What is a Premises Licence?

🍻🎶🌙 Premises Licence: Everything You Need to Know

Name: Licensing Solutions
Address: Rodney Chambers, 40 Rodney St, Liverpool, L1 9AA, GB
Telephone: 0800 433 7913

📍 What is a Premises Licence?

A premises licence is a legal authorisation granted by the local licensing authority (your local council). It allows a premises to carry out one or more licensable activities — as defined under the Licensing Act 2003.

🧾 The licence is granted in the name of the Premises Licence Holder — usually a limited company, but it can also be an individual, partnership, charity, or trust.

👉 A premises licence isn’t limited to traditional venues. We’ve successfully licensed:

🏞️ Open fields (festivals, outdoor cinemas)
🚤 Boats and barges (river cruises, floating bars)
🏢 Commercial spaces (cafés, coworking spaces, salons)
🏠 Residential properties (private bars, event spaces)

🔑 What Are Licensable Activities?

To operate legally, a premises must hold a licence if it carries out any of the following licensable activities:

1️⃣ The Sale of Alcohol by Retail

This includes selling alcohol directly to customers, whether it's for drinking on-site (pub, bar, restaurant) or off-site (bottle shops, delivery services).
If alcohol is sold, the licence must name a Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) who holds a Personal Licence and is legally accountable for alcohol-related activities.

2️⃣ The Supply of Alcohol by or on Behalf of a Club (Club Premises Certificate only)

This applies to qualifying members’ clubs where alcohol is supplied to members and their guests, such as social clubs and sports clubs.
It follows a slightly different application route but is still classed as a licensable activity.

3️⃣ Provision of Regulated Entertainment

This includes providing entertainment to the public or a section of the public, such as:

🎭 Live music, plays, stand-up comedy
🎧 Amplified recorded music played to an audience
🎬 Public film screenings (indoors or outdoors)
🕺 Dance performances or club nights
📣 Indoor sporting events (e.g. boxing, wrestling)

Note: Small-scale entertainment before 11pm, for audiences under 500, may not require a licence — but anything larger or later typically will.

4️⃣ Provision of Late-Night Refreshment

This refers to serving hot food or hot drinks between 11:00pm and 5:00am.
Applies to:

🥡 Takeaways
🍔 Late-night cafés and diners
☕ Coffee shops or fast-food outlets
Even without alcohol sales, this still requires a licence.

📝 What’s Included in a Premises Licence Application?

To apply for a premises licence, you’ll need to submit the following:

✅ Application Form (sent electronically or by post)
📘 Operating Schedule – details of licensable activities, hours, and how you’ll meet the licensing objectives
👤 DPS Consent Form – signed if alcohol is to be sold
🗺️ Plan of the Premises – must follow specific government guidelines (scale, markings, etc.)
🛂 Right to Work Evidence – e.g. passport, visa, or other Home Office document
💷 Application Fee – based on the premises' rateable value

📣 Advertising the Application

To legally notify the public, you must:

🗞️ Publish a notice in a locally circulated newspaper within 10 working days of submitting your application
🪧 Display a site notice on pale blue A4 paper, with a minimum font size of 16, for 28 consecutive days
- It must be clearly visible to the public, placed where it can be read at all times

📌 Failing to advertise correctly can result in delays or rejection.

🕒 How Long Does the Process Take?

🗓️ The licensing process includes a statutory 28-day consultation period, beginning the day after the application is received.

During this time:

Responsible authorities (police, fire service, environmental health, etc.)
Interested parties (residents, businesses)

...can submit representations (support or objections).

🟢 If No Objections Are Made

Your premises licence is automatically granted after 28 days.

🔴 If Objections Are Raised

A licensing sub-committee hearing will be held. The committee may:

Approve the application
Approve with conditions
Reject the application

👤 Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS)

If alcohol is to be sold, a Designated Premises Supervisor must be named:

Must hold a Personal Licence
Responsible for ensuring all alcohol sales are legal and compliant
Must be contactable and able to manage staff

Only one DPS can be named per premises at any time.

👨‍💼 Can I Apply for a Licence?

Yes – if you are:

✅ A limited company
✅ A sole trader or partnership
✅ A charity or trust
✅ A recognised club
✅ An individual (18+ with legal right to work in the UK)

Applications can be made directly or via a professional licensing service.

🛠️ Why Use a Licensing Consultant?

While it’s possible to apply yourself, many applications fail due to:

❌ Incorrect plans
❌ Poorly written operating schedules
❌ Incomplete advertising
❌ Ignoring local policy zones (e.g., Cumulative Impact Zones)

💼 Professional support can help you:

Conduct a tailored risk assessment
Draft a compliant, persuasive operating schedule
Handle communication with responsible authorities
Advertise correctly in press and on-site
Avoid delays, objections, or rejections

💼 Our Full Premises Licence Application Service — From £750+VAT

We offer expert licensing services for venues across England & Wales.

✅ What’s Included:

🔍 Risk assessment by a specialist
📋 Drafting and submitting the full application
🧾 Operating schedule tailored to your business
🪧 Preparing newspaper and site notices
🤝 Liaising with authorities and mediating objections

❌ What’s Not Included:

Council application fees
Newspaper advertisement fees
Premises layout plans (if not supplied)

While no application is guaranteed, the Licensing Act 2003 assumes that licences will be granted unless there are valid, unresolved objections.

📞 Ready to Get Started?

Whether you're opening a bar, planning a festival, or launching a late-night food truck — we’re here to help.

📧 Email: Complete the form below
📞 Call: 0800 433 7913