If you want to make changes to your premises licence you may need to apply for a variation. There are two types of applications:
- full variation
- minor variation
Only the premises licence holder or their agent can apply for a variation.
Before applying check the guidance on temporary off-sales permissions on GOV.UK.
If you're not sure what type of application to apply for then email [email protected] for advice.
Full variation
If the changes could affect the licensing objectives then you must apply for a full variation. For example, if you want to:
- extend the opening hours of the premises
- make major changes to the premises or change the layout of the bar area
- add the sale by retail of alcohol
- authorise the sale of alcohol between 11pm and 7am or
- increase the number of hours that alcohol may be sold on any day
If you make significant changes to your premises, or are changing the nature of your business you may need to apply for a new premises licence.
You will need to advertise the application.
Minor variation
If the changes are low impact and do not affect the licensing objectives then you can apply for a minor variation. For example, if you want to make:
- small changes to the structure or layout of a premises;
- the addition of authorisation for late night refreshment or entertainment (such as performance of plays or film exhibitions);
- small changes to licensing hours
- revisions, removals and additions of conditions
You will need to advertise the application.
Advertise your variation
As part of your application, you need to advertise your application on site and in the local newspaper.
Advert requirements can be found in the licensing act and in our advertising guidance.
You need to include a copy of your advert and the dates it has been advertised with your application.
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 Pin a local newspaper, circulating in the vicinity of the premises (Preferably Plymouth Live or it can be in any other local publication such as the Plymouth Chronicle, PL7 magazine or Western Morning News, if it covers the area in which the premises is sited).
- 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.
Failure to advertise your application on the premises for 28days or failure to advertise in the press within 10 days will reset your application time from when it is correctly advertised.
To Place the Press Notice in Plymouth Live or Western Morning News. Telephone 01227 907972 or
Online from www.bookanad.com and then follow below steps:
- Click ‘Public notice’
- Select region – west and south west
- Select area – Devon
- Select Title – Plymouth Herald or Western Morning News
- Continue
- Click on Trade User
- Click on Business
- Click on Public Notice
- Click on Alcohol & Licensing
- Select ‘single column box and enter the text
Applications for a minor variation of a licence/club premises certificate must be advertised by displaying a notice in at least one place at, or on, the site of the premises concerned for a continuous period of at least 10 working days, starting on the first working day following the day the application was given to the licensing authority, and ending on the tenth working day, by displaying a notice which is;
- of a size equal or larger than A4;
- of a white colour;
- Must include Licensing Act 2003 Minor Variation of Premises Licence” or “Licensing Act 2003 Minor Variation of Club Premises Certificate,” whichever the case may be, in a minimum font Size 32, the remainder of the text on the Notice must be in a minimum Size 16 font) printed legibly in black ink or typed in black.
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 50 square metres, will display further notices in the same format every 50 metres along the external perimeter of the premises abutting any highway.
The notice must contain the following information:
- If applying for additional licensable activities, the activities and hours applied for
- In the case of plan amendments, if this will entail an increase to the licensed area, this must be made clear on the notice
- If the variation includes removing or amending conditions, this must be included in the notice, stating which conditions are to be removed or amended
- 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.
- 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 worldwide web address 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 us (within the 10 working days from the working day after the working day we receive the application)
- 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.
Submit a copy of the site notice as part of your application so that we can check that the correct information is displayed. Be advised that, if the notice is checked on site and found to contain errors, or is not displayed, you will be asked to make the relevant amendments and restart the consultation period.