Premises licence

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

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.

Application evaluation 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.

Applicants may be required to advertise their application and to give notice of the application to the proper authority at the local council, the chief police officer and the fire and rescue authority.

If no objections are received, 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 (ie 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.

Apply

Download and complete an application form and send it to one of the following addresses:

• Licensing Unit, Public Protection Service, Council Offices, Shirehall Street, Caernarfon, Gwynedd, LL55 1SH
• Licensing Unit, Public Protection Service, Dwyfor Area Office, Ffordd y Cob, Pwllheli, Gwynedd, LL53 5AA
• Licensing Unit, Public Protection Service, Meirionnydd Area Office, Cae Penarlâg, Dolgellau, Gwynedd, LL40 2YB

Completed forms can also be handed in at Siop Gwynedd:

• Siop Gwynedd Pwllheli
• Siop Gwynedd Caernarfon
• Siop Gwynedd Dolgellau

 

Fees

• List of Licensing Act 2003 Fees

 

Public Register

View the public register of Gwynedd premises licences 

Relevant legislation

Licensing Act 2003 (external link)
Summary of the act (external link) 

Will tacit consent apply?

No. It is in the public interest that the authority must process your application before it can be granted. If you have not heard from the local authority within a reasonable period, please contact it.

Failed application redress

Please contact your local authority 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.

Redress by relevant parties or individuals

Please contact your local authority 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.

Trade associations

Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR)
Broadcasting, Entertainment, Cinematography and Theatre Union (BECTU)
Federation of Licensed Victuallers Associations (FLVA)

 

More information

For more information, call 01766 771000.