If your business sells food between the hours of 11pm and 5am, you will require to apply to your local Council for a Late Hours Catering (LHC) Licence. The only exception to this is where you already hold a Premises Licence to sell alcohol or are operating under a Public Entertainment Licence, and food is only available during licensed hours.
You will need a Late Hours Catering Licence whether the food is to be consumed on or off the premises. The term ‘food’ in this context has a very wide meaning and covers anything which is edible, including water and chewing gum. This means that Late Hours Catering Licences are commonly required for takeaway shops and fast food restaurants, convenience stores, garage forecourts and supermarkets.
Each local authority in Scotland has its own Policy setting out the terms and conditions on which it will grant Late Hours Catering Licences. Some have even exempted certain types of businesses, such as supermarkets, completely. Our team will be able to advise you on the position in your local area.
Once your application is lodged it will be circulated to the Police and to various Council departments, and you will require to display a Site Notice at the premises so that the general public are made aware of the application. All of these parties are entitled to comment on or object to the application if they wish.
Depending on the terms of your application and whether there are any objections, your application may call at a meeting of the local Licensing Committee for consideration. The Team at Hill Brown deal with and appear before the different Licensing Committees on a regular basis and can advise on Late Hours Catering Licences generally and what is required in your particular case.
To find out more, please contact our Licensing Solicitors Glasgow on 0141 221 1919 or fill in our online form.