Alcohol licence applications must be completed by August

The city council has taken over responsibility for alcohol licensing from local magistrates under laws brought in across England and Wales.

All pub and club owners have to reapply no matter how long they have held them.

Officers said they had received only 22 applications from the expected 1,250 pubs, clubs, restaurants and theatres.

Prosecution risk

Out of a possible 800 personal applications, 16 have been received and out of a possible 450 premises applications, three have been received.

Potential licence holders can either ask for their existing hours or for extensions.

The deadline for applications is 6 August and businesses that do not apply within this time period will lose their "grandfather rights".

This will mean that existing rights will not be unconditionally given after this time and they may also be liable to prosecution if they are found to be trading without a licence.