Premises Licence Application Service
Businesses, organisations and individuals who want to sell or supply alcohol in England and Wales must have a licence or other authorisation from a licensing authority – usually a local council. The law and policy governing this area is overseen by the Home Office.
The types of businesses and organisations that need alcohol licences might include:
- pubs and bars
- cinemas
- theatres
- nightclubs
- late-opening cafes
- takeaways
- village and community halls
- supermarkets
The types of licences required are defined as follows:
- any business or other organisation that sells or supplies alcohol on a permanent basis needs to apply for a premises licence
- anyone who plans to sell or supply alcohol or authorise the sale or supply of alcohol must apply for a personal licence
- qualifying members’ clubs (such as the Royal British Legion, working men’s clubs and rugby clubs) need to apply for a club premises certificate if they plan to sell or supply alcohol
I offer a bespoke premises licence application service. Please call me, Johnny Walker on 07970 134 730 for details of the likely costs for obtaining a premises licence.
Obtaining a premsies licence is a somewhat complex business where the applicant has to develop an operating schedule that will be sufficient to demonstrate that the operator will be able to promote the four licensing objectives to a rigorous standard.
Applicants will need to provide a scale plan of the premises and advertise the application in a number of mandatory ways, as well as completing the appropriate forms.
It is not just a matter of applying for a licence, there are many hurdles to overcome to be granted a premises licence.
As well as your local licensing authority, the following responsible authorities also need to be made aware of your premsies licence application:
- police
- local fire and rescue
- primary care trust (PCT) or local health board (LHB)
- local enforcement agency for the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974
- environmental health authority
- planning authority
- body responsible for the protection of children from harm
- local trading standards
- any other licensing authority in whose area part of the premises is situated
- Home Office Immigration Enforcement (on behalf of the Secretary of State)
Where an application is properly made and no responsible authority or other person makes representations, the licensing authority must grant the application, subject only to conditions which are consistent with the operating schedule and relevant mandatory conditions in the act. This should be undertaken as a simple administrative process by the licensing authority’s officials.
If representations are made by a responsible authority or other person, it is for the licensing authority to decide whether those representations are relevant to the licensing objectives and not frivolous or vexatious. If the licensing authority decides that any representations are relevant, then it must hold a hearing to consider them.
I deal with applications for premises licences in Herefordshire, Gloucestershire, Birmingham, Oxford and Oxon, Malvern Hills, Worcestershire, Monmouthshire, Newport, Cardiff and Swansea.
Wherever you live in England and wales, so give me a call and I can answer your questions.
Joihnny Walker on 07970 134 730.