Alcohol & entertainment licence

Here you will find out about applying for alcohol and entertainment licences.

Page Contents:

Licensing act

This page gives you all the information you need on licences regarding alcohol and entertainment.

There are a wide range of activities and entertainment licences under the Licensing Act 2003. If you are involved in conducting any licensable activities, you will require the relevant licence or authorisation.

Licensable activities are defined as the:
  • sale by retail of alcohol
  • supply of alcohol by or on behalf of a club, to a member of the club
  • provision of *regulated entertainment
  • late-night refreshment – as defined as providing hot food or drink between the hours of 11pm and 5am to members of the public on or from any premises, for consumption on or off the premises. Hotels, clubs and other places providing overnight accommodation are exempt from late night refreshment controls.
*Regulated entertainment can be:
  • play performances
  • film showings
  • indoor sporting events
  • boxing or wrestling
  • live music
  • recorded music
  • dance performance
  • entertainment of a similar character to live music, recorded music or dancing
  • the provision of facilities for making music, dancing or entertainment of a similar description
Click here to view the Northumberland County Council statement of licensing policy or click here to view hearing rules of Northumberland County Council.
A premises licence can authorise any or all of the licensable activities defined in the Act.
The Licensing Act 2003 allows for certain activities to be exempt from requiring a licence or authorisation. If you think that an activity you are planning may be exempt, please contact your nearest licensing office.
As a licensing authority, Northumberland County Council must adhere to the guidance from the secretary of state and its own statement of licensing policy when making decisions. We also promote the four licensing objects of the act:
  • the prevention of crime and disorder
  • public safety
  • the prevention of public nuisance
  • the protection of children from harm
To view the fees for premises licence applications, club premises certificate applications and applications to vary a premises licence, please click here.

 

Register of premises application

A list of all applications received in Northumberland, updated weekly.

All applications shown will have been advertised both on the premises and in the local press, and copies will have been sent to the responsible authorities.

Any elected councillor of the licensing authority is considered to be an interested party and can submit their feedback on the applications. If the public are considered to be interested parties, then they can also submit their views within the 28-day consultation period.

To submit an objection to any of the applications below, please download the form by clicking the link on the right of the table to the corresponding application.

Objections will only be considered relevant if they are submitted before the end of the consultation period and are about the likely effect of the grant of the premises licence on the promotion of the licensing objectives which are:
  • prevention of crime and disorder
  • prevention of public nuisance
  • public safety
  • protection of children from harm
Send all completed forms to:

Licensing Department
Northumberland County Council
County Hall
Morpeth
NE61 2EF

Email address:Licensing01@northumberland.gov.uk

Premises licence

For information on the licence needed to provide late-night refreshments, regulated entertainment and to sell alcohol.

The Business and Planning Bill


The Government is in the process of putting in place new legislation that aims to make it easier for premises serving food and drink such as bars, restaurants and pubs to allow customers to consume alcohol outdoors.

The intended aim of this new legislation is support these businesses to survive and then bounce-back from the pandemic lockdown.

The Business and Planning Bill proposes additional freedoms that would allow businesses, authorised to sell alcohol for consumption on the premises, to utilise their outside space, including car parks, to be used for the consumption of alcohol.  

Until the new legislation comes into force, the use of such space is not permitted unless already authorised under the current licence and the council is reminding businesses that they must at all times comply with the conditions of that licence, when considering use of outside seating areas.
If you are in England or Wales and wish to provide late-night refreshments, regulated entertainment and sell alcohol, you need an authorisation from the local authority.

A premises licence can be permanent or time limited. Annual fees for any existing premises licence should be paid on the anniversary of its grant.
You can apply for a premises licence if you are over 18 years old and one of the following:
  • anyone who 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 of a force in England and Wales
  • anyone discharging a statutory or function under Her Majesty's prerogative
  • a person from an educational institute
  • any other permitted person
Applications must be sent to the licencing authority for the area where the premises is located. Contact the local authority here. You must include the following, and please note any information provided here may become a condition of your licence:
  • an operating schedule detailing:
    • 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 off the premises, or both
    • the steps that will be taken to promote the licensing objectives
      • prevention of crime and disorder
      • public safety
      • prevention of public nuisance
      • protection of children from harm
  • a plan of the premises at a scale of 1:100, or to a scale as otherwise agreed in writing with the local authority
  • a form of consent from the premises supervisor for applications including the sale of alcohol as a licensable activity
  • any applicable fee dependent upon the non-domestic rateable value of the premises
  • send copies of the application, with the plan, to seven responsible authorities 
  • applications must also be advertised – this includes displaying a sign at or outside the premises and placing an advertisement in a locally circulating newspaper. Click here to access an example of the advertisement.
Where relevant representations are received, a hearing will be held. Representations will only be considered relevant if they are submitted within the statutory time period and are about the likely effect of the activity on the licensing objectives.

Applications can also be made to vary or transfer a licence. A hearing may be necessary if objections are made or conditions relating to a transfer are not met.

Following the death, incapacity or insolvency of a licence holder, an application can be made for an interim authority notice. Applicants are advised to contact us as soon as possible, where it is considered that an interim authority notice may be needed.
No. It is in the public interest for the authority to process your application before it can be granted. If you haven’t heard anything within a reasonable period, please contact the local authority by:
Please choose from the forms below: Please send all paper copy forms to:

Licensing Department
Northumberland County Council
County Hall
Morpeth
NE61 2EF

Email address:Licensing01@northumberland.gov.uk
Where an applicant or a person who submitted a relevant representation is unhappy with the decision of the licensing authority, they may appeal to a magistrates' court within 21 days of notice of the decision.
An interested party or responsible authority may apply to the licensing authority to review the premises licence.
 
If you intend to sell alcohol at your premises, you will need to provide details of the person who you wish to be the designated premises supervisor (DPS). This person must hold a valid personal licence. 

There can be a number of personal licence holders at the premises but there can only be one designated premises supervisor. They are usually the person who holds the day-to-day responsibility for the premises.

Submit a DPS form of consent signed by the person you wish to be the DPS, even if this is the same person who is applying for the premises licence. Request to be removed as premises supervisor
For those wishing to end their responsibility as designated premises supervisor, you must notify the licensing authority and copy the request to the premises licence holder. Please send any forms regarding a DPS to the address above. 
Are there different rules for village halls?
Village halls should apply for a premises licence in the name of the management committee. If the village hall wishes to be licensed to sell alcohol there are newly introduced provisions, which means you won’t need a designated premises supervisor. For further information, please contact your nearest licensing office.

What happens once I have submitted my application?
There is a 28-day consultation period in which objections can be made. If a hearing is necessary, the applicant and any relevant parties will be invited to attend and have their comments heard.

What if my premises are under construction?
If your premises are under construction and information is unavailable on a premises licence application, you may need a provisional statement. This could be to assure new investors that the license will be granted once the building work is complete. 

This does not mean the applicant shouldn’t apply for a premises licence once the building is complete. It also means premises will not have a non-domestic rateable value – there is a statutory fee of £315 for a provisional statement. How can I transfer a premise licence to my name?
If you are eligible to apply for a premises licence, then you may also apply to transfer an existing premises licence to your name. Please send all forms to:

Licensing Department
Northumberland County Council
County Hall
Morpeth
NE61 2EF

Email address:Licensing@northumberland.gov.uk

Club premises certificate

Clubs such as working men's or rugby clubs are organisations where members join together for a particular purpose and may combine to purchase alcohol in bulk for its members. These clubs should apply for a club premises certificate.

  • Other types of club that run for private profit, such as nightclubs, should obtain a premises licence.
A club premises certificate authorises you to supply alcohol and regulated entertainment in a qualifying club. In a qualifying club there is technically no sale by retail of alcohol except to guests.

This is because the member owns part of the alcohol stock and the exchange of money is simply to preserve equity between members, where one may consume more than another. All applications are subject to a fee.
Clubs must meet set criteria. Please view the Licensing Act 2003 hearing rules regarding this, or see the DCMS website. The general conditions a qualifying club must satisfy are:
  • A person must not be given membership privileges until there has been an interval of at least two days between membership application/nomination and their membership being granted.
  • The club rules state those becoming a member without nomination or application cannot have membership privileges for at least two days between them becoming a member and being admitted to the club.
  • The club must be established and conducted in good faith.
  • It must have at least 25 members.
  • Alcohol is only supplied to members on the premises on behalf of, or by the club.
  • The alcohol purchased and supplied is done by elected members over 18 years of age.
  • No person, at the expense of the club, receives any payment or commission in regard to the purchase of alcohol.
  • There are no arrangements for anyone to receive a financial benefit from supplying alcohol, apart from any benefit to the club.
  • If a registered industrial and provident society, or friendly society, the club may qualify if the alcohol is purchased for and supplied by the club under the control of the members or a committee of members.
  • Relevant miners' welfare institutes can be considered if the premises of the institute is held on a trust under the Recreational Charities Act 1958. A relevant institute is one that is managed by a committee or board, consisting of at least two thirds of people appointed by one or more licensed operators under the Coal Industry Act 1994 and by one or more organisations who represent coal mine employees. If the board cannot be made up of the above, it can be managed by at least two thirds of members who were employed or are employed in or around coal mines and also by people who were appointed by the Coal Industry Welfare Organisation or by a body who had similar functions under the Miners’ Welfare Act 1952.
Any premises that is occupied and used regularly for club purposes should apply for a club premises certificate.

All applications should be made to the local authority where the premises is situated and a copy must also be given to the seven responsible authorities, along with the accompanying documents on the same day.

The applicant is required to advertise by displaying a sign on the club premises and placing an advertisement in a locally circulating newspaper.

Please submit all applications with the following information:
  • a plan of the premises at a scale of 1:100, or to a scale as otherwise agreed in writing with the local authority
  • a copy of the rules of the club
  • any applicable fees
  • the club operating schedule, including:
    • the activities of the club
    • the times the activities are to take place
    • other opening times
    • whether alcohol supplies are for consumption on or off the premises, or both
    • the steps that the club propose to take to promote the licensing objectives:
      • prevention of crime and disorder
      • public safety
      • prevention of public nuisance
      • protection of children from harm
The local licensing authority may inspect the premises before an application is considered. 
If there is any alteration to the rules, name or address of the club before an application is determined, the club secretary must give details to the local licensing authority. If a certificate has already been issued, this must be sent to the licensing authority along with the alteration details.

A club may apply to a local licensing authority to vary a certificate. The certificate should accompany the application.
If your application is refused, please notify your local authority. You may then appeal the decision to the local magistrates’ court within 21 days of the decision. 
Please contact your local authority. You can appeal against a refusal, withdrawal, decision to place or vary conditions on a certificate, and an exclusion of any club activity. Appeals must be made to the local magistrates’ court within 21 days of the decision. 
In the event of a complaint we advise to first contact the trader, preferably in the form of a letter with proof of delivery. If this doesn’t work and you are located in the UK, please contact citizen’s advice.

If you are outside the UK, please contact UK European Consumer Centre. A club member may request a review of the certificate, and any appeals against decisions made should be done within 21 days.
Any interested party may provide objections to the local licensing authority before a certificate is granted or amended. If necessary, a hearing will be held to consider the application and the feedback given. An interested party:
  • is a person living near the premises, or a body representing them
  • is a person involved in a business near the premises, or a body representing them
  • can request a review of the club premises certificate
  • can appeal if they argue a certificate should not have been granted, or that addition conditions should be made
  • must make any appeals to the local magistrates’ court within 21 days of the decision appealed

Varying a licence or certificate

Here you will find information on making changes to premises licences and club premises certificates.

If a premises’ licence holder wants to make any changes to their existing operating schedule, they can apply for a variation of the premises licence. A new premises licence may be necessary if substantial changes are planned. If the proposed changes are very minor, a holder may be able to use the minor variation process.

The application process is similar to the one for applying for a new licence in that:
  • The proposed changes must be outlined in detail.
  • The application must be copied to seven responsible authorities. 
  • Details of the variation must be advertised both in the press and on the premises.
  • There is a 28-day consultation period allowing for objections to be made by responsible authorities or interested parties.
  • If objections are received and cannot be resolved through negotiation with the applicant or agreed conditions, the matter will be referred to a meeting of the licensing sub-committee for local councillors to determine.
  • Should a hearing be held, the applicant and any parties that have made objections will be invited to attend and have their comments heard.
  • Applications must be accompanied by the relevant fee. Please see here for more details.
Send all completed application forms to:

Licensing Department
Northumberland County Council
County Hall
Morpeth
NE61 2EF

Email address:Licensing01@northumberland.gov.uk
A designated premises’ supervisor is required for all premises that supply alcohol and if they leave, another designated premises’ supervisor must be specified. There is an option on the application form for this change to take immediate effect, subject to no objections from the policy authority. The application must be copied to the police authority and the fee for this variation is £23.
If a premises licence holder only wishes to make a small change to their licence, they can do so through a minor variations procedure at a reduced cost and without the need for a full consultation with responsible authorities. Only changes that would not undermine the licensing objectives below are permitted:
  • prevention of crime and disorder
  • public safety
  • prevention of public nuisance
  • protection of children from harm
The Department of Culture, Media and Sport suggests these four main types of minor variation: 
  • minor changes to the structure or layout of a premises
  • small adjustments to licensing hours
  • removal of irrelevant or unenforceable conditions or volunteering of conditions
  • the additions of certain licensable activities
Variations that add to the sale or supply of alcohol to a licence are excluded. Applications must be advertised on the premises, using a white notice rather than blue, but there is no requirement to advertise in the local newspaper or to notify responsible authorities – though they may be involved if requested. Residents may make objections, to be considered by the local authority licensing officers, but there would be no hearing.

For more information on minor variations, please contact your nearest licensing office. Otherwise, please download and complete the application form and send to:


Licensing Department
Northumberland County Council
County Hall
Morpeth
NE61 2EF

Email address:Licensing01@northumberland.gov.uk

Responsible authorities

Responsible authorities are the public bodies entitled to make representations to the licensing authority in relation to an application.

Any representations must be about the likely effect of granting the application on the promotion of the licensing objectives.

Applications for new premises licences, new club premises certificates or for a variation to an existing licence or certificate must be sent to the following responsible authorities:
Licensing Co-ordinators
Northumberland Area Command
Bedlington Police Station
Schalksmuhle Road
Bedlington
Northumberland
NE22 7LA
ronnie.lowes6479@northumbria.police.uk

Head of Fire Safety
Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service HQ
West Hartford Business Park
Cramlington
NE23 3JP

richard.leighton@northumberland.gov.uk
Laura Brooks
TradingStandards Department
Northumberland County Council
West Hartford HQ
West Hartford Business Park
Cramlington
NE23 3JP

laura.brooks@northumberland.gov.uk
Local Safeguarding Children's Board Business Manager
Wellbeing-Children's Safeguarding
Northumberland County Council
County Hall
Morpeth
NE61 2EF
John Liddell
Public Health
Northumberland County Council
County hall
Morpeth
NE61 2EF

john.liddell@northumberland.gov.uk
Planning
Northumberland County Council
County Hall
Morpeth
NE61 2EF

central.planning@northumberland.gov.uk
Peter Simpson
Environmental Health
Northumberland County Council
West Hartford HQ
West Hartford Business Park
Cramlington
NE23 5JP

peter.simpson@northumberland.gov.uk
Mark Mitchell
Environmental Health
Northumberland County Council
West hartford HQ
West Hartford Business Park
Cramlington
NE23 5JP

mark.mitchell@northumberland.gov.uk
Licensing Department
Northumberland County Council
County Hall
Morpeth
NE61 2EF

licensing01@northumberland.gov.uk
 
Home Office Immigration Enforcement - by post or email
Alcohol Licensing Team
Lunar House
40 Wellesley Road
Croydon
CR9 2BY

alcohol@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

Temporary event notices

This section provides information on licences relating to temporary events.

If you are planning to hold an event in England or Wales, you must give a temporary event notice (TEN) to the local licensing authority and police no later than 10 working days before the event.

However, we recommend allowing as much time as possible between submitting the notice and the date of the proposed event.

Late notices can be given no later than 5 working days but not earlier than 9 working days before the event in relation to which the notice is given.  A late notice given later than 5 working days before the event to which it relates will be returned as void and the activities described in it will not be authorised.

If the location of the event stretches over two or more local authorities, please make applications to each.

In order for us to grant a temporary event notice you must:
  • be 18 years or older
  • not give more than five notices per year – unless you are a personal licence holder in which you can give a maximum of 50 per year
  • not have more than 499 people at any one time at your event
  • not run your event for longer than 96 hours, with a minimum of 24 hours between events
An activity that can be licensed must be detailed in the notice as well the following information:
  • If alcohol is to be supplied, you must state confirmation that it is a condition of using the premises and the supplies are made under the premises user’s authority.
  • We require a statement relating to matters such as:
    • details of the licensable activities
    • the event period and the times that the activities will take place
    • the maximum number of people proposed to be allowed on the premises
A fee of £21 is payable with the notice. The local authority will acknowledge receipt by giving the notice to the premises user before the end of the first working day it was received on, or before the end of the second working day if the notice was received on a non-working day. This must be kept on the premises for the duration of the event.

The premises user must also give notice to the chief officer of the local police department no later than 10 working days before the event, unless the application is submitted electronically. The chief police officer can serve an objection notice if they feel the event would go against crime prevention objections.

This must be served within 48 hours of receipt of the temporary event notice. You must send two copies to the licensing team and one to the police licensing officer – who must receive the form within 24 hours of the licensing team receiving their copies.

If an objection notice is served, the local licensing authority will hold a hearing and a decision must be made at least 24 hours before the beginning of the event.

A police chief may withdraw their objection notice by modifying the temporary event notice with the consent of the premises user.
Send all completed forms to:

Licensing Department
Northumberland County Council
County Hall
Morpeth
NE61 2EF

Email address:Licensing01@northumberland.gov.uk
Yes. You will be able to assume your application is granted if you have not heard from the local authority by the end of the target completion period. 
If your notice is refused, please first contact your local authority. If a counter notice is given in relation to an objection notice, the applicant may appeal. Appeals must be made to the local magistrates’ court within 21 days and no later than five working days from the date of the planned event. 
In the event of a complaint please first contact the trader, preferably in the form of a letter with proof of delivery. If this doesn’t work and you are located in the UK, please contact Citizens Advice. If you are outside of the UK, please contact the UK European Consumer Centre.
If a licencing authority decides not to issue a counter notice in relation to an objection notice, then the chief police officer can appeal the decision to the local magistrates’ court. This must be made within 21 days and no later than five working days from the date of the planned event. 

Personal licences

Here you will find all information on personal licences required to sell alcohol.

To apply for a personal licence to sell alcohol, a person must:
  • be aged 18 years or over
  • possess a relevant licensing qualification to ensure the licence holders are aware of the law and wider social responsibilities attached to the sale of alcohol
  • have not forfeited a personal licence in the past five years
  • not hold another personal licence or have applied for a personal licence with any licensing authority
  • have not been convicted of a relevant offence:
    • a ‘relevant offence’ refers to the offences listed in the act that could, on conviction, rule out the grant or renewal of a personal licence to the applicant concerned
    • the offences include; those involving serious crime, serious dishonesty, controlled drugs, certain sexual offences and offences created by the act
    • when applying for the grant or renewal of a personal licence, the applicant must include details of any relevant or foreign offences for which they have been convicted or, in the case of applications for the renewal of the licence, have been convicted of since the grant or last renewal of the licence
    • when applying for the grant of a personal licence or for the renewal of a personal licence, the applicant must include details of any relevant or foreign offences for which they have been convicted or, in the case of applications for the renewal of the licence, have been convicted since the grant or last renewal of the licence
You will need to submit your application form with the £37 fee, your licensing qualification and a basic level police disclosure certificate.

Please send all documents to:

Licensing Department
Northumberland County Council
County Hall
Morpeth
NE61 2EF

Email address:Licensing01@northumberland.gov.uk

Fees schedule licences

Here you will find information on licensing fees.

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