Premise licence application

You need to obtain a premises licence from us if you want to sell alcohol, provide regulated entertainment or supply late night refreshment at any premises in the council area.

The law regarding premises licences is detailed in Part 3 of the Licensing Act 2003 from s11 to s59 and also in the Licensing Act 2003 (Premises Licences and Club Premises Certificates) Regulations 2005 (SI 2005/42).

S11 of the Act defines a 'premises licence' as 'a licence granted under this Part, in respect of any premises, which authorises the premises to be used for one or more licensable activities. The term 'premises' is further defined in s193 as 'any place and includes a vehicle, vessel or moveable structure.'

Where the premises licence includes the retail sale of alcohol as a licensable activity then an individual will need to be named as the designated premises supervisor (DPS). This individual will need to hold a personal licence.

A premises licence lasts indefinitely and is subject to an annual fee. The only way a premises licence can lapse is if the holder of the licence dies becomes insolvent or is dissolved (s27), if the holder surrenders his licence (s28), or if the licence is revoked following a review application made under s51 or s53A of the Act.

Application evaluation process

Applications must be sent to the licensing authority for the area where the premises are located.

Applications must be in a specific format and be accompanied by:

• Any required fee
• An operating schedule
• A plan of the premises
• A form of consent from the premises supervisor, in the case of applications where the sale of alcohol will be a licensable activity
• An operating schedule will include details of:
• The licensable activities
• The times when the activities will take place
• Any other times when the premises will be open to the public
• In the case of applicants who wish to have a limited licence, the period the licence is required for
• Information in respect of the premises supervisor (if alcohol is to be sold at the premises)
• Whether any alcohol that is to be sold is for consumption on or off the premises or both
• The steps proposed to be taken to promote the licensing objectives
• Any other required information

When submitting your application to us, you must ensure that you take the following steps for it to progress:

• Advertise your application by displaying a public notice at the premises for 28 consecutive days (starting with the day after you submit your application to us)
• Place an advertisement in a local newspaper (at least once during the ten working days after you submit your application to us)
• Submit a copy of the application and required documents to all responsible authorities
• Other people and responsible authorities then have 28 calendar days in which to make Representations about the application to us (as the licensing authority).
• The licensing authority will serve a notice of its decision on the applicant, any person who has made relevant representations that were not deemed frivolous or vexatious, any responsible authority who has made relevant representations and the chief of police.

Application fee

Apply for a premises licence

You can also apply by completing an application online through the Home Office

Will ''tacit consent'' apply?

For the purposes of tacit consent, our target completion period for processing a correctly completed application is 30 working days.

This period will be extended by 20 working days if we receive representations in respect of your application - we will contact you to let you know if this is the case.

Public register

Under the Licensing Act 2003 the council is required to keep a record of applications received.

This may be inspected by appointment during the hours Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 5.00pm at the City Centre Customer Services Centre at City Hall , Plater Way , Sunderland SR1 3AA.

Failed application redress

Please contact our City and Neighbourhood team in the first instance.

If an application for a licence is refused, the applicant can appeal to a Magistrates' court within 21 days of notice of the decision.

An applicant also has the right to appeal to the Magistrates' court within the same time frame against any conditions attached to a licence.

Find out information on Responsible authorities and the Licensing Overview

This service is provided in partnership with the European EUGO network.