“Premises” are not just buildings, they can be vehicles, vessels or moveable structures. An “open space” can also be deemed to be a premises under the Licensing Act 2003.
The premises licence permits the holder to carry out licensable activities, and qualifying club activities, as defined under the Licensing Act 2003. The licensable activities are not just the sale or supply of alcohol, but also include the provision of regulated entertainment and the provision of late-night refreshment.
Regulated entertainment includes the performance of a play, exhibition of films, indoor sporting events, live and recorded music or the performance of dance. Films, live and recorded music are “licensable activities” but, in some circumstances, are partly de-regulated under the Deregulation Act 2005. Careful consideration should be given to the licensable activities when completing an application for a premises licence.
A premises licence is a valuable asset for any business and all conditions attached to a premises licence must be adhered to; it is a criminal offence not to do so. When drafting an application for a premises licence, careful consideration should be given to the management of the premises in line with the four licensing objectives. An applicant will be expected to propose conditions showing how that will be achieved. Any conditions proposed should be carefully worded to ensure that they are not too onerous and can be easily understood and complied with.
We have a very experienced Licensing Team at Birketts who can advise and assist you in the preparation and submission of your premises licence application. The content of your application can make a huge difference to its success. Poorly presented applications often give rise to representations (objections) from responsible authorities or from members of the public who cannot clearly understand what it is being proposed. The experienced Licensing Team at Birketts can assist with the smooth passage of a licensing application and represent you at a licensing committee hearing if required.
We offer a complete service with competitive fixed fees for our licensing work.
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The content of this article is for general information only. It is not, and should not be taken as, legal advice. If you require any further information in relation to this article please contact the author in the first instance. Law covered as at November 2024.