Apply for a premises licence

Applications for premises licences or club premises certificates must be accompanied by a plan to which the application relates, the scale being 1:100. However plans of outside areas only will be accepted to scale 1:500

The plan shall show:

• the boundary of the building, if relevant, and any external and internal walls of the building and, if different, the perimeter of the premises;
• location points of access to and egress from the premises;
• if different from condition above, the location of escape routes from the premises;
• where premises are used for more than one licensable activity, the area within the premises used for each activity (including where any bars/alcohol distributing points and where alcohol will be stored or on display for sale)
• fixed structures (including furniture) or similar objects temporarily in a fixed location (but not furniture) which may impact on the ability of individuals on the premises to use exits or escape routes without impediment;
• where premises include a stage or raised area, the location and height of each stage or area relative to the floor;
• where premises include any steps, stairs, elevators or lifts, the location of each one;
• where premises include any room or rooms containing public conveniences, the location of each one;
• the location and type of any fire safety and any other safety equipment including, if applicable, marine safety equipment; and
• the location of any kitchen on the premises.

The plan may include a legend through which the matters mentioned or referred to above are sufficiently illustrated by the use of symbols on the plan.

The following information may be added to your plans. This is not a mandatory requirement but will assist your application by making it easier for us and the responsible authorities to understand your application and how the premises are to be operated.

• Plans to be dated and bear the name and location of the premises
• To be endorsed with a location plan showing the site of the premises
• The scale used to be endorsed on the plan
• The total extent of the proposed licensed area to be defined by a continuous red line
• Emergency exit routes not intended to be used for the consumption of alcohol to be uncoloured

• Where areas of the premises are to be used for specific purposes to which the licence will apply for example, children only allowed into one area, adult entertainment and showing of films, those areas should be outlined and defined in a key accompanying the plan

What is a designated premises supervisor (DPS)?

The main purpose of the DPS as defined in the Act is to ensure that there is always one specified individual, among these personal licence holders, who can be readily identified for the premises where a personal licence is in force. That person will normally have been given day-to-day responsibility for running the premises by the premises licence holder.

By specifying the premises supervisor in the premises licence, it will usually be clear who is in day to day charge of the premises, so that police officers, fire officers or officers of the licensing authority can identify immediately the designated premises supervisor as a person in a position of authority at any premises selling or supplying alcohol.

Any application for a premises licence must also include a form of consent given by the individual whom the applicant wishes to have specified in the premises licence as the DPS.

Does the DPS have to be on the premises at all times when alcohol is being sold?

No, in some cases this will not physically be possible. However, it will be expected that the DPS will spend a significant amount of time on the premises. What will be essential is that the DPS is contactable, particularly should problems arise with the premises.

When the DPS will not be on the premises when alcohol is being sold, we strongly suggest that the DPS authorises, in writing, members of staff to sell alcohol in their absence. Please refer to our website for an example of these forms.

Can I be a DPS at more than one premise at the same time?

Yes. The only requirement for being a DPS is that the individual concerned must be the holder of a personal licence. This ensures that where the activities concern the supply of alcohol there is a person associated with the premises who has an understanding of social issues and potential problems associated with the sale of alcohol.

Can anyone object to a person who is specified as a DPS?

Only the chief officer of the police will be able to make representations about the specification of any DPS if he feels, in the exceptional circumstances of the case, that the crime prevention objective could be undermined by that specification. This could include fears that the DPS would not be able to fulfil the responsibilities in respect of the crime prevention objective for more than one premise at the same time. Where the chief officer of police makes representations about the DPS, the licensing authority must hold a hearing to consider them (unless all parties agree that this is unnecessary). As a result of the consideration of the representations, the licensing authority will refuse to specify the DPS if it considers it necessary for the promotion of the crime prevention objective to do so.

What happens if the DPS leaves his employment, notifies the licensing authority, but does not tell the premises licence holder?

The DPS must inform the relevant licensing authority if he or she wishes to be removed as DPS. Within 48 hours of the notice being given to the licensing authority, the individual must also give the premises licence holder a copy of the notice sent to the licensing authority. The DPS must also send a notice directing the licence holder to send to the relevant licensing authority the premises

licence or if that is not practicable, a statement of the reasons for the failure to provide the licence within 14 days of receiving the notice.

If the holder fails to comply with the direction he will commit an offence.

Can I apply for a premises licence during transition if the person I have named as the DPS has not yet obtained their personal licence under the new regime?

Yes. You do not have to hold a personal licence when you are named as DPS during transition. However, if the person names as DPS does not have a personal licence by the second appointed day you will breach in breach of the conditions of the premises licence and you will not be able to sell alcohol.

Applications for premises licences and variations, club premises certificates and variations, or for a provisional statement shall be advertised for a period of no less than 28 consecutive days starting on the day after the day on which the application was given to the relevant licensing authority, by displaying a notice which is;

• of a size equal or larger than A4;
• of a pale blue colour;
• printed legibly in black ink or typed in black in a font of a size equal to or larger than 16;

The notice shall be displayed prominently at or on the premises to which the application relates where it can be conveniently read from the exterior of the premises. Where the premises covers an area of more than fifty square metres, will display further notices in the same format every 50 metres along the external perimeter of the premises abutting any highway; and by publishing a notice;

• in a local newspaper, circulating in the vicinity of the premises (preferably the Plymouth Herald);
• on at least one occasion during the period of 10 working days starting on the day after the day on which the application was given to the relevant licensing authority

Where the application is for a premises licence or club premises certificate, the notice shall contain a statement of the relevant licensable activities or relevant qualifying club activities it is proposed will be carried on or from the premises.

Where the application is for a provisional statement, the notices;

• shall state the representations are restricted after the issue of a provisional statement; and
• where known, may state the relevant licensable activities which it is proposed will be carried on or from the premises.

Applications to vary a premises licence or club premises certificate shall briefly describe on the notice the proposed variation and state;

• the name of the applicant or club;
• the postal address of the premises, or if there is no postal address for the premises a description of those premises sufficient to enable the location and extent of the premises to be identified;
• the postal address and, where applicable, the website where the register of the relevant licensing authority is kept and where and when the record of the application may be inspected;
• the date by which an interested party or responsible authority may make representations to the relevant licensing authority;
• that the representations shall be in writing; and
• that it is an offence knowingly or recklessly to make a false statement in connection with an application the maximum fine on summary conviction being unlimited.