Premises licences

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

• Anyone who carries on a business in the premises to which the application relates. This could be an individual, a corporate body or a partnership.
• A recognised club
• A charity
• The proprietor of an educational institution
• 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 His Majesty's prerogative
• Any other permitted person

Applicants must be 18 years of age or over.

A summary of the regulations relating to this licence are available on the government's Home Office website. View the Home Office summary.

Applications must be in a specific format and be accompanied by the required fee and in the case of a new or variation application it must be submitted with an operating schedule, a plan of the premises and a form of consent from the designated premises supervisor where applicable.

Applicants must advertise their application and unless the application is submitted electronically, the applicant is required to give notice to responsible authorities on the same day the application is submitted to the licensing authority.

If an application is submitted without a fee or one of the required documents, it may be considered incomplete and returned to the applicant. If the applicant has failed to meet any statutory requirement after the application has been made, it could lead to the application being invalidated and the process starting again.

Further details about the application requirements can be found in the Guidance note for applicants. Applicants are strongly advised to read and understand these guidance notes before completing the application form. Applicants are also expected to have regard to the City of London’s Statement of Licensing Policy and list of model conditions to help them identify measures they can include in their operating schedule.

In order to try to reduce the number of representations and the cost for all parties in having to attend a hearing, applicants are strongly urged attend a pre-application meeting with officers of the City of London. This will give the applicant the opportunity to discuss any issues with the licensing officers and if necessary, the police and environmental health. Officers can discuss all aspects of the application and compliance with the City of London Licensing Policy and if a representation looks possible, ways in which this can be avoided.

​If no representations are received during the statutory consultation periods, the licensing authority must grant the licence, which will be subject to mandatory conditions and/or conditions from the operating schedule.

A public hearing must be held if any representations are made in respect of the application. If a hearing is held, the licence can be granted, granted subject to additional conditions, licensable activities listed in the application can be excluded or the application can be rejected.

View the City of London's procedure for public hearings below.

The licensing authority will serve a notice of its decision on the applicant, to any person who has made relevant representations and the chief of police.

​All applications are subject to a statutory consultation period and the consultation period commences when a complete and valid application is received by the Licensing Authority.

New premises licences, provisional statements and variations

For new premises licences, provisional statements and variations, the application must be publicly advertised for 28 consecutive days from the date a valid application is received. If there are no relevant representations made during those 28 days, the application will be deemed granted and the licensing authority will issue the licence within 10 working days of the last date for representation.

If relevant representations are made during the 28 day consultation period a public hearing must be held to determine the application within 20 working days of the last date for representation (unless agreement is reached for this period to be extended).

Vary the designated premises supervisor (DPS)

An application to vary a premises licence to specify an individual as a designated premises supervisor must be notified to the Police on the same day the application is received by the licensing authority. The Police have 14 days to comment. If there are no relevant representations made during those 14 days, the application will be deemed granted and the licensing authority will issue the licence within 10 working days of the last date for representation.

If relevant representations are made during the 14 day consultation period a public hearing must be held to determine the application within 20 working days of the last date for representation (unless agreement is reached for this period to be extended).

Request to be removed as a designated premises supervisor

A request to be removed as a designated premises supervisor has immediate effect provided that a valid notification is received. The licensing authority will send an acknowledgement to the DPS within 10 working days of a valid notice being received.

Designated premises supervisor to be disapplied

An application for a designated premises supervisor to be disapplied in respect of community premises must be publicly advertised for 28 consecutive days from a valid application being received. If there are no relevant representations made during those 28 days, the application will be deemed granted and the licensing authority will issue the licence within 10 working days of the last date for representation.

If relevant representations are made within 28 days of a valid application being received a public hearing must be held to determine the application within 20 working days of the last date for representation (unless agreement is reached for this period to be extended).

Minor variation

An application for a minor variation must be publicly advertised for 10 consecutive working days starting the day after the day of a valid application being received. The licensing authority will consider any relevant representations received during the consultation period and whether the proposed variation could have an adverse effect on one or more of the licensing objectives. There is no requirement for a public hearing. The licensing authority's decision will be sent to all parties within 10 working days of the last date for representation.

If an application is not processed within 15 working days, it will be deemed refused. This is to minimise the risk of any high risk changes that affect crime and disorder, public safety, public nuisance or protection of children from harm, being approved inadvertently. This is because local residents and responsible authorities such as the Police or Fire Brigade have a legitimate interest in the outcome of minor variation applications.

Transfer of licence

An application to transfer a premises licence must be notified to the Police on the same day the application is received by the licensing authority. The police have 14 days to comment. If there are no relevant representations made, the application will be deemed granted and a licence consistent with the application will be issued within 10 working days of the last date for representation.

If relevant representations are made within 14 days of the Police being informed of the application a public hearing must be held to determine your application.

Notification of interest

A notice of interest will have effect for a period of 12 months starting on the day a valid notification is received. The licensing authority will send an acknowledgement to the interested party within 10 working days of a valid notice being received.

Interim authority notice
An interim authority notice must be given to the Police on the same day the notice is received by the licensing authority. The Police have 48 hours to object to an interim authority notice starting from the time they are informed of the notice. If the Police do not object to the notice within 48 hours of being informed, the notice will be deemed to have immediate effect.

If relevant representations are made within 48 hours of the Police being informed of the notice, a public hearing must be held to determine your notice.

Change of name or address

A request to change a name or address on the licence will have immediate effect from the day a valid request is received. The licensing authority will acknowledge your request within 10 working days of a valid request being received.

Yes. With the exception of a minor variation, if there are no relevant representations made during the statutory consultation period, the application will be deemed granted and a licence will be issued in accordance with the application.

If relevant representations are made within the statutory consultation period a public hearing must be held to determine the application.

In the case of a minor variation, the application will be deemed refused if it has not been processed within the statutory consultation period.

Applicant / licence holder
If an applicant for a new licence, variation or transfer application is not satisfied with the decision of the licensing authority after a public hearing, that person can appeal. An appeal may relate to the refusal of a new licence, a decision to reject a variation application, a decision to reject a transfer application, a decision to exclude an activity or person as premises supervisor or a decision to attach conditions to a licence. Appeals are made to the City of London Magistrates Court, 1 Queen Victoria Street, London EC4N 4XY, within 21 days of receiving notification of the decision.

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

Responsible authority / any other person
Any person or responsible authority who has made a relevant representation to a licence application can appeal the decision of the licensing authority after a public hearing if they are not satisfied with that decision. An appeal may relate to the grant of a licence or variation, a decision to include an activity or person as premises supervisor or a decision to attach conditions to a licence. Appeals are made to the City of London Magistrates Court, 1 Queen Victoria Street, London EC4N 4XY, within 21 days of receiving notification of the decision.

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

​Any person who has concerns about a premises operating without the required licence or wishes to make a complaint about a licensed premises should contact the Licensing team by phone on 020 7332 3406 or send an email to the Licensing team.

Any person who is suffering noise or nuisance associated with licensed premises should contact the Pollution team by phone on 020 7332 3630 or send an email to the Public Protection team.

The Council also operates an out-of-hours service to deal with urgent complaints arising outside normal office hours. Out-of-hours complaints can be made via Guildhall switchboard on 020 7606 3030.

Any person or responsible authority may apply to the Licensing Authority to review the premises licence. Following the receipt of a review application a hearing will be held by the Licensing Authority. See Review of licences for further details.

• Broadcasting, Entertainment, Cinematograph and Theatre Union (BECTU)
• Morning Advertiser
• Federation of Licensed Victuallers Associations (FLVA)
• British Institute of Innkeepers (BII)
• Performing Rights Society
• Phonographic Performances Ltd