A premises licence is generally required for businesses providing the following activities:
- Sale of alcohol
- Regulated entertainment
- Late night refreshment (hot food or drinks between 11pm and 5am)
Regulated entertainment includes:-
- Performance of a play
- Showing of a film
- Indoor sporting events
- Boxing or wrestling entertainment
- Performance of live music
- Playing of recorded music
- Performance of dance
Certain entertainment activities are exempt in specific situations. Details can be found in Appendix H of the Licensing policy document.
To discuss your specific licence needs before you apply you can are use our Licensing Direct service which includes pre-application advice.
If you sell alcohol at your premises, in almost all circumstances, you will also need at least one person who holds a Personal Licence. This person must be named on the premises licence as the Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS).
Premises licences are usually valid indefinitely unless revoked, suspended, or surrendered. A time-limited licence can be granted for a one-off event. Alternatively, a Temporary event notice may also be suitable for one off events.
How to apply
You can apply online for a new premises licence using the link below.
Apply online for a Premises Licence
You can also apply for:
- Application for Variation of Premises Licence
- Application for Minor Variation - More information is available in the Government’s Minor Variation application guidance
- Application for Variation of Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS). Please note the nominated DPS will need to complete the online consent to be nominated as a Designated Premises Supervisor and this form must accompany the application.
- Application for Transfer of Premises Licence. Please note the current licence holder will need to complete the online consent to the transfer of a premises licence and this form should accompany the application.
- Application for Interim Authority
- Notification of request to be removed as designated premises supervisor
- Apply for a Designated Premises Supervisor to be disapplied
- Notification of change of name or address
Required documents
As part of the application process you will required to upload the following documents where appropriate:
- DPS consent form: If selling alcohol, the Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) must complete an online consent to be nominated as a Designated Premises Supervisor form. The DPS must hold a personal licence.
- Plan: Provide a plan in accordance with the Plan Regulations
- Proof of right to work in UK, e.g. passport
Operating schedule
As part of a premises licence application applicants must prepare an operating schedule. Applicants are required to include measures which are appropriate for the promotion of the licensing objectives.
You can view example conditions within Appendix J of the Council’s Licensing Policy.
Help and guidance
What happens next?
You will be contacted by the licensing team to confirm if your application is accepted.
Once accepted, you will be required to:
- place a public notice on the premises for 28 consecutive days, and
- advertise your application in the local press within 10 working days
Templates for these notices are available below, or you can get help from our Licensing Direct service.
The Council will serve your application on the responsible authorities and publish details on the list of current premises licence applications page.
There will be a 28-day consultation period during which responsible authorities and members of the public can make representations.
At the end of the consultation period, the licensing team will inform you if there have been any representations. If there have been no representations your licence will be granted as applied for.
If representations are received the licensing team will inform you by email. If a solution is not agreed the application will be referred to the Licensing Act sub-committee to determine.
The sub-committee will meet within 20 working days of the end of the consultation period to consider the application.
Appealing a decision
All parties have the right of appeal. Appeals can be made against new, variation and review applications. The appeal must be lodged at the local Magistrates' Court within 21 days.
Paying your annual licence fee
When applying for a premises licence you will need to pay a fee at the end of the online application form. The amount you pay will be based on the property’s rateable value. If the licence is approved an annual fee will then be charged. Certain premises are exempt from paying fees.
Fees and charges for licensed premises licences.
| Licensing Act 2003 | Fee (2025-2026) |
|---|---|
| Licensed Premises, Grant Premises Licence or Club, Premises Certificate. (Excluding Schools, Colleges, Church Halls, Community Premises (where alcohol is not included)). | |
| Band A (Rateable Value £0 - £4,300). | £100 |
| Band B (Rateable Value £4,301-£33,000). | £190 |
| Band C (Rateable Value £33,001-£87,000). | £315 |
| Band D (Rateable Value £87,001-£125,000). | £450 |
| Band E (Rateable Value £125,001+). | £635 |
|
Variation of Premises Licence or Club Premises Certificate. (Excluding Schools, Colleges, Church Halls, Community Premises (where alcohol is not included)). |
|
| Band A (Rateable value £0- £4,300). | £100 |
| Band B (Rateable value £4,301-£33,000). | £190 |
| Band C (Rateable value £33,001-£87,000). | £315 |
| Band D (Rateable value £87,001-£125,000). | £450 |
| Band E (Rateable value £125,001+). | £635 |
| Annual Fee for Premises Licence or Club Premises Certificate. (Excluding Schools, Colleges, Church Halls, Community Premises (where alcohol is not included)). | |
| Band A (Rateable value £0- £4,300). | £70 |
| Band B (Rateable value £4,301-£33,000). | £180 |
| Band C (Rateable value £33,001-£87,000). | £295 |
| Band D (Rateable value £87,001-£125,000). | £320 |
| Band E (Rateable value £125,001+). | £350 |
| Grant of Premises Licence where alcohol is Primary Use | |
| Band A (Rateable value £0- £4,300). | £100 |
| Band B (Rateable value £4,301-£33,000). | £190 |
| Band C (Rateable value £33,001-£87,000). | £315 |
| Band D (Rateable value £87,001-£125,000). | £900 |
| Band E (Rateable value £125,001+). | £1,905 |
| Annual Fee for Premises Licence where alcohol is Primary use | |
| Band A (Rateable value £0- £4,300). | £70 |
| Band B (Rateable value £4,301-£33,000). | £180 |
| Band C (Rateable value £33,001-£87,000). | £295 |
| Band D (Rateable value £87,001-£125,000). | £640 |
| Band E (Rateable value £125,001+). | £1,050 |
| Additional Application Fee - Grant or variation of Premises Licence or Club Premises Certificate – Number of Persons | |
| 5,000 to 9,999. | £1,000 |
| 10,000 to 14,999. | £2,000 |
| 15,000 to 19,999. | £4,000 |
| 20,000 to 29,999. | £8,000 |
| 30,000 to 39,999. | £16,000 |
| 40,000 to 49,999. | £24,000 |
| 50,000 to 59,999. | £32,000 |
| 60,000 to 69,999. | £40,000 |
| 70,000 to 79,999. | £48,000 |
| 80,000 to 89,999. | £56,000 |
| 90,000 and over. | £64,000 |
| Additional Annual Fee – Number of Persons | |
| 5,000 to 9,999. | £500 |
| 10,000 to 14,999. | £1,000 |
| 15,000 to 19,999. | £2,000 |
| 20,000 to 29,999. | £4,000 |
| 30,000 to 39,999. | £8,000 |
| 40,000 to 49,999. | £12,000 |
| 50,000 to 59,999. | £16,000 |
| 60,000 to 69,999. | £20,000 |
| 70,000 to 79,999. | £24,000 |
| 80,000 to 89,999. | £28,000 |
| 90,000 and over. | £32,000 |
| Personal Licence. | £37 |
| Personal Licence - Theft, Loss etc. | £10.50 |
| Personal Licence - Duty to notify change of name or address. | £10.50 |
| Temporary Event Notice (TEN). | £21 |
| Temporary Event Notice - Theft, loss etc. | £10.50 |
| Premises Licence or Summary - Theft, loss, etc. | £10.50 |
| Application for provisional statement where premises being built etc. | £315 |
| Premises Licence Holder - Notification of change of name or address. | £10.50 |
| Application to vary licence to specify individual as DPS. | £23 |
| Transfer of premises licence. | £23 |
| Interim Authority notice following death etc of licence holder. | £23 |
| Club Premises Certificate or Summary - Theft, loss etc. | £10.50 |
| Notification of change of name of alteration of rules of club. | £10.50 |
| Change of relevant registered address of club. | £10.50 |
| Right of Freeholder etc to be notified of licensing matters. | £21 |
| Minor Variations. | £89 |
| Vary Licence to include alternative condition (Removal of DPS Condition – Community Premises). | £23 |
| Premises Licence - Re-issue following change of name / address of DPS. | £10.50 |
| Copy of extract of Licensing Register. | £10 plus cost of copying if required |
| Premises Licence and Summary – Licence holder request for copy i.e. following change of premises name. | £10.50 |
| Club Premises Certificate or Summary – Club request for copy. | £10.50 |
You can make an annual fee payment online using the link below:
Make an annual fee paymentInvoices are not issued, so it’s the licence holder’s responsibility to ensure timely payment. The council will suspend your licence if the annual fee is not paid.
Premises Licence Review
Any responsible authority or person can apply for a review of a premises licence if it undermines any of the licensing objectives.
Premises Licence review application form
Nuisance logsheet
Guidance for Other Persons - Applying for a Review
Guidance for Other Person - Making Representations
Provisional Statement
We publish a guide for applicants wishing to apply for a provisional statement.
If you want to discuss whether a provisional statement is right for you, use our Licensing Direct service. We can also help with completing and checking the application, speeding up the process and saving your time and money.
Register an interest in a premises
If you have a legal interest in a premises you can sign up to receive updates about any licensing applications for that premises. This is an optional service. You can register an interest if you are an individual or organisation that:
- owns the freehold or leasehold of the premises
- is named on a mortgage for the premises
- is currently occupying the premises
An agent (e.g. a solicitor) can sign the form on your behalf.