Premises licences

In this section:

  1. You are here: What is a premises licence? What is a premises licence?
  2. You are here: Apply for a premises licence Apply for a premises licence
  3. You are here: Application fees Application fees
  4. You are here: Variations to premises licences Variations to premises licences

What is a premises licence?

A premises licence is a licence granted for a specific location, which allows the licence holder to carry out some licensable activities. Those activities are:

  • the retail sale of alcohol
  • the provision of regulated entertainment (this includes live and recorded music, indoor sporting events and film exhibitions)
  • the provision of late night refreshment

Licences are usually permanent but can be granted for a fixed period of time. They are also subject to review at any time. They are also normally subject to conditions, for example opening hours.

At premises where alcohol is sold, a designated premises supervisor (DPS) must be nominated. They will be responsible for the authorisation of alcohol sales on the premises and will need to be named on the premises licence application. They will also need to complete a separate consent form.

A DPS must hold a valid personal licence.

Who can apply for a premises licence?

Premises licence applications can be submitted by:

  • anyone aged 18 or over – if they propose to operate a business involving the use of the premises for licensable activities
  • businesses
  • other organisations (for example: clubs, charities, hospitals, schools)

Apply for a premises licence

Please contact us to request an application pack. The application includes the submission of:

  • an application form and details about the operating schedule
  • a plan of the premises
  • the relevant fee
  • a consent form completed by the DPS (if the licence application involves the retail sale of alcohol)

An operating schedule contains information about which licensable activities will take place on the premises, and during which days and times. You will also need to explain how you intend to promote the four licensing objectives of the Licensing Act 2003, which are:

  • the prevention of crime and disorder
  • the prevention of public nuisance
  • public safety
  • the protection of children from harm

The day after you submit your application, you will need to display a public notice, that’s clearly visible, on the premises. The notice will need to be displayed for at least 28 consecutive days.

You will also need to publish this notice in a local newspaper, at least once, within ten working days after the day your application was submitted.

What happens after an application is made?

Once we receive your application, we will acknowledge it within three working days. A 28 day consultation will be held, so that members of the public may comment on the licence application.

We will also need to carry out a site visit – there may be more than one.

How long it takes for a decision to be made will depend on whether we receive any representations (comments) about your application.

Please allow at least two months from the date you apply, until the date we give you notice of our decision about your application.

Application fees

The fee that you pay when you apply, will depend on the rateable value of your premises.

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Premise licence holders also need to pay an annual fee, which is due every year on the anniversary of the date the licence was granted. The sum this fee amounts to will also depend on the premises’ rateable value.

Rateable value Application fee Annual fee
£0 to £4,300 £100 £70
£4,301 to £33,700 £190 £180
£33,701 to £87,000 £315 £295
£87,001 to £125,000 £450 £320
£125,001 and over £635 £350

 

The application fee for premises with a rateable value of £87,001 to £125,000 is £900 if the premises is primarily, or only, selling alcohol for consumption on the premises.

The application fee for premises with a rateable value of £125,001 and over is £1905 if the premises is primarily, or only, selling alcohol for consumption on the premises.

If you will not be selling alcohol or providing late night refreshment, and the premises is:

  • an educational institution
  • a community building (for example, a church, village or parish hall)

you will not need to pay any fees.

Variations to premises licences

If you need to make a change to an existing premises licence, you can apply to ‘vary’ its conditions.

There are two types of variations:

  1. A full variation (sometimes known as a ‘major variation’)
  2. A minor variation

The variation you need to apply for, will depend on the change(s) you want to make. Please contact us if you would like guidance about the variation you need to apply for.

Make a full variation to a premises licence

If the change you want to make is likely to impact on one or more of the four licensing objectives, you will need to apply for a full variation.

Examples of these changes include:

  • the introduction of the retail sale of alcohol (you also must nominate a DPS, if this is the change you are making)
  • extending the opening hours
  • increasing the number of hours that alcohol can be sold on any day

The fee will depend on the rateable value of the premises and will cost the same as the original application fee.

The application process to apply for a full variation to a premises licence, is also the same as the original application process for the licence. For example, we will hold a 28 day consultation, so that members of the public may comment on the proposed variation.

Please contact us to request an application pack.

Make a minor variation to a premises licence

If the change you want to make will have no potential impact on the four licensing objectives, you can apply for a minor variation.

Examples of these changes include:

  • small changes to licensing hours (exclusions (some changes that relate to alcohol) do apply)
  • revisions, removals or additions of some licence conditions

The fee for a minor variation is £89.