Poppleston Allen reported that, initially, the Council was seeking to impose the levy on those with a licence to sell alcohol between the hours of 3am and 6am across the whole borough of Bolton, and a consultation took place on this basis.

Since then, changes to the legislation affecting the late-night levy have come into effect which allow more flexibility such as the ability to localise the levy to certain areas and to include late night refreshment premises that serve hot food within its scope.

Bolton’s new proposed levy is to focus on the Town Centre area and capture late night refreshment premises that serve hot food as well as those selling alcohol within the revised area between the hours of 3am and 6am.

This consultation will close on Monday 22nd January 2024.