Before you apply for a premises licence

What you need to know before you apply for a premises licence, including what is termed a licensable activity and who can apply.

You should apply for a premises licence if you plan on selling alcohol or providing ‘licensable activities’ from a particular venue.

Licensable activities

Licensable activities include:

  • selling alcohol
  • serving hot food and drinks between 11pm and 5am

You’ll also need a licence if you provide entertainment, including:

  • theatrical performances
  • showing a film
  • indoor sporting events
  • boxing or wrestling (indoor or outdoor)
  • live music
  • recorded music
  • dancing
  • facilities for making music
  • dancing facilities

You must be 18 years old or over to apply for a premises licence.

The responsibilities of a licence holder 

Before applying for a premises licence, it’s important to understand your responsibilities as a licence holder. 

You’ll be expected to uphold 4 equally important licensing objectives.

Designated premises supervisor (DPS)

If one of your licensable activities is the sale of alcohol, you are required to name a designated premises supervisor on your premises licence.

Provisional statements

You can apply for a provisional statement if you’re considering opening licensed premises.

This means you can prepare new premises with the confidence that a full licence will be granted, providing:

  • it is built according to the original operating schedule and plans submitted to us
  • there have been no material changes

For more information go to alcohol licensing – GOV.UK.

Contact us

Please contact us for an informal discussion about your proposals before submitting an application. 

Telephone: 01483 755 855
Email: licensing@woking.gov.uk