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Overview

Our specialist alcohol licensing solicitors offer a full range of alcohol licensing legal services to provide you with the advice and assistance that you need.

Please find the full details of our pricing for applications to obtain or vary a premises alcohol licence.


Summary Table

 

Type of application Fixed fee Estimate at hourly rates
Category 1 £1,350 plus £270 VAT £750 to £1,250 plus 20% VAT
Category 2 £1,750 plus £350 VAT £1,250 to £,1600 plus 20% VAT
Category 3 available on request £3,000 to £12,500 plus 20% VAT

Category 1 applications

Category 1 applications are those where the premises are:

  • not in Greater London
  • not in a cumulative impact area
  • not operating or intended to operate as a nightclub
  • not complex or large-scale (including stadia and festivals)
  • not known as or alleged to be an existing source of crime and disorder

Estimated charge at applicable hourly rates: £750 to £1250 plus 20% VAT and
disbursements.

Fixed fee option: £1,350 plus £270 VAT and disbursements.

In the event that your application is objected to so that at hearing is required, we will charge approximately £1,000 plus 20% VAT to represent you at that hearing. Often, we are able to offer a fixed-fee proposal for this element as well once the duration of the hearing has been decided.

Category 2 applications

Category 2 applications are those where the premises are in Greater London, are in a cumulative impact area or are known as or alleged to be an existing source of crime and disorder.

Category 2 does not include complex or large-scale premises. It does include nightclubs.

Estimated charge at applicable hourly rates: £1,250 to £1,600 plus 20% VAT and disbursements.

Fixed fee option: £1,750 plus £350 VAT and disbursements.

In the event that your application is objected to so that at hearing is required, we will charge approximately £1,500 plus 20% VAT to represent you at that hearing. Often, we are able to offer a fixed-fee proposal for this element as well once the duration of the hearing has been decided.

Category 3 applications

Category 3 applications are those where the premises are large-scale or complex. This category includes stadia, festivals, large civic areas and other non-traditional venues.

Estimated charge at applicable hourly rates: £3,000 to £12,500 plus 20% VAT and disbursements

It is not unusual for large-scale events to attract significant objections from the local community which necessitate hearings occupying many days. It is very difficult to estimate the likely cost of representation at these hearings in advance. The cost can range between £1,500 and £5,500 plus 20% VAT.

The fees set out above include:

  • Taking your instructions and advising you as to how you can promote the licensing objectives within your application.
  • Advising you as the type of plans you are required to submit with your application.
  • Completing the application form for a new premises licence (including the operating schedule) in accordance with your instructions and submitting this to the local licensing authority alongside suitable plans. You must provide suitable plans.
  • Liaising with the responsible authorities in advance where appropriate.
  • Providing guidance on the fee levels payable to the licensing authority.
  • Preparing copies of the premises licence application for disclosure to the responsible authorities and serving copies of the application on the responsible authorities.
  • Drafting the notices advertising the premises licence application and submitting the notice to the local newspaper.
  • Arranging with you for you to display the notice(s) advertising the premises licence application and advising as to where and how this should be done by you in order to comply with the requirements of the Licensing Act 2003.
  • Providing a Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) consent form for signature by a personal licence holder proposed by you.
  • Advising you on appropriate amendments, voluntary conditions or other interventions to overcome objections.
  • Checking the licence once granted and correcting any errors with the licensing authority

Details of lawyers who may work on the matter

 

Lawyer Qualification Experience Work undertaken Hourly rate
Nicola Jordan Paralegal Nicola has vast experience of alcohol licensing. This is drawn in part from her former employment within the licensing department of a Magistrates’ Court. She has experience of a very diverse range of applications having worked on everything from pubs and clubs to castles, university campuses, stadia and train stations. Nicola deals with the majority of the work in Category 1 and 2 cases. She assists with Category 3 cases £190 plus 20% VAT
Leah Ellison Solicitor Leah is an assistant solicitor with an interest in advocacy Leah deals with all categories of case £230 plus 20% VAT
Justin Davies Solicitor Justin has more than 13 years’ post qualification experience. He appears in court on a near daily basis and his licensing experience includes work within a local authority legal department. Justin deals with all categories of case. £270 plus 20% VAT
Martin Jones Solicitor Martin is the Head of the Regulatory Department and has worked in licensing as well as other areas of business regulation throughout his career. He has more than 25 years’ post qualification experience. Martin heads the licensing team, and he deals with all categories of application. £315 plus 20% VAT

 

Details of supervisors

Martin Jones undertakes supervision of matters conducted by our other lawyers.

Timescales

It will usually take two weeks from receipt of full instructions from you for us to make your application, but this does depend on you being able to provide all the necessary documents promptly. If your matter is more complex, for example, if there is substantial opposition from interested parties, or if there is a delay in receiving the documents we need, it may take longer. The law requires that a consultation period of 28 days should follow submission of a valid application. At the end of that period the council has 20 working days to hold a hearing if there are objections to your licence being granted.

Disbursements

Our disbursements are usually limited to advertising costs and the application fee charged by your local council. Exceptionally, it may be necessary to pay fees (including VAT) to the police, fire service.

Advertising costs are subject to geographical variation but are typically about £350, plus 20% VAT.

For category 1 and 2 applications, the fees charged by your local council are dependent on the rateable value of your premises. The fees currently in force are set out below.

Application fees are outside the scope of VAT.

Band A B C D E
Non-domestic rateable value None to £4,300 £4,301 to £33,000 £33,001 to £87,000 £87,001 to £125,000 £125,001 plus
Premises licenses*
New application and variation £100 £190 £315 £450 £635
Multiplier applied to premises used exclusively or primarily for the supply of alcohol for consumption on the premises (Bands D & E only) N/A N/A N/A ×2  (£900) ×3 (£1,905)
Annual charge* £70 £180 £295 £320 £350
Annual charge multiplier applied to premises used exclusively or primarily for the supply of alcohol for consumption on the premises (Bands D &  E only) N/A N/A N/A ×2 (£640) ×3 (£1,050)
Club premises certificates
New application and variation £100 £190 £315 £450 £635
Annual charge £70 £180 £295 £320 £350

 

*There are additional fees for premises licence applications, and the annual fee for exceptionally large-scale events (5,000+), unless certain conditions apply. Please read Regulation 4(4) and 4(5) of the Licensing Act 2003 (Fees) Regulations 2005.

For category 3 applications, special fees apply which are dependent on the capacity of the venue. These are set out below.

Application fees are outside the scope of VAT.

Band A B C D E
Non-domestic rateable value None to £4,300 £4,301 to £33,000 £33,001 to £87,000 £87,001 to £125,000 £125,001 plus
Premises licenses*
New application and variation £100 £190 £315 £450 £635
Multiplier applied to premises used exclusively or primarily for the supply of alcohol for consumption on the premises (Bands D & E only) N/A N/A N/A ×2  (£900) ×3 (£1,905)
Annual charge* £70 £180 £295 £320 £350
Annual charge multiplier applied to premises used exclusively or primarily for the supply of alcohol for consumption on the premises (Bands D &  E only) N/A N/A N/A ×2 (£640) ×3 (£1,050)
Club premises certificates
New application and variation £100 £190 £315 £450 £635
Annual charge £70 £180 £295 £320 £350

 

*There are additional fees for premises licence applications, and the annual fee for exceptionally large-scale events (5,000+), unless certain conditions apply. Please read Regulation 4(4) and 4(5) of the Licensing Act 2003 (Fees) Regulations 2005.

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