To provide late-night refreshments and regulated entertainment, and sell alcohol, you need a licence from the council.
Apply
You can download the relevant application form from the Businesslink website:
- Application for a premises licence
- Provisional statement
- Application for need for Designated Premises Supervisor to be disapplied
- Application to vary a premises licence
- Application to vary a premises licence to specify an individual as designated premises supervisor
- Application to transfer premises licence
- Notification of an interest in premises under section 178
- Interim authority notice
- Consent to transfer
- Consent to be designated
- Application for a minor variation to a premises or club licence
- Notification of change of name or address
- Request to be removed as designated premises supervisor
- Make annual payment for a premises licence
A fee is payable upon application. The fee is dependent on the property value and is explained in the application form.
With the exception of the application for a minor variation to a premises or club licence, tacit approval applies, so you will be able to act as though your application is granted if you have not heard from us within 40 days.
Tacit approval does not apply for an application for a minor variation to a premises or club licence. Please contact us if you have not heard from us within 40 days.
Contact
If you have any questions about the licence or application process, please email the Licensing team at licensing@cambridge.gov.uk or telephone 01223 457879.
The postal address is PO Box 700, Cambridge CB1 0JH.
Eligibility
Any of the following may apply for a premises licence:
- anyone who uses carries on a business in the premises to which the application relates
- a recognised club
- a charity
- a health service body
- a person who is registered under the Care Standards Act 2000 in relation to an independent hospital
- a chief police officer
- anyone discharging a statutory or function under Her Majesty's prerogative
- a person from an educational institute
- any other permitted person
Applicants must not be under 18 years of age.
Evaluation
Applications must be in a specific format and be accompanied by any required fee, an operating schedule, a plan of the premises and a form of consent from the premises supervisor (for 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
- whether any alcohol that is to be sold is for consumption on or of the premises or both
- the steps proposed to be taken to promote the licensing objectives
- any other required information
Applicants may be required to advertise their application and to give notice of the application to any other person or responsible body, such as the chief police officer or fire and rescue authority.
The council must grant the application, which can be subject to conditions. A hearing must be held if any representations are made in respect of the application. If a hearing is held the licence can be granted or granted subject to additional conditions, licensable activities listed in the application can be excluded or the application can be rejected.
We will serve a notice of our decision on the applicant, any person who has made relevant representations (ie. representations that were not deemed frivolous or vexatious) and the chief of police.
Applications can also be made to vary or transfer a licence. A hearing may have to be heard if representations are made or conditions relating to a transfer are not met.
Other applications that can be made are applications for an interim authority notice following the death, incapacity or insolvency of a licence holder or review applications.
