Licensing Act 2003
We published a revised Statement of Licensing Policy, in accordance with Section 5 of the Licensing Act in January 2025.
This policy must be reviewed every 5 years but may be reviewed sooner if necessary.
Under the Licensing Act 2003 we can publish an assessment of cumulative impact of licensed premises in our area. Such an assessment was undertaken in 2022, and the Cumulative Impact Assessment 2023 to 25 was approved by Licensing Committee in November 2022. Applicants for licences in the following areas should contact Entertainment Licensing to discuss their proposals in relation to cumulative impact:
- Armley
- Beeston
- City Centre
- Harehills and Burmantofts
- Headingley
- Holbeck
- Harehills
- Hyde Park
Having completed the full Cumulative Impact Assessment consultation, we are now undergoing a second consultation on the Headingley part of the CIA.
Why is this being proposed?
The Headingley CIA currently covers the area most affected by the Otley Run. Recent evidence and community feedback indicate that issues such as antisocial behaviour, crime, and public nuisance extend beyond the current boundary towards Hyde Park. Extending the CIA would help manage these impacts and maintain a safe and balanced environment for residents and businesses.
What would change?
The proposed extension would include licensed premises along Otley Road up to Hyde Park. This means that applications for new licences or variations in this extended area would be subject to the same cumulative impact policy as Headingley. By limiting or conditioning new and variation applications, the CIA will help prevent additional pubs from joining the Otley Run pub crawl route.
Impact of the Otley Run
The Otley Run is a well-known pub crawl that mainly occurs at weekends between 11am and 6pm. It stretches the full length of Otley Road in Headingley, attracting large groups who visit multiple licensed premises in sequence. While participants are not continuously drinking along the entire route, as there are gaps between clusters of premises, the concentration of venues at the start of the route has a knock-on effect further down, as groups continue into Hyde Park. This creates a cumulative impact that cannot be attributed to one single premises but rather to the density of similar venues offering the same concept to the same cohort of people.
This cumulative effect leads to issues such as drunken behaviour, disorderly conduct, public urination, noise, vomit in the street, and other antisocial behaviour. While personal responsibility plays a role, the existence of the Otley Run and the high density of licensed premises exacerbate these problems.
Map of proposed extension
Supporting data and resident feedback
- Crime and Nuisance Reports: Police data shows clusters of alcohol-related crime and antisocial behaviour along Otley Road, including Hyde Park.
- Public Health Indicators: The area ranks high for alcohol-related ambulance callouts and hospital admissions.
- Resident Anecdotes: Residents report frequent issues such as groups of intoxicated people causing noise nuisance, urinating in public, and leaving litter and broken glass. Comments include concerns about feeling unsafe and the negative impact on families and children.
- Environmental Impact: Complaints include vomit on pavements, litter from plastic containers, cans and bottles, and damage to property.
These findings confirm that the problems are not isolated to one venue but stem from the cumulative effect of many premises catering to the same drinking culture.
Have your say
We want to hear from residents, businesses, and other stakeholders in Headingley and Hyde Park. Do you support the proposed extension? Do you have concerns or suggestions?
Consultation period: 1 December 2025 – 9 January 2026 This extended period allows time for responses over the Christmas and New Year holidays.
How to respond
- By email: entertainment.licensing@leeds.gov.uk
- By post: Entertainment Licensing, Leeds City Council, Civic Hall, Leeds, LS1 1UR
Please include your name, address, and whether you are responding as a resident, business, or other stakeholder.
Frequently asked questions
Q1: What is the purpose of a CIA?
A CIA helps manage the cumulative impact of licensed premises on crime, disorder, public nuisance, and public safety. It does not ban new licences but creates a presumption against granting them unless applicants can show they will not add to the impact.
Q2: Will this stop all new licences in the extended area?
No. Each application will still be considered on its merits. However, applicants must provide strong evidence that their premises will not contribute to cumulative impact.
Q3: Why Hyde Park Corner?
Evidence from crime data and community feedback shows that issues linked to the Otley Run extend beyond Headingley into Hyde Park Corner. Extending the CIA will help address these concerns.
Q4: How will my feedback be used?
All responses will be reviewed and summarised for the Licensing Committee in January 2026. Your views will help shape the final decision.
Q5: Does this affect existing licences?
No. The CIA applies to new licence applications and variations, not to existing licences.
Q6: Where can I see the current and proposed CIA boundaries?
Maps are available by request via the email above.
What happens next?
All responses will be considered by the Licensing Committee in January 2026 before any decision is made. A summary of consultation feedback will be published.
Gambling Act 2005
We published a revised Statement of Licensing Policy in accordance with Section 349 of the Gambling Act 2005 on 1 January 2025.
This policy must be reviewed every 3 years but may be reviewed sooner if necessary. The council has undertaken a review of the Statement of Licensing Policy, with partners, and made several changes:
- general updating of statistical data, such as population statistics
- new information on priority neighbourhoods
- new information on the economy and health and wellbeing
- updating of other council policies
- updating of the section on the protection of children and vulnerable persons
- replacement of the term problem gambling with gambling harm
- removal of appendices on gaming machine entitlements and stakes and prizes as these are subject to change
The new policy will be published in January 2028 following approval by the council.
Sex establishment applications
We published a licensing policy for Sex Establishment licensing. This provides information about sensitive locations and the number of sex establishments we consider appropriate for Leeds. There is no set period by which this this policy should be reviewed, although the council has committed to regular reviews.
Contact us
Phone
Post
Leeds City Council
Civic Hall
Leeds, LS1 1UR
