Licensing project strengthens compliance and public safety
A targeted compliance project has successfully raised standards among late-night food and drink providers operating across the Lancaster district.
Led by Lancaster City Council’s licensing team, the project focused on businesses trading between 11pm and 5am, which is a licensable activity under the Licensing Act 2003.
Over a six-month period licensing officers carried out evening inspections at 35 licensed premises, including takeaways, food kiosks, and mobile vendors.
They found:
- 19 were found to be fully compliant with their licensing conditions
- 16 required improvement, which were addressed following advice
A further 12 unlicensed businesses were identified through monitoring of online delivery platforms. All were contacted and required to either obtain a licence or cease late-night trading.
As a result:
- Three premises are now fully licensed
- Seven have restricted their trading hours
- Two have closed permanently
Councillor Sally Maddocks, cabinet member with responsibility for corporate services, said: “Projects like this ensure that businesses with late night refreshment licences uphold public safety, prevent nuisance, and operate fairly. It’s good to see so many businesses being fully compliant and others only needing minor improvements.
“By taking an approach of working with businesses to educate and support them toward compliance, rather than rushing to penalise, we are ensuring that our enforcement activity is both firm and fair.”
Regular annual checks are planned to ensure businesses maintain high standards. Additional visits will also take place following changes in business ownership.
Last updated: 25 July 2025