Premises licence

You need a premises licence if you want to sell alcohol or provide licensable activities.

You can find further information about premises licences at gov.uk

Licensable activities include:

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

You’ll also need a licence if you provide the following types of entertainment:

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

You’ll still need a licence even if the activities are for charity.

Apply for a new premises licence

To apply you’ll need to provide the following information along with the application:

  • a copy of your current licence
  • an operating schedule showing when the licensable activity will take place
  • designated premises supervisor (DPS) consent form (I you plan to sell alcohol)
  • plans of the premises plans which should:
    • show the boundary of the building with any internal or external walls
    • show the perimeter of the premises
    • show entrances and exits to the building
    • escape routes from the building
    • locations of different licensable activities in the building, if relevant
    • where people will consume alcohol
    • fixed or temporary structures (including furniture) which may block entrances or exits to the building
    • the location and height of any stages, steps, stairs or lifts in the building
    • the location of any public toilets in the building
    • the location of the kitchen if relevant
    • the location of any fire safety equipment including
      • the fire alarm
      • emergency lighting
      • illuminated signs
      • fire extinguishers and their type
      • fire doors
      • fire blankets

Plans for written and electronic applications will not be required to be submitted in any particular scale, but they must be in a format which is “clear and legible in all material respects”, meaning they must be accessible and provide sufficient detail for the licensing authority to be able to determine the application, including the relative size of any features relevant to the application. There is no requirement for plans to be professionally drawn as long as they clearly show all the prescribed information.

The information in the plan must be clear and legible and you can include a key of symbols to illustrate the above.

The premises licence fees are based on the rateable value of the premises and charged annually.

Once we have received and verified your application we will send you a public notice. Your blue application notice must be displayed at or on the premises for 28 continuous days from the day after the application was sent to us. You must also email us 2 photographs showing the notice on display.

You must advertise the application in the local paper and pay any costs.

A copy of the advertisement must be sent to licensing@arun.gov.uk

If we receive no representations within the 28 days, we will grant your application as applied for, subject to the conditions offered in your operating schedule.

If we receive any representations our licensing committee will meet to decide on the application (unless all parties agree that a hearing is not necessary).

To apply

  1. The proposed DPS will need to submit a consent form.
    DPS consent form
  2. After selecting the button below you’ll need to:
    • have the online submission ID from the DPS consent form confirmation email
    • have a credit or debit card for payment
    • create an account if you do not already have one
    • select licensing
    • select apply for a licence
    • select Licensing Act 2003
    • select premises licence
    • answer yes to the question on applying for a new premises licence
    • select A1 - new L41 premises licence
    • follow the onscreen instructions

There is a fee for this service.

Apply for a premises licence

Apply for a minor variation to your premises licence

If you need to make a small change to your premises licence like:

  • removing a licensable activity
  • reducing the hours you sell alcohol
  • making a small change to the layout of your premises

You’ll need to complete the minor variation application.

You’ll need to include:

  • a copy of your current licence
  • a copy of your public notice
  • original plans of the premises which should:
    • show the boundary of the building with any internal or external walls
    • show the perimeter of the premises
    • show entrances and exits to the building
    • escape routes from the building
    • locations of different licensable activities in the building, if relevant
    • where people will consume alcohol
    • fixed or temporary structures (including furniture) which may block entrances or exits to the building
    • the location and height of any stages, steps, stairs or lifts in the building
    • the location of any public toilets in the building
    • the location of the kitchen if relevant
    • the location of any fire safety equipment including
      • the fire alarm
      • emergency lighting
      • illuminated signs
      • fire extinguishers and their type
      • fire doors
      • fire blankets
  • new plans of the premises plans if the minor variation includes a change to the layout that affects less than 10% of the business and which should:
    • show the boundary of the building with any internal or external walls
    • show the perimeter of the premises
    • show entrances and exits to the building
    • escape routes from the building
    • locations of different licensable activities in the building, if relevant
    • where people will consume alcohol
    • fixed or temporary structures (including furniture) which may block entrances or exits to the building
    • the location and height of any stages, steps, stairs or lifts in the building
    • the location of any public toilets in the building
    • the location of the kitchen if relevant
    • the location of any fire safety equipment including
      • the fire alarm
      • emergency lighting
      • illuminated signs
      • fire extinguishers and their type
      • fire doors
      • fire blankets

Plans for written and electronic applications will not be required to be submitted in any particular scale, but they must be in a format which is “clear and legible in all material respects”, meaning they must be accessible and provide sufficient detail for the licensing authority to be able to determine the application, including the relative size of any features relevant to the application. There is no requirement for plans to be professionally drawn as long as they clearly show all the prescribed information.

The information in the plan must be clear and legible and you can include a key of symbols to illustrate the above.

After submitting your application, you must:

We have set timescales for deciding a minor variation. If we receive a comment from any of the responsible authorities we must decide if your application is a minor variation. If we decide it is not, we will reject the application and you can apply under the full variation process.

If we decide that it is a minor variation, we will accept your application within 15 days.

After selecting the button below you’ll need to:

  1. Have a credit or debit card for payment.
  2. Create an account if you do not already have one.
  3. Select licensing.
  4. Select apply for a licence.
  5. Select Licensing Act 2003.
  6. Select premises licence.
  7. Answer no to the question on applying for a new premises licence.
  8. Select minor variation.
  9. Follow the onscreen instructions.

There is a fee for this service.

Apply for a minor variation

Apply for a variation to your premises licence

If you would like to make a change to your premises licence which will affect more than 10% of the business you must apply for the variation.

This is like a new premises licence application and is used when you want to increase the number of hours you sell alcohol or if there are major changes to the premises layout.

You’ll need to include:

  • a copy of your current licence
  • original plans of the premises which should:
    • show the boundary of the building with any internal or external walls
    • show the perimeter of the premises
    • show entrances and exits to the building
    • escape routes from the building
    • locations of different licensable activities in the building, if relevant
    • where people will consume alcohol
    • fixed or temporary structures (including furniture) which may block entrances or exits to the building
    • the location and height of any stages, steps, stairs or lifts in the building
    • the location of any public toilets in the building
    • the location of the kitchen if relevant
    • the location of any fire safety equipment including
      • the fire alarm
      • emergency lighting
      • illuminated signs
      • fire extinguishers and their type
      • fire doors
      • fire blankets
  • new plans of the premises plans if the variation includes a change to the layout which should:
    • show the boundary of the building with any internal or external walls
    • show the perimeter of the premises
    • show entrances and exits to the building
    • escape routes from the building
    • locations of different licensable activities in the building, if relevant
    • where people will consume alcohol
    • fixed or temporary structures (including furniture) which may block entrances or exits to the building
    • the location and height of any stages, steps, stairs or lifts in the building
    • the location of any public toilets in the building
    • the location of the kitchen if relevant
    • the location of any fire safety equipment including
      • the fire alarm
      • emergency lighting
      • illuminated signs
      • fire extinguishers and their type
      • fire doors
      • fire blankets

Plans for written and electronic applications will not be required to be submitted in any particular scale, but they must be in a format which is “clear and legible in all material respects”, meaning they must be accessible and provide sufficient detail for the licensing authority to be able to determine the application, including the relative size of any features relevant to the application. There is no requirement for plans to be professionally drawn as long as they clearly show all the prescribed information.

The information in the plan must be clear and legible and you can include a key of symbols to illustrate the above.

After submitting your application, you must:

If we receive no representations within the 28 days, we will grant your application as applied for, subject to the conditions offered in your operating schedule.

If we receive any representations our licensing committee will meet to decide on the application (unless all parties agree that a hearing is not necessary).

After selecting the button below you’ll need to:

  1. Have a credit or debit card for payment.
  2. Create an account if you do not already have one.
  3. Select licensing.
  4. Select apply for a licence.
  5. Select Licensing Act 2003.
  6. Select premises licence.
  7. Answer no to the question on applying for a new premises licence.
  8. Select full variation.
  9. Follow the onscreen instructions.

There is a fee for this service.

Apply for a variation to a premises licence

Vary designated premises supervisor (DPS)

You'll need to apply if you want to change to a different DPS. Your proposed DPS must hold a valid personal licence.

As part of your application you'll need to provide:

  • a copy of the current premises licence
  • a completed consent form from the DPS

After you apply the police have 14 days to object, if they do not object, we can grant the licence.

To apply

Make sure you submit both the DPS consent form and the apply to vary a DPS form. 

  1. After selecting the button below you'll need to:
    • have the online submission ID from the DPS consent form confirmation email
    • have a credit or debit card for payment
    • create an account if you do not already have one
  2. Once you have created an account, you'll need to:
    • select licensing
    • select apply for a licence
    • select Licensing Act 2003
    • select premises licence
    • answer no to the question on applying for a new premises licence
    • select vary DPS
    • follow the onscreen instructions

The proposed DPS

The proposed DPS will need to submit the DPS consent form 

The premises licence holder will need to apply to vary a DPS form

We will not be able to process the vary DPS application without both the DPS consent form and the application form.

There is a fee for this service.

Transfer licence

If you take over a business and wish to continue providing licensable activities then you must apply to transfer the premises licence.

There is a 14-day consultation period where responsible authorities can object to the application.

If we receive no objections, we will normally grant the application.

After selecting the button below you’ll need to:

  1. The current premises licence holder will need to submit a consent form.
  2. Have a credit or debit card for payment.
  3. Create an account if you do not already have one.
  4. Select licensing.
  5. Select apply for a licence.
  6. Select Licensing Act 2003.
  7. Select premises licence.
  8. Answer no to the question on applying for a new premises licence.
  9. Select transfer.
  10. Follow the onscreen instructions.

You will need to submit both of the following:

1. licensee consent form to be signed and sent by the previous licence holder

2. apply to transfer a license form to be applied for by the new premises holder

We will not be able to process the transfer application without both the signed consent form and the application form.

There is a fee for this service.

Transfer and vary a designated premises supervisor (DPS)

If you take over a business and wish to continue providing licensable activities and you need to change the DPS then you must apply to transfer and vary the premises licence.

To apply

  1. The proposed DPS will need to submit a consent form.
    DPS consent form
  2. The current premises licence holder will need to submit a consent form.
    Licensee consent form
    We will not be able to process the transfer application without the DPS and the licensee consent forms.
  3. After selecting the button below you’ll need to:
    • have the online submission ID from the DPS consent form confirmation email
    • have a credit or debit card for payment
    • create an account if you do not already have one
    • select licensing
    • select apply for a licence
    • select Licensing Act 2003
    • select premises licence
    • answer no to the question on applying for a new premises licence
    • select application to transfer premises licence to be granted under section 42 of the Licensing Act 2003 and vary a premises licence to specify an individual as a designated premises supervisor
    • follow the onscreen instructions 

There is a fee for this service.

Apply for a transfer and vary DPS

 

Disapply a designated premises supervisor (DPS)

This is for community premises to remove the DPS if there is one on their licence.

If you run or are involved in a community, church or village hall that wishes to sell alcohol or already sells it, you can apply for the sale of alcohol to be made the responsibility of a management committee instead of a DPS. If your licence specifies a DPS you can apply to change this to the management committee.

You’ll need to provide copies of the following:

  • document to identify premises (optional)
  • copies of hiring agreements (optional)
  • premises licence. 

After selecting the button below you’ll need to:

  1. Have a credit or debit card for payment.
  2. Create an account if you do not already have one.
  3. Select licensing.
  4. Select apply for a licence.
  5. Select Licensing Act 2003.
  6. Select premises licence.
  7. Answer no to the question on applying for a new premises licence.
  8. Select application to disapply a DPS.
  9. Follow the onscreen instructions.

Remove the DPS requirement from a licence

If you are a designated premises supervisor (DPS) you can apply to be taken off a licence

You must be the holder of a personal licence and be named on a premises licence as the DPS.

You’ll need to include the following information if you no longer wish to be the DPS:

  • your personal licence ID number
  • your name and address details
  • the name and address of the licensed premises you wish to be removed from

There is no fee for this service.

Remove yourself as a DPS from a licence

 

Change of address premises licence holder

You can change the address of the premises licence holder but not the licensed address. For example, if the licence holder is a company head office.

There is a fee for this service.

After selecting the button below you’ll need to:

  • have a credit or debit card for payment
  • current premises licence number

Change of address of premises licence holder

 

Interim authority notice

You may need to apply for an interim authority notice if you need to take over a licence for someone else.

A premises licence will lapse if the licence holder:

  • dies
  • is incapacitated
  • becomes insolvent
  • loses entitlement to work in the UK

You must apply within 28 days to have the licence reinstated.

After selecting the button below you’ll need to:

  1. Have a credit or debit card for payment.
  2. Create an account if you do not already have one.
  3. Select licensing.
  4. Select apply for a licence.
  5. Select Licensing Act 2003.
  6. Select premises licence.
  7. Answer no to the question on applying for a new premises licence.
  8. Choose interim authority notice.
  9. Follow the onscreen instructions.

There is a fee for this service.

Apply for an interim authority notice

Notification of interest

If you have a legal interest in a property you are entitled to be told of any licensing matters to do with it.

Once you have let us know, we will tell you about any changes made to the licensing register that may affect the property.

You have a legal interest in a premises if:

  • you are the freeholder or leaseholder of the property
  • you have a legal mortgage on the premises
  • you live on the premises

After selecting the button below you’ll need to:

  1. Have a credit or debit card for payment.
  2. Create an account if you do not already have one.
  3. Select licensing.
  4. Select apply for a licence.
  5. Select Licensing Act 2003.
  6. Select premises licence.
  7. Answer no to the question on applying for a new premises licence.
  8. Choose notification of interest.
  9. Follow the onscreen instructions.

There is a fee for this service.

Notification of an interest in a premises

 

Provisional statement

A provisional statement is a way of checking if we will grant a premises licence before you need one.

You can apply for a provisional statement if you are:

  • building or planning to build premises
  • planning to alter a premises

You’ll need to complete our online application and provide a plan of the proposed licensed area.

After submitting your application, you must:

After selecting the button below you’ll need to:

  1. Have a credit or debit card for payment.
  2. Create an account if you do not already have one.
  3. Select licensing.
  4. Select apply for a licence.
  5. Select Licensing Act 2003.
  6. Select provisional statement.
  7. Follow the onscreen instructions.

There is a fee for this service.

Apply for a provisional statement

 

Request a review of a premises licence

You can ask for a review of a premises if you believe that any of the 4 licensing objectives are not being met.

The 4 licensing objectives are:

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

If you are making the application and you are not a responsible authority, we must check that the complaint is valid. We will not review applications which we believe are frivolous, vexatious or repetitious.

Frivolous – these lack seriousness, a complaint must be serious and must relate to one or more of the licensing objectives.

Vexatious – arising because of a dispute between businesses.

Repetitious – if a review application is identical or substantially similar in grounds to an earlier review or representation on an application for the same premises and a reasonable amount of time has not passed since the earlier consideration.

In this case a reasonable amount of time is 12 months.

If we feel an application is frivolous, vexatious or repetitious we will reject the application we will inform you of the reasons for the decision.

There are no rights of appeal against the decision other than an application for judicial review to the High Court.

If we believe the application to be valid, we will display a notice of the application for review on or near the premises for 28 days.
During this time, any responsible authority or other person can make a representation about the application.

If we receive any representations our licensing committee will meet to decide on the application.

After selecting the button below you’ll need to:

  1. Create an account if you do not already have one.
  2. Select licensing.
  3. Select Licensing Act 2003.
  4. Select Premises Licence
  5. Select Application for the Review of a Premises Licence under the Licensing Act 2003

Follow the onscreen instructions.

Apply for a review of a premises licence

Complaints relating to a club premises

If you want to make a complaint about a club premises you’ll need to register on our online portal.

You’ll need to include your contact details, the address of the club and a brief description of the complaint.

After selecting the button below you’ll need to:

  1. Create an account if you do not already have one.
  2. Select requests.
  3. Select apply for a licence.
  4. Select submit a request complaint.
  5. Choose club premises certificate – alcohol and entertainment in the request subject.
  6. Follow the onscreen instructions

Make a complaint

Responsible authorities

The licensing team / licensing officer

Environmental Health Department
Arun District Council
Arun Civic Centre
Maltravers Road
Littlehampton
West Sussex
BN17 5LF
Tel: 01903 737755
licensing@arun.gov.uk

Contact details for Sussex Police

Police Neighbourhood Licensing Team
Centenary House
Durrington Lane
Worthing
BN13 2PQ
email: ws_licensing_wor@sussex.pnn.police.uk
Tel: 0845 60 70 999 or 101 and ask for neighbourhood licensing team

Contact details for Fire and Rescue Service

Fire Safety Officer - Licence Applications
West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service
Centenary House,
1st Floor, West Wing, Rm 236 & 245
Durrington Lane
Worthing
West Sussex
BN13 2QB
Email: businessfiresafety@westsussex.gov.uk

Contact details for Trading Standards

West Sussex County Council
Trading Standards Service
County Hall North
Chart Way
Horsham
West Sussex
RH12 1XH
Consumer Advice: (01903) 839749
Business Enquiries: (01903) 839700
Email: trading.standards@westsussex.gov.uk

Ethnic Minority Helpline: (08457) 581649

Contact details for Planning Department

Planning and Building Control Department
Arun District Council
Arun Civic Centre
Maltravers Road
Littlehampton
West Sussex
BN17 5LF
email: planning@arun.gov.uk

Contact details for Health and Safety

Health and Safety Team
Arun District Council
Arun Civic Centre
Maltravers Road
Littlehampton
West Sussex
BN17 5LF
email: health.safety@arun.gov.uk

Contact details for Environmental Health

Pollution Team
Arun District Council
Arun Civic Centre
Maltravers Road
Littlehampton
West Sussex
BN17 5LF
email: pollution@arun.gov.uk

Contact details for West Sussex Safeguarding Children Partnership

Head of Safeguarding
West Sussex Safeguarding Children Partnership (Licensing)
West Sussex County Council
Room 24
Durban House
Durban Road
Bognor Regis
West Sussex
PO22 9RE
Phone: 03302 223337
Email: cputeam@westsussex.gov.uk

Contact details for Public Health

Director of Public Health
c/o Public Health Licensing
West Sussex County Council
1st Floor, The Grange,
County Hall Campus,
Chichester
West Sussex
PO19 1QT
email: publichealth.licensing@westsussex.gov.uk
Phone: 0330 2228683

Contact details for Immigration Enforcement

Home Office,
Alcohol Licensing Team,
Lunar House,
40 Wellesley Road,
Croydon,
CR9 2BY
Alcohol@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk