Managed operator JD Wetherspoon has lost its high court challenge against Guildford Borough Council.
The company wanted the high court to overturn a decision by the local authority that effectively blocked its Lloyds No 1 pub, the Rodboro Buildings, gaining a three-hour extension.
Guildford council blocked the extension after claiming in contravened its cumulative impact policy, JDW insisted the policy should apply only to new premises - the Rodboro Buildings venue was converted from one of the company’s existing pubs.
The high court has ruled that the council was entitled to
take its cumulative impact policy into account.
JDW is taking comfort from a part of the judgement that insists, however, that there should be a presumption in favour of granting extended hours.
Eddie Gershon, company spokesman, said: “95% of our pubs already have extended hours. The judgement applies purely to the Guildford pub and seven other in Westminster and Bromley where local authorities have similar policies. We
take a lot of positives out of the judgement because it says there is a presumption that local authorities should grant longer hours.”
