Premise Licence under the Licensing Act 2003

You need a premise licence if you want to have regulated entertainment, serve late night refreshments or supply alcohol.

Who can apply for a license?

Any of the following:

•  anyone who conducts a business in the premises
• 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 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 be 18 years of age or above.

How do I apply for a licence?

You will need:

• To complete an Application for a premise licence under the Licensing Act 2003
• To have a plan of the premises
• To complete a Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) Consent form - this must be completed by the person you wish to be the premise supervisor (for applications where the sale of alcohol will be a licensable activity). Please note a Designated Premises Supervisor must be a Personal Licence Holder 
• To send copies of the application form, plan, consent form and operating schedule to all the responsible authorities listed below
• To advertise your application
• To pay a fee

What is an operating schedule and what should it include?

The operating schedule tells us what activity you want to carry out and when. It should include:

• the licensable activities
• the times when the activities will take place
• any other times when the premises will be open to the public
• if you want a limited licence, the period the licence is required for
• premises supervisor information
• whether the alcohol 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

What must a plan include?

The plan must be to a scale of 1:100 and include:

• the extent of the boundary of the building, if relevant, and any external and internal walls of the building and, if different, the perimeter of the premises;
• the location points of access to and egress from the premises;
• the location of escape routes from the premises, if different from above;
• in a case where the premises is used for more than one existing licensable activity, the area within the premises used for each activity;
• in a case where an existing licensable activity relates to the supply of alcohol, the location/s on the premises where alcohol is consumed;
• fixed structures (including furniture) or similar objects temporarily in a fixed location (but not furniture) which may impact exists or escape routes;
• the location and height of any stage or raised area relative to the floor;
• the location of steps, stairs, elevators or lifts;
• the location of rooms with public conveniences;
• the location and type of fire safety and other safety equipment; and
• the location of any kitchen on the premises.

How / where do I advertise my application?

For a premise licence, a variation to an existing licence or for a provisional statement, you must display a pale blue A4 notice prominently on the boundary of the premises to which it relates.

It must be printed legibly in black ink or typed in black, in at least font size 16 and be displayed for 28 consecutive days starting the day after the application is given to us.

In addition, you must publish a notice in a local newspaper that circulates in the same area where the premises are, at least once during the 10 working days after the application is given to us.

Who are the responsible authorities I need to send the information to?

Responsible Authorities

The Licensing Team  Hertsmere Borough Council Civic Offices Elstree Way Borehamwood Hertfordshire WD6 1WA Tel: 0208 207 2277 Fax: 0208 207 7436 Email: licensing@hertsmere.gov.uk	Environmental Health Officer (Environmental Protection) Hertsmere Borough Council Civic Offices Elstree Way Borehamwood Hertfordshire WD6 1WA Tel: 0208 207 2277 Fax: 0208 207 7436 Email: ep-tens@hertsmere.gov.uk
Environmental Health Officer (Health & Safety) Hertsmere Borough Council Civic Offices Elstree Way Borehamwood Hertfordshire WD6 1WA Tel: 0208 207 7435 Fax: 0208 207 7436 Email: environmental.health@hertsmere.gov.uk	Head of Planning Hertsmere Borough Council Civic Offices Elstree Way Borehamwood Hertfordshire WD6 1WA Tel: 0208 207 2277 Fax: 0208 207 7444 Email:planning@hertsmere.gov.uk
Des Michael Licensing Officer Central Area Borehamwood Police Station Elstree Way Borehamwood Hertfordshire WD6 1JP Tel: 01707 806625 Email: des.michael@herts.pnn.police.uk	Fire Protection Manager Fire Protection Mundells MU 103 Welwyn Garden City Hertfordshire AL7 1FT Tel: 01707 292 310 Fax: 01707 292 588 Email: administration.cfs@hertscc.gov.uk
HSCB Business Manager Hertfordshire Safeguarding Children's Board Room 127 County Hall Pegs Lane Hertford Hertfordshire SG13 8DF Tel: 01992 588757 Fax: 01992 588201 Email: admin.lscb@hertscc.gov.uk	Trading Standards Hertfordshire County Council Mundells Welwyn Garden City Hertfordshire AL7 1FT Tel: 01707 292429 Email: hcc.tradstad@hertscc.gov.uk
Licensing Applications Public Health Farnham House Six Hills Way Stevenage Hertfordshire SG1 2FQ Email: licensing@hertfordshire.nhs.uk	If your premises are enforced by the Health and Safety Executive you will also need to send a further, tenth copy, to: Health and Safety Executive Woodlands Manton Lane Bedford Bedfordshire MK41 7LW Tel: 01234 22 550

How much does a licence cost?

 The Fee structure for the Licensing Act 2003 depends on the non-domestic rateable value of the property.

The non-domestic rateable value can be found by contacting the Valuation Office Authority or by searching Valuation Office Agency (VOA) Non Domestic Rates

Apply online

• Application for a premise licence under the Licensing Act 2003
• Application to transfer premises licence under the Licensing Act 2003
• Application to vary a premises licence to specify an individual as designated premises supervisor under the Licensing Act 2003
• Application for need for a Designated Premises Supervisor to be dis-applied under the Licensing Act 2003
• Application to vary a premises licence under the Licensing Act 2003
• Application for a variation to a club premises certificate under the Licensing Act 2003
• Application for a minor variation to a premises or club licence under the Licensing Act 2003
• Interim authority notice under the Licensing Act 2003
• Notification of change of details or club rules under the Licensing Act 2003
• Notification of an interest in premises under s.178 of the Licensing Act 2003
• Provisional statement under the Licensing Act 2003 

What if someone objects?

A hearing must be held if any objections – often called representations - are received.

At the hearing, the Licensing Sub-Committee will consider the information and based on this will either grant or refuse your application. Even if it is granted, it may be subject to some conditions.

We will tell you if a hearing is necessary and you, and anyone who has made relevant representations, will be told of the decision.

How long will it take us to decide on your application?

 A 28-day period must be allowed for any representation(s) to be made.

If none are received, we aim to process your application within 14 days of the last date that a representation could be made.

However, due to the volume of applications, it can sometimes take us a little longer.

If representations are made, by law we are required to start a hearing within 28 days after the last date for representations.

We aim to give you at least 10 working days’ notice of the date of any hearing(s) we intend to hold.

Can I appeal your decision if it is refused?

Yes. You can appeal to Watford Magistrates Court within 21 days of the notice of decision.

I would like to complain about a premise which already has a licence.

You can ask us to Review of a Premise Licence or Club Premises Certificate. Once an application is received we have a 28-day consultation process which will lead to a licensing hearing where all the facts will be considered and a decision made.

If you are having problems with noise nuisance please contact us on 020 8207 7435

The Chief Officer of Hertfordshire Constabulary can give notice to us to close a premise and urgently initiate a licence review. This can only be used if the premises is licensed to sell alcohol by retail, and a senior police officer has given a certificate to state that in their opinion the premise is associated with serious crime, disorder or both.

Premise Licence Application Register

You can view our Premise Licence Application Register.