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Review of premises licence

Find out how to make a request for a review of a premises licence.

Anyone can apply to us to review the licence of a premises licensed to sell alcohol, provide entertainment or sell hot food and drink after 11pm, if they are being adversely affected by the operation of the licence.

A review of a premises licence is primarily for use when other means of dealing with problems from licensed premises have failed, a review may be the way to resolve matters.

Review applications must be based upon a matter arising at, or in the vicinity of the licensed premises and must be connected to one of the licensing objectives:

  • The Prevention of Crime and Disorder
  • The Prevention of Public Nuisance
  • Public Safety
  • The Protection of Children from Harm

Before making your application please make sure you read our Licensing Principles.

Please note, the application is a public document which can be viewed and details of which will be on our website. The application will also form part of the report to the Licensing Committee. Signatures, private telephone numbers and email addresses will be removed.

Applications

You can apply for a review by completing an application form and sending it us.

You must also send a copy of your application to the Police, Fire, Public Health and Safeguarding Unit. You can find their contact details in the list of responsible authorities.

You must also send a copy to the holder of the premises licence.

Sections

What happens next?

On receipt of a review application, the Licensing Authority must consider if it is valid or if it is considered frivolous, vexatious or repetitious. If a review application is declared frivolous, vexatious or repetitious, the application will be rejected and the applicant will be notified of the reasons for the decision. The legislation does not provide any right of appeal against such a decision, other than by way of application for Judicial Review to the High Court.

If the application is valid, we will display a public notice at the premises for a minimum of 28 days, during which the Responsible Authorities or any interested parties can make representations. A notice will also be displayed on our website under Current Applications.

After the 28 day period has expired, copies of any representations will be sent to the applicant and licence holder. We must hold a hearing and the Licensing Committee will determine the application for review and consider the representations made. Hearings will take place in public, although the Licensing Committee may, in certain cases, decide that it is in the public interest to hold hearings in private.

Details of all valid representations will be included in the Committee report. These reports are public documents and will be published on our website.

A Notice of Hearing will be sent to all parties in compliance with The Licensing Act 2003 (Hearings) Regulations 2005. Any party may be assisted or represented by any person at the hearing regardless of whether that person is legally qualified.

At the hearing, the Licensing Committee must consider what action, if any, to take. The options for the Licensing Committee to consider are:

  • To take no further action;
  • To modify the conditions of the licence;
  • To exclude a licensable activity from the scope of the licence;
  • To remove the designated premises supervisor;
  • To suspend the licence for a period not exceeding three months;
  • To revoke the licence.

The Licence Holder, Responsible Authorities or Interested Party can appeal the decision, made by the Licensing Committee, to the Magistrates Court within 21 days of the decision notice issued by us.

Contact Licensing