Premises reopening support assessment tool
Nottinghamshire Best Bar None have developed a reopening support tool (external link) to assist licensed premises to assess their reopening processes.
The document will take 5-10 minutes to complete, and a report will be produced as soon as responses have been submitted. The information in this report will show the premises areas that they may need to address before they reopen or that they might want to consider in order to make improvements, or in some cases, to become legally compliant.
Find more information on the latest Government guidance on reopening businesses (external link) and venues in England.
Premises Licence
A Premises Licence is granted for a business supplying alcohol or entertainment or late night food (on or off the premises).
Businesses need to apply for a Premises Licence to authorise all the licensable activities they wish to carry on. A Premises licence is not time limited
When applying for a Premises Licence, you need to submit:
- a plan of the building
- an Operating Schedule (a brief description of how the premises will be operated safely)
- the correct fee.
- the name of the Designated Premises Supervisor and a consent form signed by the proposed Designated Premises Supervisor
You must advertise your application within a prescribed period of 28 days.
The Council has to grant a licence unless it conflicts with one of the Licensing Objectives. It may also impose conditions that promote the Licensing Objectives, for example, noise control measures to prevent public nuisance. If representations are made about either Council’s Licensing Panel (made up of Councillors) have to consider the application.
How do I Apply?
With the application form you need to attach all relevant documentation. Copies of the application and accompanying documentation must also be sent to the Responsible Authorities on the same day the application is submitted to us. Applications must also be advertised to allow other persons to be able to make representations to the Licensing Department.
Fill in our request a licensing application form and select the 'premises licence' form to complete your application.
The Process Following the Advertisement
Where all the requirements relating to the application have been met, and no relevant representations are made, the Licensing Department can grant the licence. The licence will be issued and subject to conditions which are consistent with the operating schedule and any mandatory conditions.
If relevant representations are received, the Licensing Department will convene a Licensing Panel hearing (unless parties agree that this is unnecessary), The panel will consider the representations and, take one of a number of possible steps to promote the licensing objectives. This may result in:
- the rejection of the application
- the exclusion of a licensable activity or;
- granting of the licence, subject to mandatory conditions and/or conditions which are consistent with the operating schedule, modified to such extent as are considered necessary for the promotion of one or more of the licensing objectives
The Operating Schedule
The operating schedule is part of the information you must include which accompanies your application. The operating schedule sets out how the premises are proposed to operate when licensable activities are being conducted. The operating schedule must include the following information:
- the licensable activities to which the application relates
- the proposed hours of the licensable activities, and any other times during which it is proposed the premises will be open to the public
- the duration of the licence (if it is to be for a fixed term)
- where the relevant licensable activities include the supply of alcohol, whether the supplies are for consumption on and/or off the premises
- the steps which it is proposed to take to promote the licensing objectives
If your application for a Premises Licence is granted the operating schedule will be incorporated in to the licence itself as it sets out the permitted activities and any limitations on those activities.
Premises plan
A plan of the premises will need to be submitted with every application for a Premises Licence. The plan will need to be drawn in standard scale where one millimetre represents 100 millimetres, unless you have previously agreed with the Licensing Department that another scale is acceptable. You will need to describe any areas which you intend to provide for people to consume alcohol that you intend to supply under the general description of the premises. The plan must be outlined in red where the licensable activities are to take place.
The plan can also to show:
- the boundary of the building, if relevant, any external and internal walls of the building and, if different, the perimeter of the premises
- points of access and exits from the premises, and the location of escape routes
- fixed structures (including furniture) or similar objects temporarily in a fixed location (but not furniture) which mat impact on exits or escape routes
- the location and height of any stage or raised area relative to the floor
- any steps, elevators or lifts
- any rooms containing public conveniences
- the location and type of any fire safety and other safety equipment, including, if applicable marine safety equipment
- the location of a kitchen, if any, on the premises
How long will a Premises Licence last?
Unless you request otherwise your application for a Premises Licence will have no time limit and will continue to have effect unless it is withdrawn by the Licensing Department following an application for review of the licence, or surrendered by the Premises Licence Holder.
Once a Premises Licence has been granted you are required to pay the annual fee. The Policed Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 made amendments to the Licensing Act 2003 to give the Licensing Department the power to suspend a Premises Licence if the annual fee is not paid when due. If the Licensing Department issues you with a suspension notice for none payment of the annual fee the suspension will remain in place until the fee is paid meaning you will not be able to conduct licensable activities on the premises.
Last Updated on Wednesday, May 8, 2024