A to Z:

Contact

Do you need more help? Contact us online if you are not able to find the information you require using our A to Z or the advanced search on our site.

Premises licences

Authorisation to carry on some or all of licensable activities is contained in a single licence – the premises licence.

The Premises Licence will offer flexible opening hours, with the potential for up to 24 hour opening, seven days a week, subject to consideration of the impact on local residents, businesses and the expert opinion of a range of authorities in relation to the licensing objectives.

Wholesalers will require a premises licence to sell alcohol to members of the public. Sales made to other traders for the purposes of their trade will not be a licensable activity.

Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS)

Any premises where alcohol is supplied under a premises licence must have a Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS). The DPS will not necessarily be the premises licence holder, although this may sometimes be the case. The only requirement for being a DPS is that the individual concerned must be the holder of a personal licence and be named on the premises licence as the DPS. The individual may be DPS for more than one premises, but each premises must only have one DPS.

Application for a premises licence

An application for a premises licence must be made to the relevant licensing authority, that is, the authority within whose area the premises is situated .

Before applying please use the ward list (application/pdf; 533kB) to find out where to send your application.

Variation of a premises licence

A premises licence holder may apply to the licensing authority to vary the licence. Provided that there are no representations the licensing authority must make the variation. Where relevant representations from interested parties, such as local residents, or responsible authorities, such as the police, are made, the licensing authority must hold a hearing to consider them (unless all parties agree that this is unnecessary) and, having regard to the representations, take such steps as it considers necessary for the promotion of the licensing objectives. This may include modifying the conditions of the licence or rejecting whole or part of the application. A fee will be charged for any application to vary a premises licence.

Please use the ward list (application/pdf; 533kB) to find out where to send your application.

New Legislation

On 29th July 2009 a simplified, low cost process for making minor variations to licences, where the changes are likely to have no adverse impact on the four licensing objectives, was introduced. An application for a minor variation is £89.

Also introduced was the ability to transfer responsibility from the DPS to a management committee for community premises. This allows the management committee of village halls, church halls, chapel halls, community halls and similar community premises to apply to be collectively responsible for the supervision of alcohol sales instead of a designated person with a personal licence.

For premises already with a DPS the cost of disapplying and transferring to the management committee is £23. Community premises seeking to change the DPS requirement alongside a new premises licence application or an application to vary an existing premises licence to add alcohol sales will simply pay the appropriate full fee for the new application or variation. In these cases, there is no additional cost to apply for the disapplication of the requirement for a DPS, but the appropriate application form should be enclosed with the premises licence.