Licensing Policies

TV Edwards can provide you with expert advice on Licensing Policies.

I enjoyed working with TV Edwards who gave us some great advice and always kept us updated on the application’s progress.  I am really pleased with the outcome.

Director – Astons Food

Section 5 of the Licensing Act 2003 requires local authorities to publish a statement of its licensing policy at least every 5 years. This policy must be kept under review and can be updated at any time. These policies are arrived at after consultation with the police, fire authority and other bodies including representatives of local businesses and residents.

Each and every local authority will publish its own Statement of Licensing Policy and although they tend to be similar in scope, they all vary, and each one is unique. Statements tend to set out a local authority’s general approach to making licensing decisions, and they must be consistent with the Licensing Act 2003 and the Licensing Objectives.

What might a Statement of Licensing Policy contain?

Any designated Special Policy or Cumulative impact zones within a local authority

These are areas where the local authority has concluded that the area is saturated with licensed premises and that barriers to the grant of a new license are justified. It is crucial that you know whether or not your premises is located within one of these zones as it will affect the approach that is required.  The Statement of Licensing Policy will contain this information.

‘Core’ or ‘Framework’ hours of operation for premises

This is important information on the opening and closing times that the local authority will find, in most cases, to be acceptable. Policies vary a great deal in the level of detail provided. Some do not publish specific hours of operation at all, others publish detailed lists of hours by type of premises. 

Licensing Sub committees must make decisions that are consistent with their own Statement of Licensing policy.

It is crucial that before making an application for a new Premises Licence or seeking to vary a Licence, the applicant carefully considers the relevant local authority’s Statement of Licensing Policy. The Licensing Authority will expect applications to be consistent with the policy and if your application deviates from the policy, this will need to be carefully justified.

How we can help with Licensing Policies

We have advised clients over many years across very many different local authorities all over the country. We can help you craft applications that give you what your business needs whilst being consistent with the local authorities Statement of Licensing Policy. In those occasions where your operation appears to deviate from the local authority policy, we can help you to justify that deviation to responsible authorities or licensing subcommittees.

Recent cases

• Restaurant Maida Vale – Variation of Premises Licence
• Restaurant West Hampstead – New Premises Licence
• Restaurant Hackney Wick – New Premises Licence
• Café Fulham – New Premises Licence
• Office Bar Chiswick- New Premises Licence
• Roof-top bar London Bridge – New Premises Licence
• Event space Spitalfields – New Premises Licence
• Bar Restaurant Broadway Market- New Premises Licence
  Roof Top Bar Brixton – New Premises Licence

Our Licensing Fees

Our Licensing fees vary depending on the complexity of each case.  Every case is different.  Some applications will be very straightforward whist others might be extremely complex. Factors will include whether the licence sought is for a premises in a cumulative impact zone, whether the application deviates from local authority policies, whether local objections are anticipated and how novel or unusual the application is. Further information on our Licensing fees can be found here.  Contact us today for a no obligation estimate of our fees in your case.