Pub Landlord's Charity Cab Service Halted by Council Over Licensing Dispute
A pub landlord in Kent who offered his customers safe rides home in his black cab, raising money for charity in the process, has been banned from providing the service by the local council. Paul Hartfield, who owns The Flying Horse in Smarden, Ashford, had been operating the not-for-profit taxi since November last year, asking patrons to make small donations to the Motor Neurone Disease Association instead of paying fares.
Charitable Initiative Raises Funds and Community Spirit
Mr Hartfield, who previously owned a black cab garage, purchased the vehicle specifically for the pub. He explained that the initiative was driven by a desire to help customers get home safely while supporting a cause close to his heart, as one of his regulars had been diagnosed with motor neurone disease. Since its launch, the service has raised at least £700 and transported around 100 customers, contributing to the pub's long-standing community-focused ethos.
The Flying Horse, which dates back to 1790, has a history of charitable work. The cab even participated in the village's Tractor Run before Christmas, adorned with lights, helping to raise nearly £7,000 for the same charity. Mr Hartfield had planned to continue fundraising for the MND Association for six months before selecting a new beneficiary.
Council Intervention and Licensing Requirements
However, Ashford Borough Council decided to shut down the service on Friday after a local newspaper article highlighted Mr Hartfield's efforts. The council's licensing team informed him that his black cab was considered a 'private hire vehicle', subject to local authority licensing requirements, even though he did not profit financially from the rides.
A council official reportedly stated that a person can 'be said to derive commercial benefit' even if payments are not made directly to them, referring to the charitable donations. This interpretation has sparked backlash, with customers and Mr Hartfield himself criticising the decision as overly bureaucratic.
Reactions and Broader Context
Mr Hartfield told The Telegraph: 'It's mean-spirited that we are doing this for charity and I'm not quite sure what I'm going to do, to be honest. With the Government increasing business rates and rising costs, it just feels like it's all going against us pubs at the moment.' Customer Paul Upton described the council's move as 'pure jobsworth nonsense'.
The pub, previously run by Mr Hartfield's daughter Natasha, aims to maintain a 'community-first' spirit, with the taxi service seen as a key part of that. Mr Hartfield had also been known to pick up customers from their homes, further embedding the service in village life.
An Ashford Borough Council spokesman reportedly told The Telegraph that discussions with the publican are ongoing, but no further comment has been provided. The decision has raised questions about the balance between regulatory compliance and community-led initiatives in the hospitality sector.
