Premises Licences

Why choose us?

Our licensing lawyer, John H. Lewis, a Director and Solicitor Advocate, has over 25 years’ experience in dealing with licensing applications.

• We have a working relationship with the local responsible authorities to ensure your matter is dealt with efficiently.

• Our experienced team can provide the advice and guidance you need to ensure your business or event remains compliant with the law.

• Practical advice that is clear and easy to understand.

What we do

If you want to serve alcohol for retail sale for consumption on or off your premises or provide regulated entertainment and/or late-night refreshments then you will need what is known as a premises licence. The sale of alcohol, regulated entertainment and late-night refreshments are classed as licensable activities.

Licensable activities will also include the following: indoor sporting events, film exhibition, boxing or wrestling entertainment, live music, playing of recorded music, and performance of a play or entertainment that is of a similar description to live music and the playing of recorded music and dancing.

Premises licences can be granted for physical buildings or mobile vehicles, such as mobile bars, burger vans or beer tents.

The types of businesses and organisations that need alcohol licences might include pubs and bars, cinemas, theatres, nightclubs, late opening cafes, takeaways or even village and community halls and supermarkets.

Applicants must ensure that they have the correct planning permission in place for their proposed use of the premises for licensable activities.

Your application for a premises licence will usually take 4 to 8 weeks from receipt of full instructions from you. This is on the basis of the application being relatively straightforward and you are able to provide all the necessary documentation and information promptly. If your matters more complex, for example, if there is a substantial opposition from interested parties, or if there is a delay in receiving the documents we need, it may take longer. Following the submission of your premises licence there is a 28 day consultation period.

Once submitted, the local licensing authority usually ask for two months for the application to be processed and determined.