PREMISES LICENCE

A premises licence authorises the use of a premises for licensable activities as defined in the Licensing Act, 2003. It is issued by your local licensing authority once you’ve applied and satisfied the requirements. 

Your premises doesn’t have to be a physical building. A licence can be awarded to moveable structures, such as:

• marquees 
• beer tents 
• food trucks 
• outdoor spaces for events (festivals etc)
• boats and other vessels

The licensable activities covered by a premises licence are:

• the sale by retail of alcohol  
• the provision of regulated entertainment  
• the provision of late night refreshment

Once you’ve been granted a premises licence, it will be valid indefinitely. 

However, you can lose your licence if:

• you breach the regulations set by The Licensing Act 2003
• the licence holder becomes bankrupt or incapacitated
• the licence is surrendered to the licensing authority

In most cases, there is a licence fee that must be paid annually on the date the licence was issued.

How long does a premises licence application take?

There is a statutory consultation period of 28 days once an application for a premises licence has been submitted to the local council. During this time you will only be able to provide licensable activities if you have a temporary event notice. 

After that, an application can take around six to eight weeks. It could take longer if any objections to it are made. 

When you apply for a premises licence, your application must be advertised to members of the local public. These advertisements, or notices, give people and various authorities a chance to submit an objection, legally called a representation, to your premises licence application.

Because it is the actual premises to which the licence is granted - and not you personally - it can significantly increase the value of your property. If a licence is revoked (permanently lost) it can significantly reduce its value.

If you are buying a business that already has a premises licence, you will need to transfer the licence to your business.

Premises licence application process

The main items you must cover in your application are:

• Hours and activities - what are your planned opening hours and what type of licensable activities will you provide?
• Your operating schedule - you must explain how you plan to make sure your customers and employees stick to the licensing objectives listed above
• A professionally drawn premises plan - this should provide details of any area where licensable activities will take place. Include the area boundaries, access points, toilets, stairs and steps, escape routes and locations of where you will be selling and consuming alcohol and / or food. Entertainment areas for DJs, karaoke, or live music must also be detailed.
• Proof - proof of your entitlement to work in the UK
• Consent - the consent of your designated premises supervisor (DPS), who must hold a personal alcohol licence
• Application - once you have all of the above you can complete your premises licence application. If you wish, we can check that it is all in order and submit it on your behalf.

Without a premises licence you cannot legally carry out any of the licensable activities listed above. If your application is rejected because it is not presented properly it can delay your business being able to trade by months while you appeal through the courts. 

If your premises licence application is rejected, we can help. We have a high success rate of representing businesses in court and securing an ‘approval-on-appeal’ for the licence to be granted.

Need help getting your Premises Licence?

• Call: 07544 440655
• Email us: info@ntad.uk