A PUB landlord says a “midnight tax” on York licensees would punish those whose hands were tied and hit some of the country’s best pubs.

Jason Hawkins said many publicans were banned by their parent companies from reducing the hours of their licence, so would be unable to avoid City of York Council’s proposed charge for business with an alcohol licence between midnight and 6am.

The council wants to introduce the levy to pay for late-night policing and city-centre clean-up work, and plans to charge 263 premises-owners anything from £299 to £4,440 depending on their business rates.

City leaders say the move would bring in up to £286,000 a year but many landlords have criticised the plans.

Mr Hawkins, who runs The Three Tuns in Coppergate and The Blue Boar in Castlegate, said: “I would be unfairly penalised if this were to happen as like many leaseholders I am restricted by clauses in the lease when it comes to changing the licensed hours. Both lease companies (Marston’s and Enterprise Inns) have a clause that states I may increase the hours of licensable activity but am not permitted to reduce the hours.”

He has emailed councillors asking them to consider situations like his before approving the levy and suggested exemptions for those who could not change their licence.

He said the levy would hit small businesses and suggested it be applied only to businesses actively trading after midnight, not those that were licensed to but chose not to.

Mr Hawkins said York’s biggest problems were caused by the wide availability of cheap alcohol in shops.

He said: “There are many causes of alcohol-related crime and disorder but to lay the blame at the door of some of the best public houses in the country seems very unfair.”

Steve Waddington, the council’s assistant director for housing and community safety said: “At the moment we are proposing to consult on the late night levy, and welcome Mr Hawkins raising this point.”

He said the council would consider views from all sectors of the licensed trade.