How to Get a Premises Licence:
Complete Application Guide & Mandatory Legal Advertising

How to Get a Premises Licence: Complete Application Guide & Mandatory Legal Advertising

Applying for a Premises Licence is a legal requirement if you plan to sell alcohol, provide regulated entertainment, or serve hot food and drink late at night (late-night refreshment). The process is governed by the Licensing Act 2003 and requires meticulous attention to detail, especially regarding public notification.

This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the licensing application process, with a focus on fulfilling the crucial legal advertising requirements.
We would always recommend you contact your local authority before making an application to confirm their application process and requirements.

Step 1: Planning and Preparation

Before you submit anything, you must define the scope of your licence and prepare all necessary documentation.

  • Licensing Authority: Identify the local authority responsible for licensing in your borough (e.g., Stockport Council, Manchester City Council).

  • Plans: You must prepare and submit detailed plans of the premises, including the boundary, points of access/egress, and location of fire safety equipment.

  • Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS): If you intend to sell alcohol, you must name a DPS who holds a valid Personal Licence.

  • Operating Schedule: Detail exactly what licensable activities you plan to conduct, at what times, and any measures you will take to promote the four licensing objectives (e.g., prevention of crime and disorder).

Step 2: Informing Responsible Authorities

Once your application is prepared, you must serve a copy of the application (including all plans and operating schedule) to all Responsible Authorities on the same day you submit it to the local council.

Responsible Authorities typically include:

  • The Police

  • The Fire Authority

  • Environmental Health

  • Child Protection Services

  • Local Planning Authority

  • The Licensing Authority itself

Step 3: Fulfilling Mandatory Public Notice & Legal Advertising

This is the most time-sensitive part of the process and involves two separate but mandatory forms of public notification that must be maintained for 10 working days from the day after the application is submitted:

A. Site Notice (Blue Notice)

  • A notice must be prominently displayed on the premises itself.

  • It must be printed on blue paper (A4 or larger) and remain in place for the full 10 working days.

B. Newspaper Advertisement (Legal Requirement)

  • You must place an advertisement in a local newspaper that circulates in the vicinity of the premises.

  • This notice must appear at least once during the 10 working day notice period.

Book Your Mandatory Premises Licence Advertisement with The Post Community Newspapers

As a locally circulating, printed newspaper with a minimum distribution of 3,000 copies per month, Post Community Newspapers meet the legal criteria and are recognised by authorities as publications through which Premises Licence applications and Public Notices can be legally advertised in print.

Why choose The Post to meet your legal requirements?

  • Legal Compliance: We are a printed, local circulating newspaper that satisfies the strict legal requirement to be "circulating in the vicinity of the premises."

  • High Local Circulation: Our area-specific editions ensure circulation figures actually reflect the volume of newspapers directly reaching residents via delivery to homes and local stockists within the required area.

  • Affordable & Accessible: As a free publication delivered to homes and local stockists, we offer free access to the notice information without a barrier of cost or online access for local residents.

We cover the following essential areas for your Premises Licence advertisement:

CRITICAL TIMING NOTE:

The Post is a monthly publication. Please get in touch with us immediately to confirm our print date each month (The Post is always available from the first Thursday) to ensure your application notice can be advertised within the required time frame. We can even hold a space for urgent applications.

Step 4: The Consultation Period

The 10-working-day notice period, known as the consultation period, allows residents and Responsible Authorities to make representations (objections or support) regarding the application.

  • If no relevant representations are received, the local authority will usually grant the licence as applied for.

  • If relevant representations are received, the application process moves on to Step 5.

Step 5: Hearing and Decision

If the local authority receives objections that are deemed relevant to the four licensing objectives, they will schedule a hearing before the Licensing Committee.

  • You, the applicant, and any parties who made a representation will be invited to attend.

  • The Committee will decide whether to grant the licence, grant it with modifications/conditions, or reject the application entirely.

Public Notices (General)

In addition to Premises Licences, we are also able to publish other statutory Public Notices in our community newspapers, ensuring they circulate within the relevant area at the required volume. Please contact us to discuss your specific requirements.