Licensing Act 2003 FAQs

• The prevention of crime and disorder
• Public safety
• The prevention of public nuisance
• The protection of children from harm

• The sale by retail of alcohol
• The supply of alcohol by or on behalf of a club to, or to the order of, a member of the club
• The provision of regulated entertainment
• The provision of late night refreshment

• A performance of a play
• An exhibition of a film
• An indoor sporting event
• A boxing or wrestling entertainment (indoors or outdoors)
• A performance of live music
• A performance of a dance
• Entertainment of similar description to that falling within the performance of live music, the playing of recorded music and the performance of dance

Yes

• Film exhibitions for advertising, information or education
• Film as an exhibit in a museum or art gallery
• Incidental music
• Live TV or radio
• Incidental to a religious service or at a place of religious worship
• Entertainment at a fete, function or similar provided that an event is not held for private gain
• Morris dancing or dancing of a similar nature or music which accompanies such dancing
• Entertainment in a moving vehicle
• Spontaneous music, singing and dancing
• Private event where there is no intention to make a profit
• Darts matches etc played indoors that are not played to entertain spectators
• Stand-up comedy even if music is involved in the act

You will need a premises licence if you intend to provide any licensable activities.

If one of your licensable activities is the sale of alcohol, you are required to name a designated premises supervisor on your premises licence.

Yes. You are required to pass an accredited qualification, obtain a basic disclosure and barring service (DBS) check, your proof of right to work in the UK and apply to the licensing authority where you live for the personal licence.

You have to apply to the licensing authority for the area where your premises is situated. You will need to submit:

• completed application form
• consent form for the proposed designated premises supervisor (if alcohol sales required)
• plan of the premises
• fee (based on the non-domestic rateable value of your premises)
• proof of your right to work in the UK

You must submit a copy of the application to each of the responsible authorities (copy of list on LBC licensing webpage) and you must advertise by way of a notice on A4 blue paper.

This must be displayed prominently on the premises for a period 28 consecutive days starting on the day after the application has been submitted and in a local newspaper at least once during the 10 working days after your application has been submitted.

Failure to advertise your notice within those 10 working days would deem any application void. If no relevant representations are receive, the licensing authority must grant the licence. Where relevant representations are made, a hearing will usually be held.

You are strongly advised to speak with the responsible authorities before applying for a licence as they may be able to assist you with the consideration to the licensing objectives.

We would also advise you to read and become familiar with the councils licensing policy and all other relevant material on this matter before applying for such a licence.

If there is an objection or representation, a hearing of the licensing committee will be held.

They will consider all representations with regard to the licensing objectives and may decide to grant, reject, add or alter the conditions on the licence.

If you do not agree with the decision, you have the right to appeal to the Magistrates Court within 21 days of being notified of the decision and the grounds for that decision.

If you have a premises licence you can apply to change it by way of applying for a variation to that licence. This also applies if you make any significant structural or layout alterations.

You can apply for a minor variation but this can only be used if the request does not impact adversely on the four licensing objectives. (There are restrictions to what can be applied for, please see guidance on GOV.UK)

Yes, you will need to submit a temporary event notice (TEN) on the prescribed form in the prescribed timescales and requirements.

Yes, you will need to submit a temporary event notice (TEN) on the prescribed form in the prescribed timescales and requirements.

You must inform the licensing authority in writing as soon as possible and also include the relevant fee for a copy of the licence to be issued.

The holder of a premises licence must inform the licensing authority in writing as soon as possible in writing. You must include the relevant fee and the existing licence for a new licence to be issued.

Where this situation comes to your attention make contact with the licensing service and put this in writing / email as soon as you can. We can then advise you to prevent any loss of trading.

You must submit a transfer application form, consent form of the current licence, your proof of right to work in the UK and the relevant fee to the licensing authority and a copy to the police.

It is important to note, where there may be some difficulty obtaining the completed consent form, you will be required to evidence you have taken all reasonable steps and endeavours (above and beyond) to obtain the consent form.

Yes, any local resident or local business can ask the licensing authority to review your premises licence at any time.

A responsible authority such as the police or fire authority can also ask for a review of your licence where they believe that problems at the premises are undermining one of the licensing objectives. The application must be relevant to the licensing objectives.

A premises licence lapses on the death, mental incapacity or insolvency of the premises licence holder and, if the holder of the licence ceases to be entitled to work in the UK. In any of these circumstances, a person may give the licensing authority an interim notice, with a copy to the Chief Officer of Police, within 28 days if he/she:

• is an individual with a legal interest in the premises as a freeholder or leaseholder
• is a limited company, partnership, unincorporated association or other organisation with a legal interest in the premises as a freeholder or leaseholder
• is a personal representative for the former premises licence holder where the licence holder has died
• has power of attorney for the former premises licence holder
• is the insolvency practitioner for the former premises licence holder

On receipt of the interim authority notice, the licence authority will issue the person giving the notice a copy of the licence and summary in his name. As soon as the interim authority notice is given to the licensing authority, the business may continue to operate as before.

The premises licence lapses unless and until such a notice is given and continued trading in those circumstances would constitute a criminal offence.

The maximum period for which an interim authority notice may have effect is 3 months, during which time an application for transfer of the licence needs to be made otherwise the licence lapses and an application for a new premises licence would have to be made.

It is important to note, this can be a two part process and you will also be required to submit a premises transfer application as mentioned.

Please note you will be required to demonstrate you have taken all reasonable steps and endeavours (above and beyond) to obtain the consent form where this is required.

You can apply for a provisional statement. A provisional statement is an assurance that a premises licence will be issued once a premises has been constructed, altered or extended. A provisional statement does not have limited duration.

You only need to apply for a provisional statement if you are unable to supply all the required information for the grant of a premises licence (ie name of designated premises supervisor, the times when licensable activities are to take place etc).

Applying for a provisional statement is the same process as applying for a new premises licence but uses a different application form.

This is a certificate that is issued to premises that are operated as a club. Being a club means public access is restricted and alcohol is supplied other than for profit.

These clubs are organisations where members have joined together for particular social, sporting and political purposes. Some examples of these are:

• Labour, Conservative and Liberal Clubs
• the Royal British Legion
• other ex-services clubs
• working men’s clubs
• miners welfare institutions
• social and sports clubs