08 February 2012What is a Premises Licence?
A premises licence authorises the premises to be used for one or more of the following licensable activities:
A fee is payable upon application and then an annual fee is payable 12 months from the grant of the licence – this is based on the non-domestic rateable value of the property.
You can establish the non-domestic rateable value of the property on the VOA website.
Eligibility criteria
Any of the following may apply for a premises licence:
Applicants must be aged 18 years old or over.
Regulation summary
A summary of the eligibility criteria for this licence.
Application evaluation process
Applications must be in a specific format and be accompanied by the required fee. An operating schedule, a plan of the premises and a form of consent from the premises supervisor (for applications where the sale of alcohol will be a licensable activity). See guidance on submitting a plan for a premises licence (
PDF File 158KB file details).
An operating schedule will include details of:
Applicants may be required to advertise their application and to give notice of the application to any other person or responsible body, eg the local authority, chief police officer or fire and rescue authority.
These are the authorities which must be served with a copy of a premises licence application. They will advise the licensing authority about the implications of the application on the promotion of the licensing objectives. Different authorities will need to be served, depending on the nature of the premises. The most common authorities include:
Please select for the contact details of the Responsible Authorities for Sevenoaks ( PDF File 44KB file details) District Council.
Further information on what is required to submit a premises licence application can be found in the Briefing Notes Briefing Notes ( PDF File 514KB file details)for Sevenoaks District Council.
Sevenoaks District Council must grant the application, which can be subject to conditions. A hearing must be held if any written representations are made in respect of the application. If a hearing is held the licence can be granted or granted subject to additional conditions, licensable activities listed in the application can be excluded or the application can be rejected.
Sevenoaks District Council will serve a notice of its decision on the applicant, any person who has made relevant representations (i.e. representations that were not deemed frivolous or vexatious) and the chief of police.
Applications can also be made to vary or transfer a licence. A hearing may have to be heard if written representations are made with respect to an application to vary a premises licence.
Other applications that can be made are applications for an interim authority notice following the death, incapacity or insolvency of a licence holder or review applications.
Will tacit consent apply?
Yes. This means that you will be able to act as though your application is granted if you have not heard from the local authority by the end of the target completion period, which is two months from the date of the application.
Apply online
Apply for a Premises Licence by post or in person
View the Council's Premises Licence application forms
Failed application redress
In the first instance, please contact Sevenoaks District Council's Licensing Team.
If an application for a licence is refused the failed applicant can appeal.
Appeals are made to a Magistrates' Court within 21 days of notice of the decision.
Licence holder redress
Please contact Sevenoaks District Council's Licensing Team.
Consumer complaint
An interested party or responsible authority may apply to Sevenoaks District Council to review the premises licence. A hearing will be held by the Council.
Appeals are made to a Magistrates' Court within 21 days of notice of the decision.
Other redress
The chief police officer for Kent Police can apply to Sevenoaks District Council for a review of the licence if the premises are licensed to sell alcohol by retail and a senior officer has given a certificate that they are of the opinion that the premises are associated with either serious crime or disorder or both. A hearing will be held and the licence holder and other interested parties may make representations.
If the Council refuses an application for a variation or new application the licence holder may appeal the decision. A licence holder can appeal against a decision to put conditions on a licence or to exclude any licensable activity.
Appeals may also be made against the variation of any condition or the decision of a review. Appeals must be made to the local Magistrates Court within 21 days of the decision.
A chief police officer can give a notice to Sevenoaks District Council if they believe that the transfer of a licence to another, under a variation application could undermine crime prevention objectives. Such a notice must be given within 14 days of receiving notification of the application.
An interested party or responsible body may make representations in relation to a licence application or request the licensing body to review a licence. A hearing will be held by the Sevenoaks District Council.
An interested party or relevant authority who made relevant representations may appeal against the granting of a licence or against any condition, variation, licensable activity or premises supervisor decisions.
Trade associations
Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR)
Broadcasting, Entertainment, Cinematograph and Theatre Union (BECTU)
Federation of Licensed Victuallers Associations (FLVA)
