licensing law
Whether you are applying for a licence, seeking to vary one, or having problems with your existing license we can help.
We advise and represent a variety of businesses and organisations including clubs, bars, hotels, restaurants and schools.
If you need a licence to operate your business or are bound by regulatory laws we can also help with any licensing law compliance issues and breaches. We understand the importance of building and maintaining good working relationships with local authorities, statutory agencies and neighbours and provide pragmatic commercial advice to clients.
We can deal with licensing matters including:
- Premises licence applications
- Variations
- Help with compliance
- New DPS
- Temporary Event Notices
- Breaches
- Interviews under caution
- Review hearings
- Summary review
- Revocations
- Appeals
- Licensing sub committees
- Magistrates Court hearings
- Defending prosecutions
- Defending staff
Please contact us for further information by telephone for an informal conversation, or email details to us by completing our online enquiry form and we will call you back.
Licensing applications – Pricing
We prepare and submit applications for new, temporary or variations of Premises licences and represent clients at Licensing sub committees.
Our fee estimates will be confirmed after we have met
Applying for a New Premises Licence or Variation to an Existing Premises Licence
1. Basic new Premises licence
Price
estimated between £1,500 to £2,500 plus VAT and disbursements.
2. Applying for a major variation to an existing Premises Licence
Price
estimated between £1,500 to £2,500 plus VAT and disbursements
3. Minor variation of an existing Premises Licence
Price
estimated between £750 – £1,000 plus VAT and disbursements.
Our charges would be based on a experienced senior solicitor hourly rate of £250 + VAT
What’s included?
- Meeting and taking your instructions
- Site visit to the premises
- Advising on the application
- Advising on the licensing objectives
- Considering plans for the premises
- Discussing the application with the responsible authorities
- Completing and submission of application
- Advising on advertising the application
Factors that could increase costs
- Complexity of case
- Size of premises
- Volume of objections to the application
- Premises in Cumulative Impact Zone
- Where multiple applications required
- Attendance at local authority meetings
- Attendance at local meetings
- Extent of consultation required with responsible authorities
What’s not included in basic fees?
- Attending consultation meetings with the licensing authority
- Obtaining plans for the premises
- Attendance and representation at a licensing sub-committee hearing
Who will handle your case?
- Roger Mullender a senior solicitor and experienced in licensing matters and appearing before licensing sub co
- Where appropriate we will instruct specialist licensing counsel and will provide you with counsels fee estimates
Representation at a licensing sub-committee hearing – 1 day
Price
Estimate £1,250 - £2,500 + VAT
What’s included?
- Considering case documents
- Case preparation
- Attendance & representation at hearing
- Advice on appeal if relevant
Disbursements
These are costs paid to third parties on your behalf
- Application for licence fee payable to local authority. £190 to £1,905.00 . These fees vary from £100 to £1,900 depending on the non-domestic rateable value of the premises
- Advertising of application fee – estimate £350
- Printing and photocopying costs – estimate £20
How long will an application take?
- In straightforward cases 1-4 weeks
- Application for a new premises licence consultation period is 28 days
- In complex cases the process will take longer
- Minor variations can be dealt with by the local authority within 5 days of receipt of the application
