Premises licences

Premises licences

Guidance and how to apply

Licence summary

To provide late-night refreshments and regulated entertainment, and sell alcohol, you need a licence from the Licensing Authority if you are in England and Wales.

» Go straight to application forms

Eligibility criteria

Any of the following may apply for a premises licence:

• anyone who carries on a business in the premises to which the application relates;
• a recognised club;
• a charity;
• a health service body;
• a person who is registered under the Care Standards Act 2000 in relation to an independent hospital;
• a chief police officer of a force in England and Wales;
• anyone discharging a statutory duty or function under Her Majesty's prerogative;
• a person from an educational institute;
• any other permitted person.

Applicants must not be under 18 years of age.

Regulation summary

 » View a summary of the regulations relating to this licence

Application evaluation process

Applications can be made either in writing or via our online application system. Applications that are made in writing must be in a specific format and be accompanied by the required fee, site plans (if applicable) and any other relevant documentation.

• View the site plan requirements (pdf)

Please note that responsible authorities may need copies of the full application as part of the process.  Failure to do this may affect the validation of your application. For full details, please see Relevant responsible authorities below.

For new and full variation applications an operating schedule will also be required which is included in the application form. An operating schedule will include details of:

• the licensable activities;
• the times when the activities will take place;
• any other times when the premises will be open to the public;
• information in respect of the premises supervisor;
• whether any alcohol that is to be sold is for consumption on or off the premises or both;
• the steps proposed to be taken to promote the licensing objectives;
• any other required information.

For new, provisional statements or full variation applications a notice of application must be displayed on the premises for a period of 28 consecutive days starting from the day after the day the application is made to the Licensing Authority. The notice of application must be to the specified size and colour (light blue).

• Notice of application (pdf).

A notice must also be displayed in a local newspaper circulating in the area to which the premises relate. The notice must contain the same information as the notice on the premises. It must be displayed in the newspaper within 10 days from the day the application is made. The notice only has to appear once in the local paper. Please note that if the requirements of these notices are not met the Licensing Authority may require you to re-advertise and the 28 day consultation period will recommence.

Minor variation

A notice is also required for a minor variation application. The notice must meet the statutory requirements and be no smaller than A4 size on white paper.

• Minor variation of premises licence notice (pdf).

Unlike full variations the consultation period is reduced for these applications. The notice has to be displayed on the premises for a period of 10 consecutive days from the day after the application is made. No newspaper public notice is required for minor variations.

A statutory fee is payable upon application. 

• Summary of fees - Licensing Act 2003 (pdf)

The minor variation fee is £89.

The Secretary of State has produced guidance under section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003. The Licensing Authority when considering any application will have regard to this guidance.

• Amended guidance under section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003 (1.1MB pdf)

As a requirement of the Licensing Act, Hammersmith & Fulham Council has produced a licensing policy that will be used by the authority when determining applications.

• H&F Statement of Licensing Policy (pdf)

Will tacit consent apply?

Yes - for the following applications made online and that are unopposed at the end of the consultation period. 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 Council's target completion period for Licensing Act 2003 premises licence applications are listed below:

        New, provisional and full variation applications - 40 days

        All other application types* - 30 days

*Minor variation applications will not be given tacit authorisation as by law they will be automatically refused if the authority has not determined the application after 15 days from receipt.

Relevant responsible authorities

Please note the applicant is required to send copies of their applications to the relevant responsible authorities. The table below details which responsible authorities must receive copies of the application form.

Application	Responsible Authority to be consulted
New Premises Licence.	All
New Provisional Statement.	All
Variation of premises licence (full).	All
Variation of premises licence (minor).	None*
Transfer of premises licence.	Police only
Vary the licence to specify an individual as the designated premises supervisor (DPS).	Police only
Interim Authority Notice	Police only
Notification of interest in a premises	None
*The licensing authority will consult those responsible authorities it considers necessary.

• Responsible authorities contact details (pdf)

If you have any questions relating to the application process or how to complete the forms please contact the Licensing Service on 020 7641 4680 or email licensing@lbhf.gov.uk

Public licensing register

Search the council's online licensing register 

You can also view a copy of the register at the council's offices during normal office hours. To make an appointment to view the registers please contact the Licensing Team on 020 7641 4680 or alternatively email licensing@lbhf.gov.uk .

Failed application redress

If an application for a licence is refused the applicant can appeal.

Appeals are made to the West London Magistrates Court, 181 Talgarth Road London England W6 8DN within 21 days of notice of the decision.

Licence holder redress

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 the West London Magistrates Court, 181 Talgarth Road London England W6 8DN within 21 days of notice of the decision

Customer complaints

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 the West London Magistrates Court, 181 Talgarth Road London England W6 8DN within 21 days of notice of the decision

Other redress

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 and licensable activity or premises supervisor decisions.

Appeals are made to the West London Magistrates Court, 181 Talgarth Road London England W6 8DN within 21 days of notice of the decision.

If there is a concern about noise please contact our Environmental Protection Team on the out of hours service number Line on 020 8748 8588 out of hours or email environmentalprotection@lbhf.gov.uk

Should any person have a complaint relating to a licensed premises or suspect a premises is operating without the required licence please contact the Council's Licensing Officers on 020 8753 4680 or email licensing@lbhf.gov.uk. 

Trade associations

Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR)

Broadcasting, Entertainment, Cinematograph and Theatre Union (BECTU)

Federation of Licensed Victuallers Associations (FLVA)

Institute of Entertainment and Arts Professionals (IEAP)

British Institute of Innkeepers (BII)