This page contains information about the Licensing Act 2003 and personal licences. If you need any help or advice about anything on this page please contact us by telephone or email. Our telephone line is open Monday to Thursday 9am - 5pm and Friday 9am - 4:30pm. You can also offer us feedback on our service by filling out our online customer feedback form.
Personal Licence (Introduction)
This page is aimed at individuals who may need to apply for a personal licence granted under the 2003 Licensing Act. A personal licence allows the holder to authorise the sale or supply of alcohol in a venue or property which has a premises licence.
Personal licences are issued by the Local Authority where a person lives and last for ten years. Personal licence holders can also authorise up to 50 temporary event notices in each calendar year subject to certain restrictions. Personal licences are not tied to a specific premises meaning holders of such licences can authorise sales of alcohol in all venues, which have a premises licence, throughout England and Wales.
Personal licence qualification
Before you can apply for a new personal licence you must first attend a course to achieve the recognised licensing qualification. The aim of the qualification is to ensure that licence holders are aware of licensing law and the wider social responsibilities attached to the sale of alcohol.
There are two accredited qualifications under the Licensing Act 2003. These are as follows:
- The British Institute of Innkeeping Level 2 National Certificate for Personal Licence Holders, (NCPLH) QCA Accreditation Number: 100/4866/2 and;
- GOAL Level 2 Certificate for Personal Licence Holders, QCA Accreditation
Number: 100/4865/0
Further information about the qualifications can be found on the British Institute of Innkeeping website - www.bii.org
As a rough guide the NCPLH course normally lasts one day and costs in the region of £150-£200.
Overview of how to apply for a new personal licence
To apply for a personal licence you need to fill out the forms (PERS1 and PERS2) downloadable from this page. You also need to provide two photographs of yourself one of which is endorsed as a true likeness along with the original or certified copy of your licensing qualification certificate. In addition you need to provide the results of a basic criminal convictions check. (this should be no greater than 1 month old. Basic criminal record checks can be obtained from Disclosure Scotland. For further details call their helpline number 0870 609 6006, or visit their website: http://www.disclosurescotland.co.uk
The fee for a personal licence is £37. Cheques should be made payable to Leeds City Council. We can also accept payment by all major credit and debit cards at our St George House office. Please visit St George House, Great George Street, Leeds, LS1 3DL and report to our reception on the first floor.
Your completed application including the forms and accompanying documentation needs to be sent to the Entertainment Licensing Section.
What Next
This page offers a brief insight into how to apply for a new personal licence. If you wish to apply simply download each of the documents available on this page to form a complete application pack.
Alternatively if you would like the documents sending to you in Microsoft Word format so you can fill them out electronically or you would like a hard copy of the application pack sending in the post please contact us and we will be happy to help.