Search results
- Business Licence. To open a bar in the UK and be able to to legally sell alcohol, as well as providing regulated entertainment such as live music, you'll need to obtain a Premises Licence.
- Employer PAYE Reference. All businesses require an Employer PAYE Reference to legally operate in the UK. An Employer PAYE Reference is essentially a tax number that's issued by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to help identify your business.
- Change of Use Permission. Once you’ve secured your bar’s location, you’ll need to obtain a Change of Use Permission. This requires an inspection by your local council or planning authority to verify that the building is safe for customers.
- Alcohol Licence. Alcohol is the staple of your bar, so you’ll need an alcohol licence to legally sell these beverages. The specific types of licences and permits may vary slightly depending on the country within the UK (England and Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland) and local licensing policies.
- Overview
- Premises licence
- Personal licence
- Businesses buying alcohol from wholesalers
- Designated premises supervisors
- Club premises certificates
- How do I change my licence or club certificate?
- Temporary events
- Community involvement in licensing
Information on the different types of alcohol licences available and guidance on how to apply for them.
A premises licence authorises the use of any premises (which is defined in the Licensing 2003 Act as a vehicle, vessel or moveable structure or any place or a part of any premises) for licensable activities as defined in section 1 of the 2003 Act.
You can apply online if your council accepts electronic applications, there is a separate online application depending on whether you are in England and Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.
Alternatively you can view the postal forms and other guidance specific to premises licences, including:
•premises licence application
•premises licence guidance
•premises licence transfer application
You are not required to have a personal licence to be employed in a pub or other business that sells alcohol. Premises licensed to sell alcohol must have a designated premises supervisor, who holds a personal licence. The one exception is a community premises that has successfully applied to waive the DPS requirement under section 41D of the act. Anyone who does not hold a personal licence must be authorised to sell alcohol by a personal licence holder. There is no such requirement for the supply of alcohol in a members’ club.
Personal licences allow you to sell alcohol on behalf of any business that has a premises licence or a club premises certificate. The relationship is similar to the way that a driving licence permits the driving of any car.
Businesses that sell alcohol to the public will need to ensure that the UK wholesalers they buy alcohol from have been approved by HMRC under the Alcohol Wholesaler Registration Scheme (AWRS). They will need to check the wholesaler’s Unique Registration Number (URN) against the HMRC online database.
If a business is found to have purchased alcohol from an unapproved wholesaler, they may be liable to a penalty or could even face criminal prosecution and have their alcohol stock seized.
A designated premises supervisor (DPS) is the person who has day-to-day responsibility for the running of the business.
All businesses and organisations selling or supplying alcohol, except members clubs and certain community premises must have a designated premises supervisor.
Qualifying clubs
To be classified as a club for the purpose of this certificate, a group must meet several conditions. These include: legitimacy - each applicant must be a real club with at least 25 members a membership process that takes at least two days between application and acceptance alcohol must not be supplied on the premises other than by the club alcohol must be purchased by a committee made up of members all of whom are at least 18 years old alcohol for the club must be purchased legally Other legal restrictions for clubs operating under a club premises certificate are in the Licensing Act 2003. You can apply online if your council accepts electronic applications. Alternatively you can view the postal forms and other guidance specific to club premises certificates
Full variations
The full variation process is very similar to the application process for a new premises licence and the fee is the same. You should use this process if you want to make a substantial change to your licence, for example, increasing the hours when you sell alcohol. You can do this online using the links in the premises licence and club premises certificates sections above. Alternatively you can download the postal form and guidance to vary a premises licence and the postal form and guidance to vary a club certificate
Minor variations
If you want to make a small, low-risk change to your premises licence, you may be able to use the minor variation process. This is cheaper and quicker than the full variation application. Small changes could include: removing a licensable activity reducing the hours you sell alcohol making small changes to the layout of your premises If you apply for a minor variation and your application is rejected, you will not be able to appeal. However, you can reapply using the full variation process. You can apply for a minor variation online using the links in the premises licence and club premises certificates sections above. Alternatively you can download the postal form and guidance for minor variations to a premises licence or club certificate. Contact your local council for advice on which process is more suitable for the change you want to make.
If you’re organising a temporary event and want to serve or sell alcohol, provide late night refreshment, or put on regulated entertainment, you’ll need to complete a temporary event notice (TEN). For the purpose of a TEN, a temporary event is a relatively small-scale event attracting fewer than 500 people and lasting no more than 168 hours.
If you are in England and Wales you can apply for a temporary event notice online.
Alternatively you can download the postal form and guidance for a temporary event notice.
In Scotland you can apply online for an occassional licence.
Making representations
You can make representations or comments to the council about applications for new licences, variations or reviews. Comments may be positive or negative, but will only be considered relevant by the council if they relate clearly to the licensing objectives: the prevention of crime and disorder public safety prevention of public nuisance the protection of children from harm Councils will also reject comments considered to be frivolous (not serious or time-wasting) or if they relate to personal disputes between businesses.
Requesting a review of a licence
You can also call for an existing licence to be reviewed by the council if you have concerns relating to the licensing objectives. In addition, the licensing authority must review a licence if the premises to which it relates was made the subject of a closure order by the police based on nuisance or disorder, and the magistrates’ court has sent the authority the relevant notice of its determination. A review must also be undertaken if the police have made an application for summary review on the basis that premises are associated with serious crime and/or disorder.
Hearings
If the council considers your reasons for making representations or calling for a review are relevant, it will arrange a hearing to consider the evidence. You - or someone representing you - will be invited to the hearing to explain your concerns. Representations and requests for the review of a licence must be made in writing. Forms can be obtained from your local council. If you disagree with the council’s decision following a hearing, you have the right to appeal to the magistrates’ court. Your council will be able to provide further details.
- Write a solid business plan. It’s like our teachers always used to say: failure to plan is planning to fail. That’s why we make business plans. A bar is a business, just like any other.
- Define a business structure. Your bar’s legal structure determines what taxes it pays and how it’s seen in the eyes of the law. The legal form you choose depends on how your bar business is structured, what you want it to do, what investments you want to make and whether you want to collaborate with other enterprises.
- Obtain the right licenses. To operate legally, your bar needs to have the right licenses. Obtaining them is usually one of the easier and less expensive parts of opening a bar.
- Choose a location. Your bar’s location is paramount to its success. It could determine whether your new venue will succeed or fail—so don’t approach it lightly.
Aug 15, 2023 · Unsurprisingly, an alcohol licence is one of the main legal requirements for opening a bar or restaurant in the UK. But here’s the thing: there’s no single alcohol licence that UK business owners can hold. In fact, you need two licences, one for your business premises (premises licence) and one for you or your bar manager (personal licence).
- Premises licence. A premises licence authorises the use of any location for activities associated with the selling of alcohol. Application process: Determine the local council under which your pub falls.
- Personal licence. A personal licence allows an individual to sell or authorise the sale of alcohol. Any pub will need at least one personal licence holder – the Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS).
- Temporary Event Notice (TEN) If you’re planning a one-off event where alcohol will be sold, and it falls outside the terms of your premises licence, you’ll need a TEN.
- Music and entertainment licence. If you intend to play recorded music, have live performances, or host other forms of entertainment, this licence is a necessity.
You don’t need a license to be employed in a pub or a bar and serve alcohol, but the holder of the license must authorise you to do so. It’s worth bearing in mind that your business also needs at least one designated premises supervisor, who also needs to hold a personal license, so you need to ensure this is the same person if you’re only planning on having one personal license holder ...
People also ask
Do you need an alcohol license to open a bar?
Do you need a licence to open a bar in the UK?
Do you need a licence to start a bar business?
Do you need a bar license to open a restaurant?
Do you need an alcohol license to open a pub?
Do you need a license to sell alcohol at a bar?
Apr 16, 2023 · One of the first and most crucial steps before opening a bar in the UK is to understand and comply with the legal requirements. This includes obtaining the necessary licenses and permits to operate a bar legally. The specific licenses and permits required may vary depending on the location and type of bar you plan to open.
