A Premise Licence allows a specific location to engage in licensable activities such as the sale of alcohol, regulated entertainment or the offer of late night refreshment. The licence is granted by the Licensing Authority in which the premises is situated and is valid for an indefinite period, lasting the lifetime of the business (unless otherwise requested), unless revoked, suspended or surrendered. A fee is due on first application and then annually each year on the anniversary of the date of the grant of the premises licence. The fees are based on the 'non domestic rateable value' of the premises.
Before applying for your Premise Licence?
Prior to submitting your premises licence application, we would recommend that you discuss your proposed application with the relevant Responsible Authorities, e.g the Police, Trading Standards, Planning, the Fire Service, and the Environmental Health Department, who will be able to provide you with valuable advice.
It is particularly important to check that the premises has the correct planning use for the type of business you wish to operate and that there are no restrictions on opening times applicable to the building. This is irrespective of whether you wish to plan any structural changes to the building. It is your responsibility to ensure that the correct permissions are in place for you to use the building, and any failure to do so could result in you being unable to use the Premises Licence, even if it were granted.
How do I apply for a Premises Licence?
An application must be made Premises Licence Application Form to the relevant Licensing Authority where the premises is located, or the major part of the premises is situated if split over two licensing areas. Guidance to assist you with your application can be found here Premises Licence Application Guidance (for new licences)
When you apply for a premises licence you must provide the following with your completed application form:
Operating Schedule
The operating schedule, which forms part of the application form, explains how you propose to operate the business and promote the four licensing objectives:
- Prevention of Crime and Disorder
- Prevention of Public Nuisance
- Public Safety
- Protection of children from harm.
It should include :
- what activities will take place
- the proposed hours
- the duration of the licence
- (if appropriate)who the designated premises supervisor (DPS) is
- whether alcohol will be sold, and
- if so whether it will be consumed on or off the premise.
It should take into account the type, size, location and opening hours of the premises.
Please be aware that what you write in your operating schedule will be used to produce conditions that will be attached to your licence. So, you should make sure that the steps you are suggesting are realistic and within your control. Once the Licence is granted with conditions attached requiring the implementation of such steps, the conditions will be enforceable in law and it will be a criminal offence to fail to comply with them.
Before completing your operating schedule you are strongly advised to read the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy 2003 - 2021 -2026 (alcohol, entertainment and late night refreshment) which gives clear guidance on our policies and expectations.
Draft Statement of Licensing Policy 2026 -2031
The policy is to be reviewed for 2026 -2031 and the draft policy for consultation can be found here Draft Statement of Licensing Policy 2003 -2026 -2031 (alcohol, entertainment and late night refreshment)
Any comments are to be received within the Licensing Section by 5.00 pm on Friday 1st August 2025. Any comments received after this time and date will not be accepted.
Consent of Designated Premises Supervisor
If the licensable activities at the premises includes the sale of alcohol, the application must include the consent form, from the person who the applicant wishes to be specified as the Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS). The DPS must hold a Personal Alcohol Licence.
Every premises licensed for the sale of alcohol must have someone named on the licence as the Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS). The DPS is responsible for the sale of alcohol and is deemed to be in day to day control of licensable activities at a licensed premises. They also act as the main point of contact for any licensing, compliance or enforcement enquiries. The DPS should be a person with sufficient authority to control and direct activities at the licensed premises. Normally, this is the person who has day to day responsibility for running the premises. The DPS can also be the Premises Licence Holder. A Premises Licence can only name one DPS, but a DPS can be named on more than one Premises Licence.
Plans of the Premises
All applications for a Premises Licence must include a plan of the premises. The plan must be clear and legible in all respects and must show:
- the boundary of the building, including any external and internal walls and, if different, the perimeter of the premises
- points of access to and egress i.e. doors,
- location of escape routes from the premises
- the area within the premises to be used for each licensable activity
- fixed structures including furniture and temporarily fixed objects, such as seating, which may affect escape routes
- location and height of any stage or raised area relative to the floor
- location of any steps, stairs, elevators or lifts
- location of all toilets
- location and type of any fire safety and other safety equipment
- location of a kitchen, if any, on the premises
The plan may include a legend (key) through which the matters mentioned above are illustrated with symbols and colours.
Please be aware that the Plan is considered part of the Licence and should be kept up to date and reflect the premises at all times.
Application Fee
The fee is based on the non-domestic rateable value of the premises. You must include the correct fee with your application. You can find details of your non-domestic rateable value on the Valuation Office Agency Website: Find a business rates valuation - GOV.UK
Annual Fee
An annual fee is payable by the holder of a Premises Licence every year, on the anniversary of the grant date of the licence . The fee is based on the non-domestic rateable value of the premises. Failure to pay the annual fee may result in suspension of the licence and all licensable activities having to stop, until such time as the fee is paid.
Notifying Responsible Authorities
If you submit your application electronically to Derbyshire Dales District Council (DDDC), the Licensing Section will forward your application and any accompanying documents to the Responsible Authorities on your behalf.
If you submit your application and accompanying documents as a hard copy to DDDC via the post, or in person, you must submit a full copy of the application and all the accompanying documents to each of the Responsible Authorities. You must ensure that the Responsible Authorities receive the application on the same day. If you do not do this, your application will be invalid.
Advertising your Application
The Licensing Act legislation requires you to advertise your application in a local newspaper and with a site notice(s).
Local Newspaper
The newspaper notice must be published in a local newspaper on at least one occasion during the period of ten working days starting on the day after the day on which the application was given. A copy of the newspaper advertisement, showing the date of the newspaper, should be sent to the licensing office.
Site Notices
You must advertise your application at the premises. The advertisement of the licence is paramount and the strict legal criteria must be met, failure to do so may result in any licence granted being invalidated.
A notice must be displayed prominently at or on the premises to which the application relates, detailing the licensable activities, days and times, as applied for.
The advert notice must be printed on to pale blue paper that is equal to or larger than A4 printed legibly in black in a font of a size equal to or larger than font 16. It muse be displayed prominently at the premises from the start of the consultation period. The notice must face outwards so that it is clearly visible to anyone passing by the premises and can be easily read. It can also (not instead of) be displayed on nearby lampposts if the premises is off the beaten track.In the case of a premises covering an area of more than 50 metres square, a further notice in the same form and subject to the same requirements is to be placed at every 50 metres along the external perimeter of the premises abutting any highway.
The notice must be displayed for a minimum of 28 days starting on the day after the day on which the application was given to the Licensing Authority. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the notices remain up on display for the full 28 day consultation period.
What happens next ?
We will check that:
- the application is correctly completed
- that the responsible authorities have a copy
- that the application has been advertised correctly
If there is a problem with the application, the Licensing Section will contact you for further information or return the application (or part of it) for your attention. Until such time as any problems are resolved your application is not considered valid and the consultation period will not start.
Determination of Applications
There is a statutory 28 day consultation period during which representations can be made both in favour, or against an application. If we receive no representations within the 28 days, the application will be granted as applied for, subject to the conditions offered in your operating schedule.
What Happens if Representations are Received?
Where we receive relevant representations, a hearing of the Council's Licensing Committee will be held to decide on the application (unless all parties agree that a hearing is not necessary). You will received details and notification of the hearing. We will tell you about the arrangements for the hearing.
The Decision
After the Committee has heard all parties, it will make its decision. The Licensing Committee may:
- grant the licence as applied for
- grant the licence but modify the conditions of the licence,
- or reduce the hours of licensable activity
- reject the whole or part of the application
This decision is usually made at the time of the hearing. This will be confirmed in writing with the reasons for the decision along with information on what you need to do if you want to appeal.
Appeals
Both the applicant and anyone making representations can appeal to the local Magistrates' Court if they are dissatisfied with the decision.
Decision Made
Once your licence is granted, the Premises Licence Summary (entitled PART B) must be prominently displayed on the premises and a copy of the full licence kept on the premises available for inspection. If you lose the licence you can apply for a copy by writing to us and enclosing the required fee. We will issue you with a replacement licence as soon as possible and in any event within 14 days.
Changes to the licence
The holder of a Premises Licence must, as soon as reasonably practicable, notify the Council of any changes to the following-
- any details that appear on the licence
- change to the premises name
- change of name or address of the premises licence holder
- change of premises licence holder
- change of designated premises supervisor
- alterations to timings of licensable activities or opening hours
- addition or removal of licensable activities
- addition or removal of conditions
- changes to the building/plan
When returning the licence document for amendment ALL sections MUST be returned with the appropriate application form and relevant fee.
