Individuals and businesses will need a premises licence in order to sell alcohol by retail, to sell hot food and drink between 11pm and 5am, and to provide regulated entertainment. This includes:
- performance of a play
- exhibition of a film
- indoor sporting event
- boxing or wrestling entertainment
- playing of recorded music
- performance of dance
- performance of live music, but only in some cases. Find out if you need a licence (external website)
You will still need a licence even if the activities are for charity.
If you run a private club you can apply for a club premises certificate instead of a premises licence.
Applications must be sent to the licensing authority for the area in which the premises are located.
If you are building or converting a property and you intend for it to become licensed premises, you can apply for a provisional statement.
We recommend you read through our Statement of Licensing policy.
Statement of licensing policy (PDF, 395KB)
Applying for a premises licence
If you intend to apply for a premises licence allowing the sale and supply of alcohol, then you will also need:
Licensing and Planning
Licensing and Planning rules are different. Granting a Premises Licence will not give you any authorisation under Planning legislation.
It is your responsibility to check if planning permission is in place for the type or hours of trading you would like to operate.
You should look into any planning permission requirements before submitting an application for a premises licence.
Visit our planning permission page
How to apply
The quickest and easiest way to apply for a premises licence is to apply online.
Apply for a premises licence online (external website)
If you would prefer to complete a paper copy of the application form, you can download one from GOV.UK (external website).
Additional information you'll need to provide with your application
When applying, you will need to provide:
- an operating schedule
- a plan of the premises
- a copy of the designated premises supervisor’s consent form (external website) (for applications where the sale of alcohol will be a licensable activity)
- proof of right to work in the UK
Operating schedule
An operating schedule should include details of:
- the licensable activities
- the times when the activities will take place
- any other times when the premises will be open to the public
- in the case of applicants who wish to have a limited licence, the period the licence is required for
- information in respect of the premises supervisor
- whether any alcohol that is to be sold is for consumption on or of the premises or both
- the steps proposed to be taken to promote the licensing objectives
- any other required information
Right to work in the UK
Applicants for Personal Licences must prove that they have the legal right to work in the UK, by providing copies of official documents showing that they are either
- a British or UK citizen
- a national of an EEA country or Switzerland
- granted indefinite leave to remain and work in the UK
- have another immigration permission allowing them to lawfully work in a field relevant to the sale of alcohol
View official guidance on the types of documents that are acceptable for checking an employee’s right to work (external website)
Please do not send original documents for Right to Work through the post, but send good quality photocopies of all relevant pages.
We may request further documentation or carry out further checks with the Home Office if an Applicant’s Immigration Status is unclear. Personal licences cannot be granted to any person who does not have the right to work in the UK.
Responsible authorities
You will need to send entire copies of your application to the Responsible Authorities. These are agencies who have specific powers under the Licensing Act to promote the four licensing objectives:
- Prevention of crime and disorder
- Protection of children from harm
- Public safety
- Prevention of public nuisance
Advertising your application
When you apply for a premises licence you must advertise the application in the local press, and at the premises for 28 days.
Public Notice Guidance Notes (PDF, 219KB)
How long does a premises licence last?
A premises licence is valid indefinitely from the date it is issued. However you can request for the licence to expire after a fixed date.
How much does it cost?
The fee for a premises licence application depends on the non-domestic rateable value (NDRV) of the premises. You can find details on gov.uk (external website).
You will also be charged an annual maintenance fee for the licence, which will be payable every year on the anniversary of the date the licence is granted.
How to pay
You will need to make payment when applying online through GOV.UK.
Processing and timescales
We must deal with your application within 28 days and check the public notice is displayed, the premises may be inspected before your application is considered.
After the 28 days, providing no representations have been made the licence is deemed as granted.
If representations have been made following the 28-day consultation i.e. conditions put forward by a responsible authority and agreement has been reached by all parties to amend the application to include those conditions, a dispensed Licensing Sub-Committee hearing will be arranged as soon as practicable. This is an administrative function and there will be no requirement for the applicant to attend. The Licensing Act does not permit any change or alteration to an application once it has been submitted to the Licensing Authority, therefore any modification i.e. additional agreed conditions can only be appended to a licence by Members of the Licensing Sub-Committee.
If representations have been made and agreement to any alterations/conditions cannot be reached following mediation, a Hearing of the Licensing Sub-Committee will be arranged within 20 working days following the end of the 28-day consultation period. All parties will be invited to attend. The Committee may grant the Licence, grant with modifications or reject the application.
The licensing authority will serve a notice of its decision on the applicant, any person who has made relevant representations and the chief of police.
Appeal/Redress mechanisms
- If an application is refused, the applicant may appeal the decision.
- Appeals must be made to the magistrate’s court within 21 days of the decision.
- A licence holder can also appeal against a decision to put conditions on a Licence or to exclude a licensable activity.
Legislation and conditions
Licensing Act 2003 (external website)
Displaying your licence
You must display the ‘licence summary’ at your premises where it can be easily seen.
The other pages of the licence should be kept safely at the premises. Police or council officers can ask to inspect them at any time.
Contact details:
Licensing Team
Denbighshire County Council
PO Box 62
Ruthin
Denbighshire
LL15 9AZ
Minor variation to a premises licence or club certificate
It is possible to make small changes to a premises licence or club premises certificate through the minor variation process.
Find out more about the minor variation process.