Bars and hotels across the island have been left high and dry after they failed to get their alcohol licence application in on time.

Liquor stores have also been affected and Juan Wolffe, chairman of the Liquor Licensing Authority, said more than 30 applications had failed to meet the March 14 deadline.

Mr Wolffe added: “Because they were late in applying for their liquor licences, the LLA were unable to hear their applications until after the expiration date of their licences.

“There were about 32 late applications and their hearings are set down for June 7 and 8, 2018.”

Some places have been given temporary liquor licences after applications to the Supreme Court, which has allowed them to sell alcohol until their hearing dates.

Lawyer Richard Horseman, who represents several affected businesses, said a loss of revenue from alcohol sales could have devastated smaller establishments, although large hotels had also been affected.

He said: “There were a couple of the bigger hotels that would have been left without licences, which would have been a problem. There are also a couple of bars where, if they cannot sell alcohol, they essentially have to shut down which makes things difficult when you consider their staff.

“We said in the application that it was unreasonable not to help these businesses.”

Mr Horseman added his clients would be careful to have their applications in on time in the future.

He said: “It’s brought it home for all of us.”

Mr Horseman added the liquor licensing process may need to be updated because of the heavy workload experienced by the court system.

He added: “We have never had this problem in the past, but this particular LLA are being very thorough, which is a good thing, but it still seems a bit unreasonable for businesses to be put in this position.

“It also seems kind of archaic to keep it before the courts. By law, the senior magistrate has to sit as the chairman.

“That might have been appropriate when the Act was established in 1974, but the senior magistrate has tremendous responsibilities these days running the business of the courts.

“One might think that the time has come to release the courts from this responsibility, except in cases of appeals.

“The court’s resources are stretched to say the least, and this is an additional burden it likely does not need.”

Wahoo’s restaurant in St George was among those who applied for a licence renewal late, but the business was able to win a temporary liquor licence before the end of May.

A spokesman for Wahoo’s said: “It was our mistake and we apologised for it.

“The temporary licence was very much a relief for the staff because it came in the height of the season.

“It’s very busy and there are a lot of people coming to St George’s and coming to Wahoo’s.

“It would have had a negative impact if we were not able to operate under the full licence.”