Advice on licensing applications for business premises is provided by Practising Consultant, Sue Scott.

Sue has been working for many years in the licensed premises sector, both before and after the introduction of the 2003 Licensing Act, and has dealt with numerous applications in the course of the acquisition of pubs, restaurants and other drinking establishments. She was for many years one of the recommended solicitors for the members of the British Institute of Innkeeping.

Key Stages

Key stages in the licence application process include:

• Meeting you, and ideally seeing the premises, to take instructions
• Putting together a draft application
  
• Submitting the application to the licensing authority as a draft. It is then forwarded to the various departments
• Submission of a formal application once the various statutory bodies have agreed it and then waiting for the licence to be issued
• A notice of the application must be advertised on the outside of the premises, for at least 28 days, and an advertisement placed in the local newspaper. This is usually done as soon as the application is formally submitted

Timescales

The licensing application process takes a minimum of one month, but on average will be complete within two months, assuming it is straightforward. Where there are objections to the licensing application or other complications, the process can be much longer.

Our Fees

Licensing applications are provided on a fixed fee basis as follows:

Included in the fees above for a new premises licence or variation of licence are:

• premises visit; and
• meeting with you and putting in a draft application to the police and/or Local Authority to get their views prior to submitting a full application.

Exclusions and Additional Costs

Excluded from the fees above are any costs incurred for dealing with any objections which would be based on Sue Scott’s hourly rate.

Should attendance at a hearing of the licensing authority be required, a barrister would be instructed – we would always agree their fees with you in advance.

Other costs would include (estimated):