Licence summary
A premises licence issued under the Licensing Act 2003 allows a premises to sell alcohol, provide regulated entertainment or serve late night refreshment on commercial premises. You might also like to look at the page on Club Premises Certificates, especially if you are a registered club, such as a working men's club.
Eligibility criteria
Applicants must not be under 18 years of age.
Regulation summary
Licensing Act 2003
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 the fee, a plan of the premises and a form of consent from the premises supervisor (for application where the sale of alcohol will be a licensable activity). Applicants will be required to advertise their application and to give notice of the application to any other period or responsible body, e.g. the local authority, chief police officer or fire and rescue authority.
Further information on applying for a premises licence can be found in the guidance notes downloadable from this page.
If representation are received objecting to the application, a hearing must be held. The outcome of this hearing would be that the licence 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 a relevant representation (i.e. representations that were not deemed frivolous or vexatious) and the chief of police.
Will tacit consent apply?
Tacit consent applies if no relevant representations are made during the notice period. The last day of the notice period is known as the 'last date for representations'. The application will be deemed granted after the last date for representation.
If relevant representation is made within the notice period tacit consent does not apply and a public hearing must be held to determine the application. The public hearing will be held within 20 working days after the last date for representation. The hearing date may be extended if the council considers it is in the public interest to do so.
Target completion period
For a new premises licence, variation or provisional statement:
- If there are no representations to the application, the licence will be granted 29 days from the day the licensing authority received the application.
- If there are representations the application will be heard by a licensing sub committee and a decision will be made at the hearing
For vary DPS and transfer applications:
- If there are no representations to the application, the licence will be granted 14 days from the day the licensing authority received the application.
- If there are representations, the application will go before a licensing sub-committee and a decision will be made at the hearing.
Forms to download, print and post or email
Should you wish to apply by post or email, you can download the forms from this page that you can complete.
Apply online
You are also able to apply for a premises licence online, using the BusinessLink or UKWelcomes webpages. These sites can also take payment and will send your application to us. If you experience any problems using this service, please contact us. We strongly recommend that you call us after you have submitted your application to ensure we have received notification of it and that the application is complete.
Redress
Please contact us in the first instance.
Any applicant, responsible authority or person making representation is able to appeal the licensing authority's decision to a Magistrates Court within 21 days of the notice of decision. Full details of how to appeal are provided with the decision notice.
Members of the public who are experiencing problems with licensed premises may wish to read Guidance on Problem Premises which is downloadable from this page.
Public registers or databases
Leeds City Council holds public registers of premises licence application which can be accessed through the Public Access Portal.
Trade associations
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)
Use of personal data
We are under a duty to protect the public funds we administer and may use the information you have provided in your application for the prevention and detection of fraud. We may also share this information with other bodies responsible for auditing or administering public funds for these purposes.
