The government is facing renewed criticism of its implementation of new rules on pub licensing.

Businesses providing alcohol, hot food or entertainment after 11.00pm have until the end of Saturday to apply for fast-track approval of new licences.

Any establishment still without a licence on November 24 will be required to close.

Around a quarter of currently licensed premises, mostly take-aways and off-licences, are thought likely to miss this weekend's deadline.

Licensing minister James Purnell argues that "over time businesses will make real savings because they need never apply again, unless they choose to change their licence".

"The new laws will revolutionise the way we spend our leisure time and the way in which many businesses are run," he said this week.

"We are no longer going to be constrained by outdated laws set almost a century ago."

But ministers have been under mounting criticism for the way the Licensing Act 2003 has been implemented.

The Conservatives warned that many small businesses could be forced to close.

"Because these new laws are so complicated and bureaucratic, they hit small businesses and voluntary organisations the hardest," said shadow culture secretary Theresa May.

"The large pub chains can afford to employ an army of lawyers to cope with the paperwork, but the one man band cannot.

"The government has had months to get this right, yet only a little over 60 per cent look likely to apply by the deadline. Two out of three just isn't good enough.

"Don't be surprised if your local off-licence or kebab house has the closed sign in their window at the end of November."

May said the government should extend the deadline to allow more applications to be made.

And Liberal Democrat spokesman Don Foster said the situation was a "shambles".

"It is not surprising so many businesses have yet to apply when the government's licensing rules state that the later you apply, the less you pay," he said.

"Liberal Democrat calls for the government to delay the implementation of the Licensing Act have fallen on deaf ears.

"If the government is intent on pressing ahead they must be ready to declare a state of emergency in our courts system to ensure application logjams don't result in pubs closing for Christmas."