Alcohol licence for a hotel
Hotels often have more complicated licensing requirements than a single bar or restaurant, because alcohol and other licensable activities may take place across several areas.
A lobby bar, restaurant, function rooms, terraces, bedrooms and private events can all be involved. The Premises Licence needs to match how the hotel actually operates.
What might a hotel Premises Licence cover?
- Alcohol sales in bars and restaurants
- Alcohol supplied to functions and events
- Room service or minibar sales where applicable
- Regulated entertainment where authorisation is required
- Late-night refreshment
- Outdoor areas and terraces
- Different hours or conditions for different parts of the premises
Who should be the DPS?
Where the hotel Premises Licence authorises alcohol sales, one person is named as DPS and must hold a Personal Licence.
Hotels often choose a senior manager with appropriate day-to-day responsibility, while also having other Personal Licence holders within the management team for resilience. Book the personal licence course & exam.
Function rooms and weddings
If function rooms are already within the licensed area and the Premises Licence authorises the intended activities and hours, separate permission may not be required for each event. Check the licensed plan, hours and conditions before assuming an event is covered.
A Temporary Event Notice may be relevant for a limited event or activity outside the normal permission, subject to the statutory rules and limits.
Outdoor areas and terraces
Outdoor areas can create additional licensing and nuisance issues. If alcohol will be sold or consumed in an external area, check whether that area is included within the licensed plan and whether any licence conditions restrict its use or hours.
When does a hotel need a variation?
- Refurbishment changes the licensed layout
- A new bar or function area is created
- Hours are extended
- New licensable activities are introduced
- Existing conditions need to be amended
- The operating model changes materially
Acquisitions and management changes
When a hotel changes operator, review the Premises Licence as part of the transaction. A transfer may be required if the licence holder changes, and a separate DPS application may be needed if the named supervisor is also changing.
Budgeting for an application? See premises licence fees.
Need help with a hotel licence?
Licensing Solutions can manage new hotel Premises Licence applications and review existing licences for refurbishments, acquisitions and changes of management.
We also handle transfers, DPS changes, variations and Temporary Event Notice support.
Premises Licence Application
- Multi-area premises licence applications
- Licence review for acquisitions
- Variations after refurbishment
- Transfers, DPS changes and TEN support
Free initial consultation.
Related licensing guides
Premises licence
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