How to Get Premises Licence Advertising

Your Complete Application Guide to getting a Premises Licence

Applying for a Premises Licence is a legal requirement if you plan to sell alcohol, provide regulated entertainment, or serve hot food and drink late at night (late-night refreshment). The process is governed by the Licensing Act 2003 and requires meticulous attention to detail, especially regarding public notification.

This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the licensing application process, with a focus on fulfilling the crucial legal advertising requirements.
We would always recommend you contact your local authority before making an application to confirm their application process and requirements.

1. Planning and Preparation

Before you submit anything, you must define the scope of your licence and prepare all necessary documentation. Here’s a handy checklist:

  • Licensing Authority: Identify the local authority responsible for licensing in your borough (e.g., Stockport Council, Manchester City Council).
  • Plans: You must prepare and submit detailed plans of the premises, including the boundary, points of access/egress, and location of fire safety equipment.
  • Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS): If you intend to sell alcohol, you must name a DPS who holds a valid Personal Licence.
  • Operating Schedule: Detail exactly what licensable activities you plan to conduct, at what times, and any measures you will take to promote the four licensing objectives (e.g., prevention of crime and disorder).

2. Informing Responsible Authorities

Once your application is prepared, you must serve a copy of the application (including all plans and operating schedule) to all Responsible Authorities on the same day you submit it to the local council.

Responsible Authorities typically include:

  • The Police
  • The Fire Authority
  • Environmental Health
  • Child Protection Services
  • Local Planning Authority
  • The Licensing Authority itself

3. Fulfil Mandatory Public Notice & Legal Advertising

This is the most time-sensitive part of the process and involves two separate but mandatory forms of public notification that must be maintained for 10 working days from the day after the application is submitted.

The two notices are:

A. Site Notice (Blue Notice)

  • A notice must be prominently displayed on the premises itself.
  • It must be printed on blue paper (A4 or larger) and remain in place for the full 10 working days.

B. Newspaper Advertisement (Legal Requirement)

  • You must place an advertisement in a local newspaper that circulates in the vicinity of the premises.
  • This notice must appear at least once during the 10 working day notice period.
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4. The Consultation Period

The 10-working-day notice period, known as the consultation period, allows residents and Responsible Authorities to make representations (objections or support) regarding the application.

Possible outcomes from the Consultation Period:

  • If no relevant representations are received, the local authority will usually grant the licence as applied for.
  • If relevant representations are received, the application process moves on to Step 5.

5. Hearing and Decision

If the local authority receives objections that are deemed relevant to the four licensing objectives, they will schedule a hearing before the Licensing Committee.

At the hearing:

  • You, the applicant, and any parties who made a representation will be invited to attend.
  • The Committee will decide whether to grant the licence, grant it with modifications/conditions, or reject the application entirely.

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Critical Timing Note

Post Newspapers are monthly publications. Please get in touch with us immediately to confirm our print date each month to ensure your application notice can be advertised within the required time frame.

Post Newspapers are always available from the first Thursday of the month but we can hold a space for urgent applications if we are close to our print date, and may be able to support during the month with an extra fortnightly print run.

As locally circulating, printed newspapers with a minimum distribution of 3,000 copies per month per newspaper, Post Newspapers meet the legal criteria and are recognised by authorities as publications through which Premises Licence applications and Public Notices can be legally advertised in print.

Why choose Post Newspapers to meet your legal requirements?

  • Legal Compliance: We provide printed, locally circulating newspapers that satisfy the strict legal requirement to be “circulating in the vicinity of the premises.”
  • High Local Circulation: Our area-specific editions ensure circulation figures actually reflect the volume of newspapers directly reaching residents via delivery to homes and local stockists within the required area.
  • Affordable & Accessible: As free publications delivered to homes and local stockists, we offer free access to the notice information without a barrier of cost or online access for local residents.

We cover the following areas for your Premises Licence advertisement:

Premises Licence Notice Advertising Enquiry Form

Premises Licence Application Form

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