How Councils Decide Licence Applications: Hearings, Objections and Appeals
Inside the licensing sub-committee: valid vs invalid objections, the 28-day clock, mediation, what persuades committees, and the 21-day appeal.
News & guides
Late Night Levy and EMROs: The Costs of Trading After Midnight
The Late Night Levy (£299-£4,440/year), the exemptions, why unused 2am licences cost real money, and what EMROs are.
AWRS Explained: The Wholesaler Check Every Alcohol Retailer Must Do
The Alcohol Wholesaler Registration Scheme: check every supplier's URN on HMRC's lookup or commit an offence. Red flags and the compliance file.
Premises Licence Annual Fees: Bands, Multipliers and the Suspension Trap
Annual premises licence fees £70-£350 by rateable value band, the ×2/×3 wet-led multipliers, and the automatic suspension for non-payment.
Why Supermarket and Retail Managers Need a Personal Licence
Retail is the biggest employer of personal licence holders: DPS cover, till authorisation, under-18 checkout rules and career value of the APLH.
Refusing Service: How to Handle Drunk Customers Legally
Serving a drunk person is a personal criminal offence. The law, how to spot impairment, refusal scripts that work, and the duty of care after.
Failed a Test Purchase? Penalties and the 14-Day Recovery Plan
Underage test purchase failures: the £90 FPN, the £20,000 persistent-selling trap, the due diligence defence and a 14-day recovery plan.
The 5 Mandatory Licensing Conditions Every Venue Must Follow
The five automatic conditions on every alcohol licence: promotions, free water, Challenge 25, small measures and the shots ban - operationally.
Licensing Hours Explained: the 24-Hour Myth, Drinking-Up Time and Extensions
How licensing hours really work: no standard closing time, no statutory drinking-up time, NYE's automatic extension, and how to extend.
Transferring a Premises Licence When Buying a Pub or Bar
Never re-apply when buying a licensed business: the £23 transfer, seller consent, immediate effect, lapsed-licence traps and fee arrears.