PUBS, clubs and off licenses face being shut down if they fail to obtain a licence to sell alcohol under new regulations.

And this Saturday, August 6, is the deadline for licensees to apply for a hassle-free transfer from the old Justices' licence to one under the new local authority issued system.

Entertainment licences also have a Saturday deadline, with cinemas, corner shops and theatres required to apply.

However, it's the drinks trade which has been slow to respond.

The council had been expecting 400 applications but has so far received just over half that number.

And after Saturday licensees will have to apply for a licence as if it was their first and will lose their 'grandfather rights', which allows a previously licensed premises to automatically be considered as such.

And any establishment without a licence by November 24 will face Christmas and New Year closed as councils enforce a lock-down on unlicensed premises.

'Applications are no longer decided as swiftly as magistrates used to be able to,' said chief licensing officer for Wrexham Alan Davies.

'For the first time members of the public can lodge objections to applications.

'And outside organisations such as the police have their say on it, too, during a 28-day consultation period. If there are objections, there are another 28 days while the matter is investigated before a decision is reached.'

He added: 'If licensees leave it until September to apply they could find themselves closed. Whether their application is in or not, if they don't have a licence on November 24 we will shut them down until they do.

'And applications submitted in October may miss the festive boom and that would be a very risky decision for a landlord.

'We have had staff working extra hours and weekends to process as many as possible and we are doing all we can to get these applications through.

'But if people miss the deadline and we have to close them down, it is their fault, not ours.'

If you still have not applied for a transfer of, or a new licence, and want to know more call Wrexham Council's licensing department on 01978 292049.