Apply for a premises licences

A premises licence is required to authorise the use of licensable activities at a premises.

Licensable activity includes:

• The sale of alcohol.
• The supply of alcohol by or on behalf of a club.
• The provision of late-night refreshment (the supply of hot food and drink to the public between 23:00 and 05:00).
• The provision of regulated entertainment (including live and recorded music, plays, films, dancing, indoor sporting events, boxing and wrestling).

• Statement of Licensing Policy 2019-2024 (PDF) [780KB] (opens new window)
• Licensing Act 2003
• How to find the non domestic rateable value of your premises
• Cumulative Impact Assessment (PDF) [9MB]

Notification of interest

If you're a company, business or individual with a property interest in a premises that is licensed under the Licensing Act 2003 then you can notify us of that interest and we will let you know if anything on the premises licence is changed.

You can submit a notification of interest to us online and there is a fee of £21.

Interim authority notice

If a premises licence holder becomes insolvent or bankrupt the premises licence automatically becomes invalid unless it is transferred to someone else. There is an option to apply for an interim authority notice which enables a liquidator to temporarily take control of the premises licence until the business is sold or otherwise disposed of.

You can submit an interim authority notice to us online and there is a fee of £23.

Please note: before you can begin the application process for an interim authority notice you will be asked for a licence reference number. If you're the premises licence holder, you will have received correspondence denoting your reference number in one of the following formats: 

• NN/LLLL/NNNNN
• NN/LLLLNN/NNNNN
• LLNNNN/NNNNNL 

N=Number, L=Letter

Alternatively, you can find your licence reference number on our public register.

Making a representation against a licence application

If you wish to make a representation (comment) on an application, you can make your submission using our online portal.

Only representations which relate to the likely effect of the granting of the licensing on one or more of the licensing objectives can be considered. The four objectives are:

• The prevention of crime and disorder
• Public safety
• Prevention of public nuisance
• The protection of children from harm

Issues which may be raised but which are outside the scope for consideration include:

• Matters which are outside the control of the applicant e.g. on-street parking, traffic, general anti-social behaviour
• Speculation about the effects of the licence being granted
• Representation which is frivolous or vexatious
• Matters which duplicate or relate to other legislation e.g. fire precautions, restrictions on a planning permission

Amendments to application

Note that any amendments to submitted applications would constitute a representation. For example: the addition of conditions on an operating schedule or amendments to hours.

This would then need to be determined by a licensing sub-committee.  

Petitions as part of a representation against a licence application

When organising and submitting a petition as part of your representation against a licence application, there are some important factors to bear in mind: 

• We ask that the instigator of the petition identifies themselves as a central point of contact, as we may need to make contact in order to verify certain matters and if we are unable to do so this could invalidate the petition. 
• Each page of the petition should contain information as to the purpose of the petition so that all persons know what they are signing.
• Full names and addresses for each signatory must be provided. 
• All signatories must be made aware that where representations are made and not withdrawn, a copy of the petition will be supplied to the applicant and a copy will be contained within the committee papers. 

We will not write to each signatory separately but instead expects that the instigator of the petition will advise each signatory of the hearing date and the final outcome of the application. 

It is also expected that the instigator will represent signatories at the hearing and will speak for them.

Important: some areas of the town centre are subject to a Cumulative Impact Assessment (PDF) [9MB]  (CIA) so applicants are advised to check before making an application. The areas of the town centre that are covered by the CIA can be viewed here. (PDF) [2MB]  The current CIA came into effect from 12 July 2023.

Pre-consultation is strongly advised with all responsible authorities, prior to submission of an application.

You are also advised to contact us before submitting an application to discuss your proposals and the relevant responsible authorities.

To apply for a premises licence, you will need to complete the online application form. Once you have completed the application form, you will need to upload the following required documentation:

• A plan of the premises. The plan of your premises should be drawn to the standard scale of 1:100 with a key to show:
  1. The boundary of the building with any external or internal walls, entrances and exits to the building
  2. The location of points of access to and egress from the premises
  3. If different from point 2 above, the location of escape routes from the premises
  4. In a case where the premises is used for more than one existing licensable activity, the area within the premises used for each activity
  5. In a case where an existing licensable activity relates to the supply of alcohol, the location or locations on the premises which is or are used for the consumption of alcohol
  6. Fixed structures (including furniture) or similar objects temporarily in a fixed location (but not furniture) which may impact on the ability of individuals on the premises to use exits or escape routes without impediment
  7. In a case where the premises includes a stage or raised area, the location and height of each stage or area relative to the floor
  8. In a case where the premises includes any steps, stairs, elevators or lifts, the location of the steps, stairs, elevators or lifts
  9. In a case where the premises includes any room or rooms containing toilets or urinals, the location of the room or rooms
  10. The location and type of any fire safety and any other safety equipment
  11. The location of a kitchen, if any, on the premises
• Documents demonstrating that you have the right to work in the UK (if you are an individual applicant). If you are not a UK national you must provide us with a Home Office check code in order for us to check your right to work status.
• Contact details form (PDF) [203KB] (opens new window) , to assist us in contacting a representative of the premises.
• If you are selling alcohol on your premises, you will also need to complete the consent form for your Designated Premises Supervisor (PDF) [27KB] (opens new window) (DPS).

Applying for large events

If you're planning a large scale event within St Helens that will provide licensable activities, it is advised that you contact us at the earliest possible opportunity (at least 3 months before the event in any case) so we can give you relevant advice prior to the submission of an application.

You may also wish to contact our events team, who can provide advice on planning your event and, if necessary, a referral to our Event Safety Advisory Group (EASG) can be made.

Displaying of the public notice

For a period of not less than 28 days, starting the day after we have accepted your application, you must display a notice which is:

• At least A4 in size
• Pale blue in colour
• Printed legibly or typed in black ink in a font equal to or larger than 16
• In a prominent position on the premises where it can be conveniently read from the outside by passers-by.

The public notice will need to contain the following information:

• The name of the applicant
• The postal address of the premises (if there is no postal address, a description of the location sufficient to identify the premises)
• The postal address and, where applicable, the web address where the application may be inspected
• A brief description of the application
• The date by which an interested party or responsible authority may make representation (within the 28 days from the day after the day we accept the application)
• That it is an offence knowingly or recklessly to make a false statement in connection with an application, and the maximum fine for which a person could be liable on summary conviction for the offence (scale 5 on the standard scale, which is currently an unlimited fine)
• If you are applying for a new premises licence, the public notice must state the relevant licensable activities which have been proposed to be carried out.

Any incorrect information or dates on your public notice will result in a delay to your application.

You can download a copy of the public notice here. (Word doc) [36KB]

Advertising the application in a local newspaper

You are also required to publish a notice containing the same information as your public notice in a local newspaper (the current local newspaper is the St Helens Star). You will need to ensure that the notice is published at least once during the period of 10 working days starting on the day after we accept your application.

The fee for the application will be taken online once the application form has been completed and the relevant documentation has been uploaded (please note that the fee payable depends on the non-domestic rateable value of the premises. You can find out your premises' non-domestic rateable value by visiting the Valuation Office Agency website).

Please note: any fee payable is to accompany an application. If for any reason your application cannot be accepted and must be rejected, any fees paid are non refundable.

* A multiplier is added to band D and E premises that are used exclusively or primarily for the supply of alcohol for consumption on the premises.

For band D premises, a 2x multiplier is added to the application fee and annual charge. This would mean an application fee of £900 and an annual charge of £640.

For band E premises, a 3x multiplier is added to the application fee and annual charge. This would mean an application fee of £1,905 and an annual charge of £1,050.
 

Exemptions

There is an exemption from the payment of fees in relation to the provision of regulated entertainment at church halls, chapel halls or premises of a similar nature, village halls, parish or community halls, or other premises of a similar nature. The costs associated with these licences will be met by central government. If, however, the licence also authorises the use of the premises for the supply of alcohol or the provision of late-night refreshment, a fee will be required for those activities.

Schools and sixth form colleges are also exempt from the fees associated with the authorisation of regulated entertainment where the entertainment is provided by and at the school or college and for the purposes of the school or college.
 

Apply for a new premises licence. This form will take 30 minutes to complete.

CAUTION - if you are not experienced in the submission of licence applications, you may wish to consider contacting a licensing solicitor or licensing agent to carry out this work on your behalf. If applications are submitted incorrectly or are not of the required standard, they may be rejected and you will lose your fee.  Please note that the licensing authority are only able to provide basic guidance, which is published on our web pages.

Please ensure that you check your application and supporting documents before you submit it, as no refunds will be issued for incorrect submissions.

You will need to wait for a notice period of 28 days when you advertise your application. If no comments or objections are received in this time, the licence will automatically be granted.

If your application receives comments, it will be decided at a licensing sub-committee.

Premises licences do not expire; however you will need to pay an annual fee each year for the licence.

Please refer to the table of fees below for the cost of the annual fee.

* A multiplier is added to band D and E premises that are used exclusively or primarily for the supply of alcohol for consumption on the premises.

For band D premises, a 2x multiplier is added to the application fee and annual charge. This would mean an application fee of £900 and an annual charge of £640.

For band E premises, a 3x multiplier is added to the application fee and annual charge. This would mean an application fee of £1,905 and an annual charge of £1,050.

Consequences of failing to pay the annual fee

The Licensing Act 2003 requires us to suspend a premises licence/club premises certificate if the holder fails to pay the annual fee when it is due. A licence/certificate that has been suspended does not have effect to authorise licensable activities. The suspension will only be lifted when the licensing authority receives payment of the outstanding fee.

If you believe there has been an administrative error, or you dispute liability for the fee, you must notify us on or before the date the annual fee is due. This will allow a 21-day grace period to give both us and you the opportunity to resolve the dispute.

Legally, the fee is owed by the premises licence/club certificate holder who held the licence/certificate at the time it was suspended. If you no longer wish to hold a licence/certificate, it is therefore important you surrender the licence/certificate before the date the fee is due, using the notice available on our website.