Up to two years for a new licence? In the UK a Premises Licence can be issued in as few as 28 days (this acts as a consultation period during which representations/objections can be made). If there are objections, the process can of course last longer, but that’s more the exception than the rule.

Perhaps when they do sort the issue, they’ll have saved enough money to splash the cash on something better than the “California Champagne” I saw there in February…