Licensing representations

As part of a licensing application, interested parties and responsible authorities can make comments on an application during a consultation period. This is a representation.

When a licensing application has a consultation period the applicant must advertise the application by placing a notice on or at the premises and in some cases advertising in a local newspaper.

Full application details of any licence under consultation can be found on our public register.

For alcohol licensing the public register will show opening hours; licensable activities and any steps that the applicant has given to promote the 4 licensing objectives which are:

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

Representations can be made for 28 days starting the day after we received the application.

If you are concerned that the grant of a licence would have an adverse effect on any of the objectives for alcohol licensing you can make a representation.

To make a representation you’ll need to go to the public register, choose Licensing Act 2003 from licence description and then select search.

This will show all licences in their consultation period.

If you select details this takes you into the details of the application.

At the bottom of the application you can make a representation. Representations cannot be made anonymously. Your personal details may be made public and will be shared with the applicant.

You can upload a document if necessary and then choose to either support or object to an application.

We will not consider any representations we consider to be frivolous or vexatious.

After we receive representations we consider if they are valid and relevant.

If they are valid and relevant, we will schedule a licensing committee hearing to discuss the representations unless all parties come to an agreement beforehand.

We will write to you with the date, time and location of the meeting and explain the format of the hearing.

If the applicant withdraws their application, we will write to you and let you know.

If you have made a representation you need to give us at least 5 working days before the start of the hearing that you:

  • will attend the meeting in person
  • will be represented by someone else
  • think a hearing is unnecessary
  • want someone else to come with you to the hearing

You must let us know as soon as possible if you want to withdraw your representation.

Hearings are public but any discussions on decisions are made in private.

Hearing decisions

At the hearing we may:

  • decide to grant or vary the licence as applied for
  • decide to refuse to issue or vary a licence
  • decide to grant or vary the licence but to modify the conditions
  • exclude a licensable activity from the licence
  • refuse to specify a person as the premises supervisor.