Since the introduction of the Licensing Act 2003 in November 2005, anyone who wants to carry out a licensable activity needs a licence to do so. Licensable activities are defined as:

• The sale by retail of alcohol
• The supply of alcohol by or on behalf of a club or to the order of a member of the club
• The provision of regulated entertainment such as:
  • Plays
  • Films
  • Indoor sporting events
  • Boxing or wrestling entertainment
  • Live music
  • Recorded music
  • Performances of dance
  • Entertainment of a similar description to live music, recorded music and performances of dance
  • Provision of facilities for making music
  • Provision of facilities for dancing
  • Entertainment of a similar description to making music and dancing
• The provision of late night refreshment
  • This is the supply of hot food or drink to members of the public, on or from the premises, whether for consumption on or off the premises, between the hours of 11pm and 5am.

Most pubs, clubs, restaurants, bars, hotels, cinemas, theatres and private members clubs will need a licence.

Take a look at our pages on:

• Personal licences
• Premises licences
• Club premises certificates
  

You'll need a temporary event notice (TEN).

If you have a premises licence, you can, at any time, apply to change any aspect of the licence. For instance, you may wish to extend or decrease the hours you're currently licensed for, or you may wish to add on extra licensable activities you weren't previously licensed for. In this case, you need to apply for a variation. The same applies if you make significant structural alterations or alter the layout of the premises significantly.

The licence holder is required to submit to us a change of DPS application.

You need to write to us giving details of your new address, enclosing your current licence (both paper copy and photo card) and a fee of £10.50.

All of the fees under the Licensing Act 2003 are statutory and are set by central government. As a licensing authority we are bound to charge the set fees.

As the designated premises supervisor you're responsible for the premises, in particular the sale of alcohol within it, whether you're on site or not. It's good practice, if you aren't on site, to have another personal licence holder who is on site to authorise the sale of alcohol.

Our 'Objections/appeals and reviews' page holds the advice and application forms you'll need.