Premises licence

• plays
• films
• indoor sports
• boxing or wrestling entertainment
• live music
• recorded music
• performance of dance
• anything similar to music or performance of dance
• provision of facilities for making music
• provision of facilities for dancing, and
• provision of entertainment facilities for entertainment of a similar description to making music or dancing.
  

If your premises are situated in the London Borough of Wandsworth you must apply to us for your licence. Before making your application, you are asked to read our Licensing policy.

Once granted, a premises licence will last for the life of the business. However, where premises create problems which impact on any or all of the four licensing objectives, anyone can ask for a licence to be reviewed by the Licensing Authority.

You may apply to vary the terms and conditions of your licence. If the change is minor e.g. small changes to the internal layout of the premises or the removal of outmoded conditions, you may follow the minor variation application route. For all other applications you must apply for a major variation.

Designated premises supervisor

A designated premises supervisor is required for premises that sell or supply alcohol, other than in the case of a private members club. The designated premises supervisor must be a personal licence holder and is the person specified on the premises licence as being responsible for authorising the sale of alcohol. This person must be readily identifiable and will normally be given day to day responsibility for running the premises. You must apply to vary your licence to specify a new designated premises supervisor where the previous designated premises supervisor leaves.

A committee or board with responsibility for managing a community premises (e.g. church hall, community hall) may apply to disapply the condition requiring a designated premises supervisor and to replace it with the condition that every supply of alcohol must be made or authorised by the management committee.

Transfer of a premises licence

If you sell the premises then you must ensure that the licence is properly transferred to the new owners or you will remain liable for the annual fee.

Interim authority

Where the holder of a licence dies, becomes mentally incapable or becomes insolvent, the licence will lapse.  A person with an interest in the premises or who is connected with the holder of the licence may give the licensing authority an interim authority notice within 7 days of the lapse of the licence. The licence is then reinstated for a maximum period of two months during which a transfer application must be approved. 

Notice of interest

Anyone with a bona fide property interest in a premises holding a licence can give notice of that interest to us. Any such notice has effect for 12 months and will mean that we will notify you of any change relating to the licence that is included in the public register.

Eligibility criteria

Any of the following may apply for a new premises licence:

• anyone who carries on or intends to carry 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

Applicants must be aged 18 years or older.

Making an application

You must send your application to the licensing authority for the area where the premises are located.

Applications must be in a specific format and be accompanied by the required fee. For new or major variation applications, the fee is based on the rateable value of the premises. See Fees.

In the case of a new application, in addition to the completing the application form, you must include a copy of the plan of the premises and, where alcohol is to be sold, a form of consent from the proposed designated premises supervisor.

In the case of new or major variation applications, the application form requires you to complete an operating schedule which includes 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

For new or major variations you must advertise your application, both on the premises and in a local newspaper circulating in the area where the premises are situated. Unless you are applying online, you must also give notice of the application to the responsible authorities.

After your application is received

If no representations are received, the application must be granted and the steps identified in the operating schedule to promote the licensing objectives will become conditions of the licence.

A hearing must be held if any representations are made in respect of your application. If a hearing is held there may be the following outcomes:

• the licence can be granted
• the licence can be granted subject to additional conditions
• licensable activities listed in the application can be excluded, or
• the application can be rejected.

In all cases where a hearing is held the licensing authority must send a notice of its decision to you and to any person who has made relevant representations (i.e. representations that were not deemed frivolous or vexatious), and to the chief of police.

In the case of applications to transfer a licence, to disapply a designated premises supervisor, to vary a designated premises supervisor or to seek an interim authority, a hearing will be required if representations are made.

In the case of a minor variation, the decision of the licensing officer is final.

How long will it take to determine my application?

The time periods for determination of applications are laid down in legislation.

For example:

(i) For new applications and major variation, the application must be publicly advertised for 28 days. If no representations are received the application will be granted. If representations are made, the application must go before Committee within 20 working days of the last date for representations (unless agreement is reached for this period to be extended).

(ii) The police have 14 days in which to give notice that they oppose an application to transfer a licence or vary a designated premises supervisor. If such a notice is given, the application must then be considered by Council Committee within 20 working days.

Will tacit consent apply?

Yes. This means that you will be able to act as though your application is granted if you have not heard from us by the end of the target completion period except in the case of a minor variation, where the application will be deemed refused if you have not heard from us within the statutory period.

What can I do if my application is refused?

If your application is refused, you can appeal to:

within 21 days of receipt of notification of the decisions.

What if I am not happy with a condition imposed?

If you are unhappy about any condition attached to your licence by the Licensing Sub-Committee, then following a hearing you can appeal to the Magistrates' Court (contact details above).

What if I have a query about my licence? 

If you have a query about a licence issued by us, please contact Wandsworth Council's Licensing Section:

Email: licensing@wandsworth.gov.uk

European services directive

If you think that the council has not complied with the European services directive by imposing requirements or conditions in respect of your application that are discriminatory, unfair or disproportionate, please contact:

Email: solvit@bis.gsi.gov.uk

Complaints about licensed premises

In the first instance, a resident concerned about a licensed premises should contact the council's Licensing Section at:

Email: licensing@wandsworth.gov.uk

Any person who is suffering noise or other nuisance associated with a licensed premises should contact:

Email: esd@wandsworth.gov.uk

If you are experiencing noise problems outside normal working hours, please telephone our out of hours noise service on 020 8871 7869.

An interested party or responsible authority may apply to the licensing authority to review a premises licence. A hearing will be held by the licensing authority.

Trade associations and other sources of information

• Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR)
• Broadcasting, Entertainment, Cinematograph and Theatre Union (BECTU)
• Federation of Licensed Victuallers Associations (FLVA)
• Institute of Entertainment and Arts Professionals (IEAP)

Health and safety

Before setting up any business in the UK, you must ensure that it will comply with the relevant health and safety regulations. Please see the links below for further information:

• Wandsworth Council's Health and safety web pages
• Health and Safety Executive website