Licences Vary and existing premises licence or club premises certificate (full)

Where a premises licence or club premises certificate holder wishes to amend a premises licence, the Licensing Act 2003 allows, in most cases, for an application to vary to be made rather than having to make an application for a new premises licence.

The areas in which a premises licence can be varied include:

• Extending the period the licence has effect
  
• Making substantial changes to the premises the licence relates to
  
• Adding a licensable activity
  
• Increasing the amount of time on any day during which alcohol may be sold or supplied
  

You cannot vary a licence if you need to:

• Extend a time-limited licence - this requires a new application for a premises licence
  
• Transfer the licence from one premises to another - this requires a new application to make a transfer

Am I eligible to apply for a vary a club premises certificate?

Yes, if you're an existing licence or club premises certificate holder.

What is it for?

To allow you to make substantial changes to the operating schedule of your licensed premises.

Who needs one?

Any licence holder wishing to vary the hours during which a licensable activity is permitted, to add or remove licensable activities, to amend, add or remove conditions within a licence, or to alter any aspect of the layout of the premises as shown on the plan. Anyone wishing to make a substantial change to the schedule of licensed operation determined by an existing licence.

How long will it take?

There is a 28 day consultation process which begins the day after a valid application is received by us. If relevant representations are received during this period the application may have to be determined by a hearing of the Licensing Act Sub Committee, which must take place within 20 working days of the end date of the consultation. We therefore recommend that you allow at least a two month period for the application to be determined.