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Listed below are the types of licensing
applications that we can submit on your behalf, and other
services we provide:
New Premises Licence
If you have recently purchased a business or want to expand
an existing one to sell alcohol you will need to apply for
a new Premises Licence. Licensing Matters can deal with this
on your behalf. We can arrange for plans to be drawn up if
you don’t already have them, we take care of your advertising
and so on. Apart from providing the necessary information
we will do all the work allowing you to concentrate on other
things.
Though you may not realise it putting in your applications
yourself or asking someone without the expert knowledge to
do it for you is a very risky business. While it may save
you money, get it wrong and it can have serious repercussions
for your business!
When we deal with licensing applications our job is to do
the paperwork and then liase with the authorities on your
behalf. Here we really come into our own. We cannot express
enough the importance of the conditions attached to a premises
licence. They are binding in law and your premises can be
immediately closed down by the police if you are in breach
of them! Negotiating conditions and the content of the licence
is our expertise. When we submit applications we consider
your business, not just in the present but as it might be
in the future. Your licence will be tailored to your business
and once done will hopefully not have to be re-visited again.
We offer a fixed fee at a rate that we are convinced you
will not find anywhere else. Don’t pay expensive fees
when there is no need!!
Personal Licences
We can submit your personal licence. Our fee is an all inclusive
fee which includes obtaining your disclosure (criminal records
check), completing the paperwork and submitting it to the
relevant council. To obtain a personal licence you must pass
an accredited qualification which we will either arrange for
you or provide direct. If you chose to take the qualification
with us our fee for the whole package is truly unbeatable.
Variation of Premises
Licence
If you are looking to change your premises licence (or Club
Certificate) in any way you will need to make a variation
application. Variations could consist of:
- The need for additional hours
- The need for additional activities such as entertainment
- To remove any badly worded conditions that have been applied
to your licence that may restrict your business.
- To increase the size of the licensed area of the premises.
This application is very similar to an application for a
NEW premises licence. The procedure is as complicated, and
the application can attract representations from the authorities
or members of the public alike. As with a new premises licence
it is essential that it is done correctly from the start and
Licensing Matters can do the work for you.
Change in the
Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS)
Due to the often regular changeover of staff in licensed premises,
this is probably the most frequently made of all the applications.
It is also often the most urgent application as alcohol can
only be sold when there is a DPS attached to the premises.
If, for whatever reason, a DPS leaves, an application to
vary the licence must be submitted immediately. If this application
is not made and there is no DPS attached to the premises the
premises will not have any authority to sell alcohol. Selling
alcohol under these circumstances is a criminal offence which
is punishable by a fine of up to £20,000 and/or 6 months
imprisonment!
Transfer of
a Premises Licence
If premises are sold or taken over, then as well as possibly
changing the DPS as above (if the sale of alcohol is involved),
the transfer of the licence itself will also have to take
place. The consent of the outgoing licence holder is required
for this application which can sometimes make this application
tricky. As with a change of DPS getting this application wrong
may delay the opening of a premises so don’t take any
chances!!
Temporary Events
Notices (TEN'S)
If the sale of alcohol or provision of entertainment is required
for a specific function a TEN will be required. TEN'S have
numerous restrictions attached to them which can make them
complicated to deal with. We can submit them on your behalf
giving you the peace of mind that your event/function will
have the relevant authorities it needs.
Club Premises
Certificates
The same applies for Club Premises certificates as for Premises
Licences. They can be new or varied and all applications must
comply with the same requirements (ie submission of plans,
advertising).
Representation
in Licensing Hearings Or Meetings
Not only do we process applications but we represent clients
at Licensing hearings. A hearing may have to take place if
a responsible authority or members of the public make representations
(objections) to an application. With residents having been
given significant power under the new licensing system hearings
are becoming common place.
We have attended hearings the length and breadth of the country
and know exactly how to manage them.
By instructing Licensing Matters our clients have a company
representing them which is aware of all the legal constraints
upon authorities powers and which uses all that expertise
to represent them.
In addition to hearings we are often asked to represent clients
in meetings with authorities where problems may have arisen.
Such problems may consist of noise complaints or high levels
of disturbances connected with premises. If a DPS or owner
is asked to attend a meeting to discuss such issues it can
be daunting and even intimidating. It is essential that someone
attend with them who understands the system and the constraints
on the authorities. We are available for this purpose and
our police background is invaluable in such cases.
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