Premises Licences

A premises licence is granted to authorise the premises to be used for licensable activities.

Licensable activities

The following are examples of licensable activities:

•         sale or supply of alcohol

•         provision of regulated entertainment such as plays, films, indoor sporting events, boxing or wrestling, music and dancing or entertainment

•         provision of late night refreshment (this means the supply of hot food or drink to the public, for consumption on or off the premises, between 11pm and 5am)

•         The activities permitted at a premises are given in its Operating Schedule. See below for more details.

Premises must meet certain standards to be granted a premises licence. You can find details of these standards in the council’s Licensing Policy, which is downloadable by clicking the relevant link at the bottom of this page.

Who can apply?

You can apply for a premises licence if you are:

•     a person who runs, or proposes to run, a business that will involve the use of that premises for licensable activities

•     a recognised club

•     a charity

•     the proprietor of an educational institution

•     a health service body

•     a person registered by part two of the Care Standards Act 2000, in respect of an independent hospital

•     a chief police officer

All applicants must be 18 years of age or over. Licences are granted to applicants on a permanent basis, but are subject to review where evidence exists that any of the licensing objectives are being compromised.

Operating Schedule

All applications for premises licences will need to include an Operating Schedule. This document should outline what licensable activities are proposed, and how the licence holder will ensure the licensing objectives are met. Guidance on how to complete an operating schedule is given in the Licensing Objectives Guidelines document, available by clicking the relevant link below.

For a list of mandatory licence conditions, please view the document at the bottom of this page. You can download further information and application forms using the links below.

Regulation Summary

A summary of the regulation relating to this licence is available here

Application evaluation process

Applications must be sent to the licensing authority for the area where the premises are located.

Applications must be in a specific format and be accompanied by any required fee. An operating schedule, a plan of the premises and a form of consent from the premises supervisor (for applications where the sale of alcohol will be a licensable activity.

An operating schedule will include details of:

• the licensable activities
• the times when the activities will take place
• any other times when the premises will be open to the public
• in the case of applicants who wish to have a limited licence, the period the licence is required for
• information in respect of the premises supervisor
• whether any alcohol that is to be sold is for consumption on or off the premises or both
• the steps proposed to be taken to promote the licensing objectives
• any other required information

Applicants are required to advertise their application and to give notice of the application to any other person or responsible body, e.g. chief police officer or fire and rescue authority.

The council must grant the application, which can be subject to conditions. If any representations are made in respect of the application, a hearing must be held. If a hearing is held the licence can be granted or granted subject to additional conditions, licensable activities listed in the application can be excluded or the application can be rejected.

The Council will serve a notice of its decision on the applicant, any person who has made relevant representations (i.e. representations that were not deemed frivolous or vexatious) and the chief of police.

Applications can also be made to vary or transfer a licence. Click on the relevant link in the menu to view information on this. 

How to apply

You can apply by any of the following means:

 Download a copy of the application forms using the links  below.

• Apply on line via Business Link Licences and regulations | UK Welcomes | Business Link
• By contacting us in writing, telephone or  email to request an application form

 If you apply through Business Link,  you are not required to send copies of your application to responsible authorities.

 The council prefers to receive electronic applications and offers a choice of fee payment options the details of which are contained in the application pack. 

Payments can now be made by Debit or Credit cards by telephoning the Licensing team on 020 7527 3031.

Will tacit consent apply?

Yes – If an application is unopposed at the end of the consultation period.  This means that you will be able to act as though your application is granted if you have not heard from the local authority by the end of the target completion period. 

 *Minor variation applications will not be given tacit authorisation as by law they will be automatically refused if the authority has not determined the application after 15 days from receipt.

Failed Application Redress

Please contact the Council in the first instance.

If an application for a licence is refused the failed applicant can appeal.

Appeals are made to a Magistrates' court within 21 days of notice of the decision.

Licence Holder Redress

Please contact the Council in the first instance.

If an application is made by the chief police officer, as detailed below, and interim steps are taken by the licensing authority you may make representations. A hearing must be held within 48 hours of your representations.

A licence holder may appeal against any conditions attached to a licence, a decision to reject a variation application, a decision to reject a transfer application or a decision to exclude an activity or person as premises supervisor.

Appeals are made to a Magistrates' court within 21 days of notice of the decision.

Consumer Complaint

An interested party or responsible authority may apply to the Council to review the premises licence. A hearing will be held by the licensing authority.

Appeals are made to a Magistrates' court within 21 days of notice of the decision.

Other Redress

The chief police officer for the police area where the premises are located can apply to the Council for a review of the licence if the premises are licensed to sell alcohol by retail and a senior officer has given a certificate that they are of the opinion that the premises are associated with either serious crime or disorder or both. A hearing will be held and the licence holder and other interested parties may make representations.

A chief police officer can give a notice to the council, if they believe that the transfer of a licence to another, under a variation application could undermine crime prevention objectives. Such a notice must be given within 14 days of receiving notification of the application.

An interested party or responsible body may make representations in relation to a licence application or request the licensing body to review a licence.

An interested party or responsible authority may apply to the Council to review the premises licence. A hearing will be held by the licensing authority.

 A chief police officer may make representations to the licensing authority for a review of the licence if the premises are licensed to sell alcohol by retail and a senior member of the force has given a certificate to state that in their opinion the premises are associated with serious crime, disorder or both.

An interested party or relevant authority who made relevant representations may appeal against the granting of a licence or against any condition, variation, licensable activity or premises supervisor decisions.

Appeals are made to a Magistrates' court within 21 days of notice of the decision.