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Apply for a premises license to sell alcohol

Last updated 11 June 2013

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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.

Statement of Licensing Policy

In January 2005, the London Borough of Waltham Forest published its Statement of Licensing Policy under the Licensing Act 2003. The Policy details the principles to be applied when determining applications under the Act for the sale and supply of alcohol, provision of regulated entertainment and late night refreshment (licensable activities).

It is a requirement of the Act that the Council must review and re-publish its Policy, in accordance with the Act (currently every three years).

Eligibility criteria

Any of the following may apply for a premises licence:

  • Anyone who uses 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 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

» See summary of the regulation relating to this licence on the Office of Public Sector Information website.

The application process

Applications must be sent to the licensing authority for the area where the premises are located.

Applications must be in a specific format and be accompanied by any required fee. An operating schedule, a plan of the premises and a form of consent from the premises supervisor (for applications where the sale of alcohol will be a licensable activity).

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
  • In the case of applicants who wish to have a limited licence, the period the licence is required for
  • Information in respect of the premises supervisor
  • Whether any alcohol that is to be sold is for consumption on or of the premises or both
  • The steps proposed to be taken to promote the licensing objectives
  • Any other required information

A notice advertising the application must be displayed for a period of no less than 28 consecutive days starting on the day after the day on which the application was given to the relevant licensing authority and published in a local newspaper on at least one occasion during the period of ten working days starting on the day after the day on which the application was given to the licensing authority. The responsible authorities and all the interested parties will have a period of twenty eight consecutive days to make representations regarding the variations to the licensing authority. If the licensing authority considers that any representation is relevant, a hearing will be held to consider these representations (unless all parties agree that a hearing is unnecessary).

The licensing authority must grant the application, which can be subject to conditions. A hearing must be held if any 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.

Applications can also be made to vary or transfer a licence. A hearing may have to be heard if representations are made or conditions relating to a transfer are not met.

Other applications that can be made are applications for an interim authority notice following the death, incapacity or insolvency of a licence holder or review applications.

Guidance Notes

To download application forms, please visit the Home Office website at:

http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/drugs/alcohol/alcohol-licences/

Will tacit consent apply?

Yes. This means that you will be able to act as though your application is granted if no representations have been received within 28 days of submitting your application.

Apply online

If your application failed

Please contact Waltham Forest Direct on 020 8496 3000 and ask for the licensing team in the first instance.

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.

Licence holder redress

Please contact Waltham Forest Direct on 020 8496 3000 and ask for the licensing team in the first instance.

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.

Consumer complaint

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.

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, licensable activity or premises supervisor decisions.

Appeals are made to a Magistrates' court within 21 days of notice of the decision.

Applications being considered

In accordance with the Licensing Act 2003, Waltham Forest Council current applications such as the: grant of a licence/club premises certificate applications; minor variations of a premises licence/club premises certificate applications and the full variations of a premises licence/club premises certificate applications are listed below and details of what has been applied for is attached.

All representations must be received in writing before the end of the consultation period (via post or email). The last date when any representations can be received for these applications is indicated next to the application that it relates to.

Please be advised that it is an offence to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in connection with any application and the maximum fine on summary of conviction is £5,000.

Grant of a premises licence / club premises certificate applications:

Full variation applications:

Minor variation applications:

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