There are many different types of licences. The ones you’ll need will depend on your intentions for your business.
Here are some of the licences you’ll need to consider getting:
1. Food business licence
If you plan to serve hot food at your business, you’ll need to register with your local council as a food business.
You must register your food business at least 28 days before opening.
If you’re unsure which council oversees your area and you need help registering, we’re here for you. Contact us to get expert help.
2. Premises licence
If you want to sell alcohol you’ll need two licences: 1/ a personal licence; and 2/ a premises licence.
A premises licence is needed to sell or supply alcohol and/or provide regulated entertainment and/or provide late night refreshment (i.e.. If you want to serve hot food and drinks between the hours of 11pm and 5am).
When applying for your premises licence, you’ll need to demonstrate how you will uphold the licensing objectives:
- The prevention of crime and disorder
- Public safety
- The prevention of public nuisance
- The protection of children from harm
You’ll also need to provide a detailed plan of your premises. There are several requirements which the drawing must comply with including (but not limited to) that it must be drawn to a scale, a red line must be drawn around the area to be licensed and it must include fire safety features.
We can advise on and deal with the whole process and have connections with architects and personal licence course providers, to ensure a smooth and complete application process.
3. Personal licence
You will need a personal licence to authorise alcohol sales. Every premises with alcohol sales must have a Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) named in its Premises Licence and to be a DPS, you must hold a personal licence
Not everyone in your business needs to have a personal licence. Usually, a premises will have one personal licence holder to oversee and authorise the sale of alcohol.
We’ve course provider contacts who we can refer you to, to start the process of obtaining your personal licence.
4. Music licence
You’ll need a licence to play any type of music. This includes:
- Recorded music, such as Spotify, CD, radio, or TV music channel
- Live music.
5. TV licence
If you have a TV in a communal area, or if you’re a hotel owner with a TV in multiple rooms, you’ll need a TV licence.
A single TV licence will cost £159 per year and will cover up to 15 rooms. If you’ve more than 15 rooms, there’s an additional fee to pay.
6. Pavement licence / Tables and Chairs Licences
Depending on the location of your business, you might need a pavement licence, if you wish to place tables and chairs outside your business on a public highway.
Find out more about pavement licences.
7. Marriage/Civil Ceremonies Licence
You'll need this licence to allow any marriage or civil partnership ceremonies to take place at your premises.
This is in addition to any other licence you might need for licensable activities such as the sale or supply of alcohol.
8. Special Treatment Licences
You will need this type of licence if you offer certain treatments to the public such as massages, tattooing, laser, manicures, acupuncture, cosmetic piercings, electrical treatments and other similar treatments. It also includes saunas, steam rooms and other baths.