plans with their local councils.”
Treasury: no plans to drop beer duty
By Ewan Turney
© Morning Advertiser

The Government has said it has "no plans" to drop its
Pre-Budget 8% rise in beer duty — even when the VAT rate
returns to 17.5%.
Angela Eagle and Alistair Darling: pubs will benefit from VAT
cut
Chancellor Alistair Darling announced the second duty rise in
November to off-set the 2.5% cut in VAT. But while the VAT reduction
lasts for 13 months, the duty rise is permanent with the threat
of a 2% above inflation duty escalator to come in April.
In a letter to Peter Harvey of the Winking Man pub in Upper Hulme,
Staffordshire, Treasury minister Ann Mathers said: "Alcohol
duty is an important revenue stream for the Government and there
are currently no plans to change what was announced in the Pre-Budget
Report 2008, though with all taxes, alcohol duty rates will be
kept under review."
She added: "The alcohol industry will benefit from the positive
effect of the fiscal stimulus on the economy and hence on consumption,
for example with the reduction in VAT, households will have, on
average, an additional £275 to spend or save a year."
Harvey said: "In general I think it is disgusting the way
this Government is treating small businesses. It is not just our
trade — they have killed off farming and it looks like pubs
are next.
"They are not listening. I wish more people would stand
up and have their say against this Government."
Licensees across the country are receiving rates bills up to
550% higher than last year.
© Morning Advertiser
Rate hikes are hitting pubs hard
The shock rises are a result of the Government scrapping transitional
rate relief, a move that affects bills from 1 April 2009.
According to the Local Government Association, £100m a
year of transitional relief used to be available to businesses.
They must now pay their full liability.
Thousands of firms had been paying reduced bills for years —
thanks to transitional relief, which has been in place since 1990.
The LGA is calling for the extension of the relief to protect
worst-affected businesses. The Government announced relief would
end in 2004, but those who took on pubs after this could be taken
unawares.
Adrienne King, of the Marston’s-owned Red Lion in Gilmorton,
Leics, took over her pub in May 2006. Her bill jumps from £169
to £922 per month — a 546% rise.
“This could put me out of business,” said King. “The
difference is about the amount of profit I was expecting to make
this year.”
At the Dovecote Inn, in Laxton, Notts, David Brown’s monthly
bill increased by 300%, from £418 to £1,273. “We
hold out little hope of any reduction or relief. A letter has
been sent to our MP and we also plan to write to Prince Charles
as patron of Pub is the Hub — our pub is one of a handful
owned by the Crown Estate.”
Last week MA reported that Peter Wilson, host of Enterprise Inns-owned
Hare & Hounds in Worthing, wrote to the Chancellor about the
£8,855.84 added to his bill. He has now also written to
Shadow Cabinet member William Hague, who is “very interested”.
Margaret Eaton, chairwoman of the LGA, said: “It’s
clear that a decision about ending this relief was made while
the economy was still booming.
“In the new environment, it’s not realistic to expect
many businesses to deal with this sharp rise.”
Tony Payne, chief executive of the Federation of Licensed Victuallers
Associations, said: “Government says it wants to help small
firms, and all the time it’s another kick in the teeth.
They should reconsider to keep some businesses open.”
Edward Wright, partner at chartered surveyors Lawrence Tattersall,
said many licensees had been in touch: “It’s a very
nasty problem. It’s been a bit of a time bomb.”
Although businesses can’t appeal against the loss of transitional
relief, some could mitigate its effects by appealing the rateable
value of their pubs in the light of the smoking ban.
Statutory Sick Pay
Rate from 6 April 2009
The fixed weekly rate from 6 April 2009 has been confirmed at
£79.15.
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Buying a Pub with the help of one of the UKs leading Pub Accountants.
Whether buying a pub or considering
buying a pub with a lease you need to do your
homework first. Look at the local area, pubs, clubs and hotels.
How are they trading, what price are they selling products for?
Get talking to local landlords, find out the history of the pub
you're going to buy and it's reputation.
When buying a pub obtain recent accounts from the
seller and barrelage figures from the brewery. Many prospective
licensees forget to ask about rates, these can be up to £1000
per week and can be a reason for not buying a pub.
Produce a business plan – what are you going
to do to make the unit work?
When buying a pub you should think about:
· local competition,
· refurbishment,
· promotions and new products
etc.
Once you have produced this you should then prepare
a profit and loss forecast/cash flow forecast with the help of
Roslyn's specialised pub accountants – if we are lucky enough
to obtain your business when you move in we prepare profit &
loss and cash flow forecasts free of charge!
If you are signing a lease or buying a pub ensure
you have a survey completed by a qualified person, in the event
of areas of concern becoming known. It doesn't mean that you should
avoid buying a pub, just negotiate with the brewery/pub company
so that they remedy the faults or reduce the selling price so
that you can.
Buying a pub/club/hotel is a time consuming business,
you may well need assistance every step of the way. Roslyn's pub
accountants will assist you with this giving advice, support,
production of information – most of this (subject to certain
conditions) is free of charge.
Using specified pub accountants is the first step
in ensuring that your venture into buying a pub is a successful
one. Pub accountants are able to assist you and give helpful relative
advice every step of the way.
Running a pub is a rewarding business, offering
good social life, and in a lot of situations a good profit, but
you must get the right advice first.
Good Luck!!
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