Apply for an interim authority notice

A premises licence lapses on the date the licence holder:

• dies
• no longer has mental capacity to hold the licence
• becomes insolvent
• is a company that has been dissolved or gone insolvent
• is a club that ceases to be a recognised club.

When an interim authority notice takes effect, it restores the premises licence for up to 3 months. The person giving the notice becomes the licence holder.

When to apply

You must apply for an interim authority within 28 days of the licence lapsing. 

If you miss this deadline, the licence lapses and cannot be reinstated.  

If this happens, you must apply for a new premises licence.

Who can apply

You can submit an interim authority notice if you:

• are over 18 
• have a legal connection to to the former premises licence holder

This includes if you are:

• are the personal representative of someone who has died 
• hold power of attorney for someone who has become mentally incapable 
• are the insolvency practitioner for someone who has become insolvent 

Fee

The fee for an interim authority is £23.

How to apply

Right to work documents

You must include proof of your right to work in the UK. You do not need to provide this if you are applying as a limited company.

View the right to work guidance on GOV.UK.

Apply online

Once you have gathered this information, you will need to register or log in to our customer portal to apply online.

What happens next

After we receive the interim authority notice, the business can continue to operate as before. 

We will send a copy of your notice to the Police and Home Office.  

Objections 

The Police and Home Office have 2 working days (from the day after they were notified of the application) to consider the interim authority notice.  

They can object if they believe that the interim authority notice may undermine the crime prevention objective as set out in the Licensing Act 2003.

If the Police or Home Office object, we will notify you. We will then hold a hearing to consider the objection.

You can attend the hearing in person. We will send you a ‘notice’ telling you the time and place. The committee will hear all the facts and make a decision.

If there is no objection, we will amend the licence and issue it to you.

Once we have granted the interim authority notice, you have 3 months to apply to transfer the premises licence. If you miss this deadline, the premises licence will be cancelled.

We will only issue a further premises licence after you apply for one. 

Appeals

If you disagree with the licensing committee’s decision, you can appeal to your local magistrates’ court. You must do this within 21 days of the decision.