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What is a Premises Licence?
🍻🎶🌙 Premises Licence: Everything You Need to Know
📍 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
