Guide

Alcohol licensing requirements

How to obtain a premises licence to sell alcohol in England and Wales, including application process, fees, designated premises supervisor requirements, and licensing objectives.

UK-wide

When you need a licence

You need a premises licence under the Licensing Act 2003 if you want to sell or supply alcohol from fixed premises such as a shop, supermarket, pub, bar, nightclub, cafe, or restaurant in England and Wales.

Note: Scotland and Northern Ireland have different licensing systems. This guidance applies to England and Wales only.

Hospitality regulatory framework

Hospitality businesses are subject to multiple regulatory requirements covering licensing, food safety, and health and safety:

Alcohol licensing requirements

To sell alcohol from your hospitality premises, you need both a premises licence and a designated premises supervisor with a personal licence:

Scope of hospitality premises licences

Your premises licence will cover not just alcohol sales but may also include regulated entertainment and late-night refreshment:

Personal licence requirements

The person acting as Designated Premises Supervisor must hold a valid personal licence.

Temporary events

For one-off events, you may be able to use a Temporary Event Notice instead of applying for a full premises licence.

Minimum alcohol pricing

Scotland has introduced minimum unit pricing for alcohol, which affects hospitality businesses selling alcohol north of the border:

Variations and changes

You must apply to vary your premises licence if you want to change:

  • The layout of your premises (requiring amended floor plans)
  • The hours during which you sell alcohol or provide other licensable activities
  • The activities your licence authorises
  • Conditions attached to your licence

Minor variations (such as small changes to structure or layout, or minor extensions to hours) have a simplified process with a fee of £89 and 10-day consultation period.

Changing your DPS

To change your Designated Premises Supervisor, you must apply to vary the licence to specify a new DPS. The new DPS must consent and hold a valid personal licence. Police have 14 days to object if they believe the change would undermine crime prevention.

Transferring a licence

When premises change ownership, the new operator must apply to transfer the premises licence to their name. The fee for a transfer application is £23. The existing licence conditions and DPS remain in place unless varied.

Reviews and enforcement

Responsible authorities or local residents can request a review of a premises licence if they believe it is undermining the licensing objectives. Following a review hearing, the licensing authority can modify conditions, exclude activities, remove the DPS, suspend the licence, or revoke it entirely.

Hospitality annual compliance checklist

Annual compliance checklist for hospitality businesses covering all key regulatory obligations: licence renewals, fire safety reviews, food safety system updates, gas safety checks, insurance renewals, tipping policy reviews, waste management, and music licensing.

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Personal licence (alcohol)

Obtain a personal licence to authorise and supervise alcohol sales in England and Wales. Covers the accredited qualification, DBS checks, application process, and your ongoing responsibilities as a personal licence holder.

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Temporary Event Notice (TEN)

Give a Temporary Event Notice to your local authority to carry out licensable activities at a temporary event. Covers eligibility limits, the notice process, police and environmental health objections, and late TENs.

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Premises licence: how to apply

How to apply for a premises licence to sell alcohol, provide late night refreshment, or offer regulated entertainment in England and Wales. Covers the four licensing objectives, fee bands, and the representations and hearings process.

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