Premises Licences

Licence Summary

To provide late-night refreshments and regulated entertainment, and sell alcohol, you need a licence from the local authority if you are in England and Wales. 

Eligibility Criteria

Any of the following may apply for a premises licence:

  • anyone who uses carries on a business in the premises to which the application relates
  • a recognised club
  • a charity
  • a health service body
  • a person who is registered under the Care Standards Act 2000 in relation to an independent hospital
  • a chief police officer of a force in England and Wales
  • anyone discharging a statutory or function under Her Majesty's prerogative
  • a person from an educational institute
  • any other permitted person

Applicants must be 18 years of age or over.

Regulation Summary

The Licensing Act 2003 and subsequent Regulations, govern sale/supply of alcohol, regulated entertainment and late night refreshment licensing.

Application Evaluation Process

Applications must be sent to the licensing authority for the area where the premises are located.  In the case of Carlisle it is: Licensing Section, Governance Directorate, Carlisle City Council, Civic Centre, Carlisle CA3 8QG

Applications must be in a specific format and be accompanied by any required fee (exemption of fees may apply for applications in respect of regulated entertainment only for schools, colleges, churches, community halls or similar buildings).

An operating schedule, a plan of the premises and a form of consent from the premises supervisor (for applications where the sale of alcohol will be a licensable activity).

An operating schedule will 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

Applicants will be required to advertise their application and to give notice of the application to the Responsible Authorities, e.g. Chief Officer of Police and Fire and Rescue Service.

A hearing must be held if any representations are made in respect of the application. If a hearing is held the licence can be granted or granted subject to additional conditions, licensable activities listed in the application can be excluded or the application can be rejected.

Carlisle City Council will serve a notice of its decision on the applicant, any person who has made relevant representations (ie representations that were not deemed frivolous or vexatious) and the chief of police.

Applications can also be made to vary or transfer a licence. A hearing may have to be heard if representations are made or conditions relating to a transfer are not met.

Other applications that can be made are applications for an interim authority notice following the death, incapacity or insolvency of a licence holder or review applications.

Will Tacit Consent Apply?

Yes. This means that you will be able to act as though your application is granted if you have not heard from the local authority by the end of the target completion period.

An application period of 28 days is required.

Apply online

Failed Application Redress

If an application for a licence is refused the failed applicant can appeal.  Appeals are made to a Magistrates' court within 21 days of notice of the decision.

Licence Holder Redress

A licence holder may appeal against any conditions attached to a licence, a decision to reject a variation application, a decision to reject a transfer application or a decision to exclude an activity or person as premises supervisor.

Appeals are made to a Magistrates' court within 21 days of notice of the decision.

Consumer Complaint

An interested party or responsible authority may apply to the relevant local authority to review the premises licence. A hearing will be held by the authorities Licensing Sub-Committee.

We would always advise that in the event of a complaint the first contact is made with the business by you - preferably in the form a letter (with proof of delivery). If that has not worked, if you are located in the UK, Consumer Direct  will give you advice. From outside the UK contact the UK European Consumer Centre

Other Redress

The chief police officer for the police area where the premises are located can apply to the licensing authority for a review of the licence if the premises are licensed to sell alcohol by retail and a senior officer has given a certificate that they are of the opinion that the premises are associated with either serious crime or disorder or both. A hearing will be held and the licence holder and other interested parties may make representations.

A chief police officer can give a notice to the licensing authority if they believe that the transfer of a licence to another, under a variation application could undermine the crime prevention objective. Such a notice must be given within 14 days of receiving notification of the application.

An interested party or responsible body may make representations in relation to a licence application or request the licensing body to review a licence.

An interested party or responsible authority may apply to the relevant local authority to review the premises licence. If this is accepted as a valid review, a hearing will be held by a Licensing Sub-Committee.

The chief police officer may make representations to the licensing authority for a review of the licence if the premises are licensed to sell alcohol by retail and a senior member of the force has given a certificate to state that in their opinion the premises are associated with serious crime, disorder or both.

An interested party or relevant authority who made relevant representations may appeal against the granting of a licence or against any condition, variation, licensable activity or premises supervisor decisions.

Appeals are made to a Magistrates' court within 21 days of notice of the decision.


Downloadable Documents

All documents open in a new window.

File name

Size

Approximate Download time

Adobe PDF format - download the viewerCA06 Application for a premises licence in PDF format714 Kb1 min 42 secs @ 56k, 3 secs @ 2mb
Adobe PDF format - download the viewerGD16a Premises Advert Notice (New Premises) in PDF format53 Kb8 secs @ 56k, 0 secs @ 2mb
Adobe PDF format - download the viewerGD17a Premises Newspaper Notice (New Premises) in PDF format23 Kb3 secs @ 56k, 0 secs @ 2mb
Adobe PDF format - download the viewerGD10 Guidance for premises licences in PDF format135 Kb19 secs @ 56k, 1 sec @ 2mb
Adobe PDF format - download the viewerGD14 Guidance on Regulated entertainment and exemptions in PDF format54 Kb8 secs @ 56k, 0 secs @ 2mb
Adobe PDF format - download the viewerGD22 Premises Licence Holder Guidance in PDF format84 Kb12 secs @ 56k, 0 secs @ 2mb
Adobe PDF format - download the viewerGD16c Premises Advert Notice (Late Night Refreshment) in PDF format50 Kb7 secs @ 56k, 0 secs @ 2mb
Adobe PDF format - download the viewerGD17c Premises Newspaper Notice (Late Night Refreshment) in PDF format22 Kb3 secs @ 56k, 0 secs @ 2mb
Adobe PDF format - download the viewerGD9 Guidance for Take Aways and Late Night Refreshment premises in PDF format31 Kb4 secs @ 56k, 0 secs @ 2mb
Adobe PDF format - download the viewerCA08 Application to vary a premises licence in PDF format534 Kb1 min 16 secs @ 56k, 2 secs @ 2mb
Adobe PDF format - download the viewerGD17b Premises Newspaper Advert (Variation) in PDF format24 Kb3 secs @ 56k, 0 secs @ 2mb
Adobe PDF format - download the viewerGD16b Premises Advert Notice (Variation) in PDF format53 Kb8 secs @ 56k, 0 secs @ 2mb
Adobe PDF format - download the viewerCA10 Application to transfer a premises licence in PDF format165 Kb24 secs @ 56k, 1 sec @ 2mb
Adobe PDF format - download the viewerCA03 Consent of premises licence holder to transfer in PDF format27 Kb4 secs @ 56k, 0 secs @ 2mb
Adobe PDF format - download the viewerCA09 Vary a premises licence to specify a designated premises supervisor in PDF format79 Kb11 secs @ 56k, 0 secs @ 2mb
Adobe PDF format - download the viewerCA16 Consent of individual being specified as designated premises supervisor in PDF format55 Kb8 secs @ 56k, 0 secs @ 2mb
Adobe PDF format - download the viewerCA22 Withdrawal of consent of individual being specified as DPS in PDF format59 Kb8 secs @ 56k, 0 secs @ 2mb
Adobe PDF format - download the viewerGD13 Guidance for Designated Premises Supervisors in PDF format50 Kb7 secs @ 56k, 0 secs @ 2mb
Adobe PDF format - download the viewerGD1 Guidance and advice about plans in PDF format59 Kb8 secs @ 56k, 0 secs @ 2mb
Adobe PDF format - download the viewerGD2 Licensing Act 2003 Fees in PDF format55 Kb8 secs @ 56k, 0 secs @ 2mb
Adobe PDF format - download the viewerGD6 Sample conditions for premises and club premises certificates in PDF format284 Kb41 secs @ 56k, 1 sec @ 2mb
Adobe PDF format - download the viewerGD7 List of Responsible authorities in PDF format50 Kb7 secs @ 56k, 0 secs @ 2mb
Adobe PDF format - download the viewerCA05 Notification of interest in a premises in PDF format94 Kb13 secs @ 56k, 0 secs @ 2mb

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 01228 817000

Carlisle City Council
Civic Centre, Carlisle, Cumbria,
CA3 8QG