To provide late-night refreshments and regulated entertainment, and sell alcohol, you need a licence from the local authority if you are in England and Wales.
Premises licences replace Justices Licences previously issued under the Licensing Act 1964, for the sale and supply of alcohol. Premises licensed to sell alcohol must have a Designated Premises Supervisor, who must have a Personal Licence.
Other licensable activities include providing late night refreshment, the sale of hot food between 11:00pm and 5:00am, and providing regulated entertainment - this section explains the types of entertainment that need a licence.
Premises licences do not have an expiry date, unless granted for a fixed period for a specific reason, but an annual fee is payable to keep your licence current.
You can also apply for a provisional licence statement for premises which are intended to become licensed, but which have not yet been built or converted.
For registered private members' clubs, see club premises certificates, which are required instead of a premises licence.
Premises used to hold regulated entertainment, sell alcohol or provide late night refreshment must have a premises licence.
Regulated entertainment includes, films, plays, indoor sports, live and recorded music and provision of facilities for making music and dancing.
A premises licence lasts indefinitely, but is subject to an annual fee.
Any of the following may apply for a premises licence:
Applicants must not be under 18 years of age.
Applications must be sent to the licensing authority for the area where the premises are located. Applications for a New Premises Licence are subject to a 28 day public consultation period (starting the day following valid receipt of the application by the relevant licensing authority). This is to allow for representations to be made by members of the public and responsible authorities against the application.
A summary of the Licensing Act 2003 regulations can be found at www.gov.uk/guidance/alcohol-licensing.
Applicants must provide the following information.
Please note - If you are applying as an individual (i.e. not as a commercial entity) then you will be required to provide proof of your 'right to work in the UK'.
An operating schedule will include details of:
It is important that applicants provide as much detail as possible within their operating schedules to enable responsible authorities to fully understand their proposals and reduce the need for further information to be requested.
Please refer to our Pool of Model Conditions page for more information on completing your operating schedule.
Applicants are required to advertise their application and to give notice of the application to any other person or responsible body, e.g. the local authority, chief police officer or fire and rescue authority.
Premises Licence advertising requirements stipulate that an application must be advertised in two ways.
Should an application not receive any representations by the end of the consultation period the licensing authority must grant the application, which can be subject to conditions. However a hearing must be held if any relevant representations are made in respect of the application. If a hearing is held the licence can be granted or granted subject to additional conditions, licensable activities listed in the application can be excluded or the application can be rejected.
The licensing authority will serve a notice of its decision on the applicant, any person who has made relevant representations (i.e. representations that were not deemed frivolous or vexatious) and the chief of police.
Yes, in most cases. This means that you will be able to act as though your application is granted if you have not heard from the local authority by the end of the target completion period.
The target completion period from the date the application is received by the council is 50 working days in the case of applications for premises licences, provisional statements, variations to premises licences.
Use the links below to make online applications.
In the first instance please contact:
Licensing Section
Amber Valley Borough Council
Town Hall
Ripley
Derbyshire
DE5 3BT
Telephone: 01773 570222
Email: licensing@ambervalley.gov.uk
If an application for a licence is refused the failed applicant can appeal.
Appeals are made to a Magistrates' court within 21 days of notice of the decision.
In the first instance please contact:
Licensing Section
Amber Valley Borough Council
Town Hall
Ripley
Derbyshire
DE5 3BT
Telephone: 01773 570222
Email: licensing@ambervalley.gov.uk
If an application is made by the chief police officer, as detailed below, and interim steps are taken by the licensing authority you may make representations. A hearing must be held within 48 hours of your representations.
A licence holder may appeal against any conditions attached to a licence, a decision to reject a variation application, a decision to reject a transfer application or a decision to exclude an activity or person as premises supervisor.
Appeals are made to a magistrates' court within 21 days of notice of the decision.
An interested party or responsible authority may apply to the licensing authority to review the premises licence. A hearing will be held by the licensing authority.
Appeals are made to a Magistrates' court within 21 days of notice of the decision.
The chief police officer for the police area where the premises are located can apply to the licensing authority for a review of the licence if the premises are licensed to sell alcohol by retail and a senior officer has given a certificate that they are of the opinion that the premises are associated with either serious crime or disorder or both. A hearing will be held and the licence holder and other interested parties may make representations.
A chief police officer can give a notice to the licensing authority if they believe that the transfer of a licence to another, under a variation application could undermine crime prevention objectives. Such a notice must be given within 14 days of receiving notification of the application.
An interested party or responsible body may make representations in relation to a licence application or request the licensing body to review a licence.
An interested party or responsible authority may apply to the licensing authority to review the premises licence. A hearing will be held by the licensing authority.
A chief police officer may make representations to the licensing authority for a review of the licence if the premises are licensed to sell alcohol by retail and a senior member of the force has given a certificate to state that in their opinion the premises are associated with serious crime, disorder or both.
An interested party or relevant authority who made relevant representations may appeal against the granting of a licence or against any condition, variation, licensable activity or premises supervisor decisions.
Appeals are made to a Magistrates' court within 21 days of notice of the decision.
Contact the team directly on 01773 570222 or email licensing@ambervalley.gov.uk
