Our Services
Below are the applications we assist you to complete:
New Premises Licence
- What it is:
Permission from your local council for a specific location to sell alcohol, offer late night refreshment (11pm–5am), and/or provide regulated entertainment. It attaches to the address and sets your licensing hours and conditions. If you’ll sell alcohol, you must name a Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) who holds a Personal Licence. - Who needs it:
Bars, public houses, nightclubs, restaurants, cafés, hotels, supermarkets, shops, delivery alcohol retailers, and venues hosting regular licensed events. (Member only clubs use a Club Premises Certificate; one off events can use a Temporary Event Notice depending on the capacity.) - Why it is needed:
- •It's a legal requirement—trading without one risks fines, closure, and even prosecution.
- •Unlocks revenue: sell alcohol legally, extend hours, and host entertainment.
- •Sets clear, compliant operating conditions (age checks, noise/CCTV) that keep regulators and neighbours onside.
- •Builds credibility with suppliers, insurers, and landlords.
- •Makes a partnership working with authorities and the community.
Bottom line: If you plan to sell alcohol from a venue or run late night/entertainment activities, you will need a Premises Licence to trade legally and confidently.
Personal Licence Holder
- What it is:
A portable licence for an individual that lets you sell alcohol—or authorise others to sell it—at any licensed premises. It's required for the Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) named on a Premises Licence and it doesn't expire. - Who needs it:
Owners/managers acting as DPS, supervisors who authorise staff, and anyone in hospitality/retail who wants more responsibility or flexibility. It's also helpful if you run events and need more Temporary Event Notices (with a personal licence you can have up to 50 Temporary Event Notices). - Why it is needed:
- •Legal compliance: any venue selling alcohol must have a Personal Licence Holder so that they are the DPS.
- •Keeps you trading: having licence-holders on the team reduces rota risks and smooths inspections.
- •Career boost and flexibility: opens up senior roles and allows a higher annual allowance of Temporary Event Notices.
- •Credibility: reassures councils, insurers, landlords, and suppliers.
Bottom line: If you manage or supervise alcohol sales—or want to—holding a Personal Licence lets you authorise sales legally, keep operations moving, and unlock new opportunities.
Variation of Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS)
- What it is:
A simple application to change the named DPS on your Premises Licence to a new Personal Licence Holder—the person legally responsible for alcohol sales at your venue. - Who needs it:
Any premises with a Premises Licence selling alcohol when the manager changes, there's a takeover, or you want a different Personal Licence Holder in charge. - Why it is needed:
- •Legal requirement: you must have a DPS to sell alcohol.
- •Keeps you trading: if your DPS leaves, alcohol sales can become unlawful until you vary the DPS.
- •Clear accountability: reassures police, council, insurers, and landlords.
- •Speed and ease: Submit the new DPS's consent and request with "immediate effect" so you can keep selling while the council processes the change. Low, fixed fee; minimal paperwork.
Good to know: Police can object on crime-prevention grounds. Clubs with a Club Premises Certificate do not require a DPS, the sale is by committee.
Bottom line: Changing managers? Vary your DPS quickly to stay compliant and avoid interruptions to alcohol sales.
Transfer Premise Licence
- What it is:
A switch of the Premises licence holder for an existing Premises Licence to a new individual or company when a business changes hands. The licence stays with the address; the transfer updates who's legally responsible. You do not require a Personal Licence to be a Premises Licence Holder. - Who needs it:
Buyers of bars, restaurants, shops, hotels; franchise or company restructures; management take over, any premises with a Premises Licence. If the old holder has died or gone insolvent, then you can use an interim authority first, then transfer. - Why it matters:
- •Legal continuity: alcohol sales must be under the current operator's name—avoid fines, closure, and insurance issues.
- •Seamless handover: request "immediate effect" so you can keep selling while the council processes the application.
- •Clear accountability: reassures police, council, lenders, and suppliers.
What it does not do: It does not change hours, conditions, layout, or the DPS. Use a Variation or DPS change if you need those.
Process snapshot: Apply to the council with the transfer form, consent from the existing holder, and the fee; notify the police. Police have 14 days to object on crime-prevention grounds. No newspaper advertisement or public consultation.
Bottom line: Taking over a licensed venue? Transfer the Premises Licence promptly to keep trading legally and without disruption.
Temporary Event Notice
- What it is:
A fast, low-cost way to get short-term permission to sell alcohol, provide late-night refreshment (11pm–5am), or run regulated entertainment for a one-off event. Covers up to 499 people for a maximum of 168 hours. No DPS is required. - Who uses it:
Weddings, pop-ups, charity and community events, corporate parties, markets, and venues seeking a one-off hours extension or garden events. - Why it is needed:
- •Legal cover for occasional events at unlicensed sites, or to extend hours/activities at a licensed venue.
- •Simple and quick: submit to your council—standard TENs need the minimum of 10 working days' notice; late TENs 5–9 working days. (The day you submit and the day of the event is not included in these working days.)
- •Cost-effective: low fee, no full Premises Licence or variation required.
- •Flexible: Personal Licence Holders can give up to 50 TENs per year; others up to 5. Each premises can have up to 15 TENs per year (max 21 days total).
Good to know: Police/Environmental Health can object on crime, nuisance, safety, or child protection grounds. Late TENs with objections are automatically rejected. You must be 18+ and keep the notice on site during the event.
Bottom line: Hosting a one-off event or testing a concept? A TEN gives you quick, affordable, legal permission to serve alcohol and run late or entertainment activities—without the complexity of a full licence.
Minor Variation of Premises licence
- What it is:
A fast, low-cost way to make small, low-risk changes to your Premises Licence (or Club Premises Certificate) without a full variation. - Typical uses:
- •Minor layout tweaks after a refit (moving a bar/servery, adding seating).
- •Updating, adding, or removing outdated licence conditions.
- •Reducing licensed hours or clarifying plans/areas.
- •Adding non-contentious activities that won't impact neighbours.
- What it can't do:
- •Extend alcohol sale hours or make major operational changes.
- •Transfer the licence or change the DPS.
- Why it is better:
- •Quicker and cheaper: lower fixed fee, no newspaper advertisement.
- •Light-touch process: 10 working-day consultation; decisions usually within 15 working days.
- •Less paperwork and disruption—ideal for quick compliance tidy-ups.
Bottom line: If your change is minor and unlikely to affect the licensing objectives, a Minor Variation gets it approved faster and for less cost and time. For bigger changes (like longer alcohol hours), use a Full Premises Licence Variation.
Variation of Premises licence
- What it is:
A formal change to your existing Premises Licence when the impact is not "minor." It updates your legal permissions with the council. - Typical reasons:
- •Extend alcohol hours and late night refreshment and/or regulated entertainment
- •Add late night refreshment and/or regulated entertainment (music, films, dancing)
- •Expand the licensed area (garden/terrace, off-sales, delivery)
- •Material layout changes that will increase the sale of alcohol
- •Add, remove, or replace licence conditions
- Why it is needed:
- •Legal compliance: you must vary before operating outside your current licence—avoid fines, reviews, or closure.
- •Revenue growth: longer hours and new activities unlock sales.
- •Fit-for-purpose conditions: align your licence with how you actually trade.
Process snapshot: 28-day consultation with site and newspaper notices; police, council teams, and neighbours can comment; hearing if contested. Fees are banded by rateable value.
Alternatives: Use a Minor Variation for low-risk tweaks, or a TEN for one-off events.
Bottom line: If your plans go beyond what your licence allows, a Full Variation is the safe, strategic way to expand legally and confidently.