You can apply for a premises licence if you intend to sell alcohol or provide ‘licensable activities’ from a particular venue, unless you have a temporary event notice or club premises certificate.
Licensable activities include:
- selling alcohol (including online sales)
- serving hot food and drinks between 11pm and 5am
You’ll also need a licence if you provide the following types of entertainment:
- theatrical performance
- showing a film
- indoor sporting event
- boxing or wrestling (indoor or outdoor)
- live music
- recorded music
- dance
- facilities for making music
- dancing facilities
You still need a licence even if the activities are for charity.
The rules regarding premises licences are in the Licensing Act 2003 and the Licensing Act 2003 (Premises licences and club premises certificates) Regulations 2005
Exemptions
You don’t need a licence for some types of entertainment, including:
- educational or promotional films
- films shown as part of an exhibition in a museum or gallery
- incidental music (live or recorded)
Conditions
You must be, or appoint, a designated premises supervisor (DPS) when you apply for a licence. A DPS must have a personal licence to sell alcohol.
There may be other conditions added to your licence, such as having an age-checking policy if you sell alcohol. Read a guide to ensuring that underage sales of alcohol do not take place.
Apply for a premises licence
Download the premises licence application form.
You’ll need to provide:
- your details
- a consent form for the Designated Premises Supervisor if alcohol is to be sold (the person nominated will need to have a personal licence. This requirement may not be necessary for community premises)
- a plan of the premises showing certain criteria
- an operating schedule, e.g. hours when alcohol will be sold
- a copy of a relevant document proving you have the right to work in the UK
- the application fee
You should read Section 182 Licensing Act Guidance.
We recommend that you complete the risk assessment form to help you decide what should be entered in your operating schedule of your licence application, to show how you will promote the 4 licensing objectives.