Licence - alcohol and entertainment - premises
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- Licence summary
- Exemptions
- Eligibility criteria
- What the law says
- Application process
- How long will it take to process my application?
- How to apply
- Can I appeal if my application is refused?
- Complaints about licensed premises
A premises licence is required to authorise the following licensable activities at any premises:
- Sale by retail of alcohol
- Provision of late night refreshment (hot food/drink between 11pm and 5am)
- Provision of regulated entertainment
Premises can include open spaces and temporary structures as well as buildings or parts of buildings.
We would encourage all new applicants to contact the licensing team for an informal discussion about proposals before an application is submitted. Further information is also available in our applicant guidance.
There are a number of exemptions from the requirement to have a premises licence. These include:
- Trains and air planes on a journey
- Films in museums
- Religious services and places of worship
- Garden fetes
- Film exhibitions for the purpose of advertising or education
- Crown premises occupied by armed forces
- Music incidental to other activities
- Live TV and radio broadcasts
Any of the following may apply for a premises licence:
- anyone who uses or carries on a business in the premises to which the application relates
- a recognised club
- a charity
- a health service body
- a person who is registered under the Care Standards Act 2000 in relation to an independent hospital
- a chief police officer of a force in England and Wales
- anyone discharging a statutory or function under Her Majesty's prerogative
- a person from an educational institute
- any other permitted person
Applicants must not be under 18 years of age.
Applications should be made to the local authority where the premises are situated. Applications should be submitted with a plan of the premises which must be in a specific format, an operating schedule with details such as the times that licensable activities will take place and steps the applicant proposes to take to promote the licensing objectives. A consent from the designated premises supervisor will be required where the sale of alcohol will be a licensable activity.
Consultation with specified responsible authorities is part of the application process. If you apply online, we will consult the responsible authorities on your behalf. If you send us your application by post, you will need to copy your application to them. Contact details for these bodies can be found in the applicant guidance.
How long will it take you to process my application?
Once the application is validated as complete, responsible authorities and interested parties have a period of 28 days within which they may make representations about the application. If no representations are received, we aim to process your application within 10 days from the closing date. If representations are received, the licensing authority will hold a hearing to determine the application within 28 days after the closing date.
Can I appeal if my application is refused?
Please contact us in the first instance.
Any applicant who is refused the grant or variation of a premises licence or who wants to object to a condition on the licence can appeal to their local Magistrates' court with 21 days of receiving notice of the decision.
Complaints about licensed premises
If you wish to complain that a licensed premises is causing a nuisance such as noise, or if you believe that there has been a breach of licence conditions, please contact us. If you are in the UK, you can also contact Consumer Direct who will give you advice. From outside the UK please contact the UK European Consumer Centre.
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