Licensing applications for alcohol and entertainment venues

Premises licences are issued by the licensing authority in which the premises are located.

It is advisable to apply a minimum of three months before you intend to open the premises.

If you want to sell alcohol, the personal licence holder will need to complete a consent form.

The form of notice must be displayed at the premises for a minimum of 28 days and advertised as a notice in a local circulating paper within 10 working days after application has been made to the authority.

All documents supporting this application must be supplied within three working days, otherwise the application may be deemed incomplete and be rejected. The application process will not commence until all information has been received.

Downloadable application forms

The grant application form was updated on 1 July 2021. Any previous versions of this form are void after this date.

• Application for a Premises Licence [PDF, 726 Kb]
• Consent form [PDF, 38 Kb] (if alcohol is to be applied for)
• Form of Notice [PDF, 79 Kb] (must be printed on pale blue A4 paper)

Guidance

• Guidance in completing the application form [PDF, 34 Kb]

If a licence holder wishes to make changes to a premises licence, a variation application needs to be made.

The minor variation process can only be used for variations that could have no adverse impact on the promotion of any of the four licensing objectives. These are:

• the prevention of crime and disorder
• public safety
• the prevention of public nuisance
• the protection of children from harm.

A notice must be displayed at the premises for 28 days for a full variation and 10 working days for a minor variation.

All documents supporting these applications must be supplied within three working days, otherwise the application may be deemed incomplete and be rejected. The application process will not commence until all information has been received.

Downloadable forms

• Premises Variation Application [PDF, 289 Kb]
• Form of notice [PDF, 97 Kb] (this notice must be printed on pale blue A4 paper)
• Minor Variation application
• Form of notice for Minor Variation [PDF, 187 Kb] (this notice can be printed on white A4 paper)

The Licensing Act 2003 allows any person or business to apply for a premises licence to be transferred to them. Where the application is made in writing the applicant must give notice to the chief officer of police. Where it is made electronically the licensing authority will notify the police.

Part of the application process requires a consent to be completed by the current licence holder to transfer the licence to the new applicant.

Downloadable forms

This application form was updated on 1 July 2021. Any previous versions of this form are void after this date.

• Application to transfer premises licence
• Consent form [PDF, 22 Kb]

All documents supporting this application must be supplied within three working days, otherwise the application may be deemed incomplete and be rejected. The application process will not commence until all information has been received.

Police address

Alcohol Licensing, Humberside Police, Police Station, 55 Osborne Street, Hull, HU1 2NW

Immigration

Alcohol Licensing Team, Home Office, Lunar House, 40 Wellesley Road, Croydon, CR9 2BY

A Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) is only required where alcohol is to be sold. Once a premises licence has been granted, it can be varied to change the DPS and the DPS can ask to be removed from the licence.

Additionally, where premises are selling alcohol, the Licensing Act 2003 allows for the mandatory requirement to have a DPS to be disapplied in relation to premises held by ‘community’ type premises.

The main purpose of the DPS as defined in the Act is to ensure that there is always one specified individual, among the personal licence holders, who can be readily identified for the premises.

You can download an application form to apply to premises licence – vary DPS  [PDF, 80 KB]. A consent form [PDF, 37 KB] is also required from the new prospective DPS.

All documents supporting these applications must be supplied within three working days, otherwise the application may be deemed incomplete and be rejected. The application process will not commence until all information has been received.

When you make an application you have to send a copy of the application to the Chief Superintendent of Humberside Police.

Request to be removed as DPS

There are times when the DPS leaves the premises unexpectedly. If they want to have their name removed from the licence, they have to notify the licensing authority and the premises licence holder.

You can download an application form to request to be removed as the DPS [PDF, 54 KB].

Related documents:

• Application form to vary a DPS
• Consent form to be specified as a DPS [PDF, 38 KB]
• Application to disapply the requirement for a DPS
• Request to be removed as the DPS form [PDF, 54 KB]

Disapply a DPS

A community premises can make application to disapply the mandatory condition concerning the need for a designated premises supervisor (DPS) who holds a personal licence

To disapply the mandatory condition for the requirement of a designated premises supervisor, a community premises can transfer the responsibility to the management of a board or committee of individuals.

Community premises are defined as premises that are or form part of:

• A church hall, chapel or other similar building
• A village hall, parish hall, community hall or other similar building

You can download an application form to apply to disapply DPS provisions  [PDF, 63 KB].

When you make application you have to send a copy of the application to the Chief Superintendent of Humberside Police.

All documents supporting this application must be supplied within three working days, otherwise the application may be deemed incomplete and be rejected. The application process will not commence until all information has been received.

A review is an objection, complaint, concern or evidence gathered regarding the activities of licensed premises (such as pubs, clubs, off licences, takeaways). For example, licensed activities taking place outside the permitted hours, volume of entertainment, music excessively loud, or selling alcohol to someone who is drunk, or to children.

Evidence is anything you see or hear (preferably backed up by another person) which must be recorded, for example in writing (detailed diary logs), photographs, video, tape recordings, including dates and time.

Any interested party or responsible authority (or a member of a club – CPCs only) can apply for a review of a premises licence or club premises certificate at any time. An interested party could be a resident or local business that’s affected, a responsible authority could be the police, fire brigade or a council service such as Environmental Health or Trading Standards.

The grounds for review must be in relation to one or more of the licensing objectives:

• crime and disorder
• public nuisance
• public safety
• protection of children from harm.

Any ground for review will be rejected if it is not relevant to one or more of the licensing objectives, or if it is frivolous, vexatious, or repetitious.

The applicant must give their application, including all related documents, to the licensing authority. A copy of the application and related documents must be submitted to each responsible authority and also to the licence holder (club), on the same day it is given to the licensing authority.

The licensing authority will then advertise notice of the application in the vicinity of the premises, inviting further representations from interested parties and responsible authorities (and club members). Representations can only be made within a period of 28 consecutive days after receipt of the application.

The notice of application will also be displayed at Church Square House and the Information, Advice and Guidance Hub nearest the premises or club between 9.30am and 4.30pm Monday to Friday. The notice will also be advertised on the council’s website.

A hearing must be heard by the Licensing Sub-Committee. The sub-committee have several options available to them, which are:

• take no action
• modify conditions
• exclude activities
• remove the DPS
• suspend licence for a maximum of three months; or
• revoke licence (withdraw certificate).

An appeal may be made against the committee’s decision by the applicant, the licence holder (club), or anyone who made representation, by Notice of Appeal to the Magistrates Court within 21 days of notification of the decision of the licensing committee.

Downloadable application form

• Review application form

The Business and Planning Act 2020 allows automatic modification of Premises Licences to authorise off-sales until 30 September 2021. No application is required.

The Premises Licence is to be treated as if, from the time the Act comes into force, it is varied to authorise off-sales until 30 September 2021 during any time between when the premises are first open that day for the purposes of selling alcohol for consumption on the premises and 11pm, where the premises are already authorised to sell alcohol for consumption on the premises. Conditions restricting off-sales will no longer apply.

Exceptions will apply if a Variation has previously been refused or the Premises Licence has previously been modified or varied to exclude off-sales. If you are unsure whether these exceptions apply to your Premises Licence, please contact The Technical Hub on 01724 297000.

For more information on the Business and Planning Act 2020, please view the Business and Planning Act 2020 on Legislation.gov.uk.

Visit our Applying for a Pavement Licence page for details on how to apply in North Lincolnshire.

The Licensing Act 2003 recognises that club premises have different licensing law issues to commercial enterprises selling directly to the public. This applies to club premises where the public has restricted access, and where alcohol is supplied other than for profit. The 2003 Act preserves aspects of earlier alcohol licensing law that applied to registered members’ clubs. For example:

• Labour, Conservative and Liberal clubs
• service clubs
• workings men’s clubs
• sports clubs

At these clubs there are technically no sales by retail of alcohol except to guests when they make a purchase. Where members are involved, there is no sale of alcohol. This is because the member owns part of the alcohol stock.

You can print and complete a Declaration and Grant application form

All documents supporting this application must be supplied within three working days of each other, otherwise the application may be deemed incomplete and be rejected. The application process will not commence until all information has been received.

Qualifying as a club

Section 62 of the 2003 Act sets out general conditions needed to qualify as a club. These are:

• Instant membership is not permitted. Members must wait at least two days between their application and admission to the club.
• The club must have at least 25 members.
• Alcohol is not supplied, or intended to be supplied to members on the premises, unless it is supplied by, or on behalf, of the club.
• The club is established and conducted in good faith as a club. Section 63 of the Act states the matters to be taken into account to determine whether a club is established and conducted in good faith.

Clubs have traditionally not been “licensed” because “sales” do not take place there. The 2003 Act preserves this special treatment.

These clubs should not be confused with proprietary clubs, which are clubs run commercially by individuals, partnerships or businesses for the purpose of profit. Proprietary clubs need a premises licence. They are not eligible to be qualifying clubs.

Related documents

• Grant Form of Notice, [PDF, 46Kb] (must be printed on pale blue A4 paper)
• Variation Form of notice,  [PDF, 48Kb]
• Responsible authorities [PDF, 42Kb]

Variation

If the club premises certificate needs to be changed, for example if further activities are required or the supply of alcohol hours are to be changed, then a variation application can be made. Our Variation of Form Notice [PDF, 111Kb] must be printed on pale blue A4 paper.

All documents supporting this application must be supplied within three working days of each other, otherwise the application may be deemed incomplete and be rejected. The application process will not commence until all information has been received.

A copy of the application with plan is required to go to the responsible authority [PDF, 24Kb].

There is a minor variation [PDF, 5Kb] process that can be used for variations that would have no adverse impact on the promotion of any of the four licensing objectives. These are:

• the prevention of crime and disorder
• public safety
• the prevention of public nuisance
• the protection of children from harm.

A person requires written consent of the licensing authority to put on any exhibition, demonstration or performance of hypnotism (as defined in the Hypnotism Act 1952) and must comply with any attached conditions.

Downloadable forms:

• Application form [PDF, 64 KB]
• Conditions [PDF, 43 KB]

An application for consent must be in writing and signed by the applicant or their agent. It should normally be made not less than 28 days in advance of the performance concerned. This period may be reduced in the case of a hypnotist who has performed at the same venue within the last three years without any problems.

The applicant must at the same time forward a copy of the application to the chief officer of police; and the council may also copy it to the local fire authority if it considers this necessary.

An Interim Authority Notice (IAN) is relevant following death, mental incapacity, insolvency or dissolution of the premises licence holder. This allows for the premises licence to be reinstated for a maximum of three months to allow time for a transfer application.

The IAN must be submitted to North Lincolnshire Council Licensing Department and the Chief Officer of Police within 28 days from the day after the licence lapses.

Please note that if the IAN is not made within the 28 day period an application for a new premises licence will have to be made in order to continue licensable activities. The police have two working days to object to an IAN. If no objections are received the amended licence will be issued. If you are unsure whether you are able to apply for an IAN please contact the Licensing Department on licensing@northlincs.gov.uk

Downloadable application form

This form of notice was updated on 1 July 2021. Any previous versions of this form are void after this date.

• Interim Authority Notice [PDF, 259 Kb]

Fees and charges

You can find the fee for this licence by going to our fee register.

Timescale

Upon receipt of the IAN the Licensing Department must issue the applicant with a copy of the licence showing the licence holder as the person who has submitted the notice. Notice must be given to the DPS that the IAN has been served.

Please note that the premises can only continue to operate after an IAN has been served to the Licensing Department. If a transfer is not received within three months of an IAN being received then the existing licence will lapse and a new licence will have to be applied for. If no IAN is served then a transfer of the licence may be applied for by an eligible applicant within the 28 day period. If you wish to serve an IAN you will need to complete the application form.

Appeals

Please contact your Local Authority in the first instance. If an IAN is cancelled following a police objection the failed applicant can appeal. Appeals are made to a Magistrates’ court within 21 days of notice of the decision. A licence holder may appeal against any conditions attached to a licence. Appeals are made to a Magistrates’ court within 21 days of notice of the decision.

If you are the freeholder, leaseholder or occupier of a property which has a Premises Licence in accordance with the Licensing Act 2003, then you may notify us of that interest and we will advise you when an application is received in respect of those premises.

Registration is discretionary and therefore not a legal requirement.

Period of notice

The notice will have effect for 12 months, but a new notice can be given every year. Information on licences held with us are contained in a register. Please view our Public Register for more information:

Policies, Fees and Registers

• Licensing Budgets and Fees [PDF, 249Kb] A comprehensive list of all fees and charges for licence applications
• Licensing policies – Policies that guide us when we consider licence applications and details of any licensing policies under consultation.
• Licensing Public Notices – Public Notices for current applications made under the Licensing Act 2003, the Highways Act 1980, the Gambling Act 2005 and Marriage Licences.
• Licensing registers – Some legislation requires a register of applications or issued licences to be made available to the public. These can be viewed here or at the Licensing office.

Costs

The fee for a Notification of Interest is £21 and is payable on submission of the notice to us.

Criteria

Any party (person, business or company) with an interest in a property, situated in North Lincolnshire, which has a Premises Licence, may give notice of their interest to us.

Those who can take advantage of this arrangement may include:

• the leaseholder
• the freeholder
• a legal mortgagee in respect of the premises
• a person in occupation of the premises
• any other person as prescribed by the Secretary of State

If you would like to submit a Notification of Interest, please complete a Notification of Interest application form and return it to us.

In accordance with the Licensing Act 2003, every sale of alcohol that takes place under a premises licence must be made or authorised by a personal licence holder. A premises licensed for the sale of alcohol must also specify a personal licence holder as the Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) for that premises before such sales can take place. A personal licence holder may also apply for more Temporary Event Notices in a given calendar year. There is no requirement to renew a personal licence.

You can apply for a grant application for a personal licence or make a change to your current licence using the forms below.

Downloadable application forms

This application form was updated on 1 July 2021. Any previous versions of this form are void after this date.

• Application for a Personal Licence [PDF, 216 Kb]
• Disclosure of convictions form
• Change of name or address [PDF, 31 Kb]

There are several requirements when applying for a grant application.

How to apply:

• Submit a completed application form to North Lincolnshire Council.
• Submit a completed disclosure of convictions form to North Lincolnshire Council.
• Provide your Right to Work in the UK (e.g. a photocopy of a British Passport, alternatively you can provide a Right to Work Share Code).
• Provide an endorsed passport-style photograph of yourself. It must be endorsed to say it is a true likeness of you; the endorser must also sign and state their capacity. Acceptable endorsers are listed here. Countersigning passport applications and photos:
• Provide a licensing qualification accredited by the Secretary of State (or one that is certified as such). You may submit an e-certificate if there is an option for the licensing authority to verify the qualification online. If the certificate cannot be verified online, we will require the original certificate posting to us.
• Provide an original Basic DBS Certificate that is no more than one calendar month old when submitted to the licensing authority. The disclosure certificate can be obtained from the Disclosure & Barring Service.
• Pay the appropriate fee using the payment link above.

You may submit your application and other supporting documents via email to licensing@northlincs.gov.uk. However, the original Basic DBS Certificate needs to be posted directly to the licensing authority. The postal address can be found below.

Additional information for applicants

• If your personal licence is lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed you may request a copy of the licence from the relevant authority. There may be a fee payable for a replacement licence. You do not need to report the loss to the police.
• You must notify the licensing authority of any changes in name or address as soon as possible.
• This licence must be produced on demand to a constable or authorised officer, who must produce evidence of their authority to see it.
• If you appear before a court for a relevant criminal offence you must produce this licence to the court on or before your first appearance.
• You must notify the licensing authority in writing as soon as possible after being convicted of any relevant criminal offence or foreign offence.
• It is an offence to fail to comply with the requirements in the notes above without a reasonable excuse.
• More information is available from the council’s licensing department.

Sex shops, sex cinemas and adult entertainment venues all need to be licensed.

The council must licence people who run premises that trade in a significant amount of marital aids, sex cinemas or premises that provide adult entertainment that includes, lap dancing, pole dancing, striptease or other similar activities.

Such premises must be discreet with suitable screening to prevent the interior being viewed from the outside. No under 18s may enter the premises. The applicant must satisfy the council that they are a fit and proper person.

Those wishing to apply for a Sex Establishment licence must complete an Application form [PDF, 71Kb] and return it to the Licensing Department.

You can find the fee for this licence by going to our licence fee register.

We aim to deal with grant and renewal applications within 98 days. Tacit consent applies. This means that you will be able to act as though your application has been granted or renewed if you have not heard from us by the end of the above application period.

The ‘Stars on the Bars’ award scheme has been set up with the intention of assessing premises to a set standard.  The desired outcomes of the scheme are as follows:

• Improve management standards in premises
• Reduce the number of visits from regulatory agencies
• Risk assess premises
• Recognise and reward best practice

In order to achieve these objectives premises will be visited and assessed by trained staff, who will complete the Stars on the Bars Booklet [PDF, 2 MB]

If you wish to hold a temporary event that includes a licensable activity, then you will need to submit a Temporary Event Notice (TEN). Your TEN must adhere to the following conditions.

• Only people aged 18 or over may serve a Temporary Event Notice
• There are two types of TEN, a standard TEN and a late TEN

Download and print a Temporary Event Notification Form from the UK Legislation website

Please refer to the ‘Notes for Guidance’ attached to the Temporary Event Notice.

• Personal Licence Holders can serve 50 TENs in one year (of which 10 may be late TENs)
• Non-Personal Licence holders can serve 5 TENs in one year (of which two may be late TENs)

If you serve more than one TEN for the same premises there must be a break of 24 hours between events.

You must give at least 10 working days notice for a standard TEN and at least five working days notice for a late TEN. A working day does not include weekends or public holidays, or the day the Licensing Authority receives the notice or the day of the event.

Premises can hold 15 events in one year. Please be aware that the year starts from the 1st January to 31st December.

The event

• Each event can last no longer than 168 hours (7 days)
• The maximum number of days covered by TENs must not exceed 21 days in any calendar year
• The capacity must be no more than 499 persons including staff, performers etc
• £21 per Temporary Event Notice

The notice can only be valid if it is given in accordance with the Regulations made under the Licensing Act 2003. The Licensing Authority has no authority or discretion to disregard or alter the Regulations.

The Police or Environmental Health can object to the event. If an objection is made to a standard TEN then the objection will be heard by the Licensing Sub-Committee at a hearing. If an objection concerns a late TEN, then there will be no hearing and the event cannot go ahead. You will be informed if there is an objection.

You must display the TEN at the event for all to see.

How to submit

You can submit your Temporary Event Notice via email to licensing@northlincs.gov.uk and the Licencing Authority will forward it to the relevant consultees on your behalf.

If you submit your Temporary Event Notice to the Licensing Authority via post, you will also need to serve a copy to the relevant consultees below.

Humberside Police
Alcohol Licensing
Police Station
55 Osborne Street
Hull
HU1 2NW

Environmental Health
North Lincolnshire Council
Church Square House
PO Box 42
Scunthorpe
DN15 6XQ

Licensing Department
North Lincolnshire Council
Licensing
Church Square House
PO Box 42
Scunthorpe
North Lincolnshire
DN15 6XQ
Email: licensing@northlincs.gov.uk

Alcohol Licensing
Humberside Police
Police Station
55 Osborne Street, Hull
HU5 5SF

Immigration
Home Office (Immigration Enforcement)
IE Licensing Compliance Team (IELCT)
2 Ruskin Square (Floor 6)
Dingwall Road
Croydon
CR0 2WF
Email: IE.licensing.applications@homeoffice.gov.uk

Environmental Health and Health & Safety
Group Manager for Environmental Health & Housing
Church Square House
PO Box 42
Scunthorpe
North Lincolnshire
DN15 6XQ
Email: environmental.health@northlincs.gov.uk
food.safety@northlincs.gov.uk

Planning and Regeneration
Development Control Manager
Planning & Regeneration Service
Church Square House
PO Box 42
Scunthorpe
North Lincolnshire
DN15 6XQ
Email: planning@northlincs.gov.uk

Director of Public Health for Greater Lincolnshire
Professor Derek Ward
Church Square House
PO Box 42
Scunthorpe
North Lincolnshire
DN15 6XQ

Trading Standards
Group Manager of Trading Standards & Licensing
Church Square House
PO Box 42
Scunthorpe
North Lincolnshire
DN15 6XQ
Email: trading.standards@northlincs.gov.uk

Humberside Fire & Rescue Service
Chief Fire Officer
Fire Safety
Laneham Street
Scunthorpe
North Lincolnshire
DN15 6JP

Child Protection Team
ACPC Administrator
Local Safeguarding Children Board
Cambridge House
Cambridge Road
Bottesford
North Lincolnshire
DN16 3LG
Email:
IndependentReviewTeam@northlincs.gov.uk

British Waterways Board (for vessels only)
Willow Grange
Church Road
Watford
Hertfordshire
WD17 4QA
Tel: 01923 201101

Health & Safety Executive (for all local authority buildings and grounds)
Foundry House
3 Millsands Riverside Exchange
Sheffield
S3 8NH
Tel: 0114 291 2347