The expert Hill Brown Licensing team can guide you, from start to finish, through the process of obtaining a new Premises Licence. There are many factors to consider at this initial stage. Firstly, you will need to consider whether it is more appropriate to apply for a full Premises Licence (which will allow you to sell alcohol as soon as the application is granted) or a Provisional Premises Licence (which will require to be confirmed before you can begin trading). Our team will be able to advise on the best option for you.
We will then work with you to finalise a licensing compliant Layout Plan for your premises and to agree a draft Operating Plan which sets out how your premises will operate. The next step is for us to apply on your behalf to the Local Authority for the necessary certificates which must accompany your licensing application. What, and how many, certificates are required will depend on whether you are applying for a full or Provisional Premises Licence.
Once your application is lodged with your local Licensing Board, it will be circulated to the Police and various Council department. You will require to display a Site Notice at the premises so that the general public are made aware of this. All of these parties are entitled to comment on or object to the application if they wish. The application will then be called to a meeting of the Licensing Board at which we will present your application to the Board and address any adverse representations or objections.
The process of obtaining a new Premises Licence normally takes several months, but this can vary hugely between Licensing Boards. Our team will be able to give you a likely timescale based on the location of your premises and a feel for how the Board are likely to receive your application, based on our recent experience. We will also be able to fully brief you on whether an application is likely to be a difficult one, for example, if the local Licensing Board considers your premises to fall within an area of overprovision.
To find out more, please contact our Licensing Lawyers Glasgow on 0141 333 0636 or fill in our online form.