Table of Contents
- How Long Does a Premises Licence Application Take?
- The 28-Day Statutory Consultation Period
- When Applications Take Longer Than 28 Days
- How to Apply for a Premises Licence: Step by Step
- The Premises Licence Consultation Period Explained
- Premises Licence Representations: What They Are and What Happens Next
- Common Reasons for Application Delays
- Your Checklist for a Ready-to-Submit Application
- What Happens After the 28 Days?
- Frequently Asked Questions
Last Updated: September 14, 2026
How Long Does a Premises Licence Application Take?
Most premises licence applications are decided within 28 days if no representations are made. This guide from Knight Training explains what extends that window and how to avoid delays.
The 28-day statutory consultation period is set by the Licensing Act 2003 and starts the day after the licensing authority receives your application (The Licensing Act 2003 (Premises licences and club premises certificates) Regulations 2005). The clock only runs if the application is complete, the fee is correct, and your notice is displayed properly, miss any step and it restarts.
If you are working to a fixed opening date, that distinction matters. Below: the full timeline, the three application steps, and why applications run past 28 days.
The 28-Day Statutory Consultation Period
The statutory consultation period is the 28 consecutive days during which responsible authorities and the public may make representations against your application, starting the day after a valid application is received.
During this period, the police, environmental health, the fire authority and other responsible authorities review your operating schedule. If none object, the licence is granted automatically at the end of the 28 days.
That best-case scenario is common: most straightforward applications for pubs, restaurants and off-licences clear without a single representation.
When Applications Take Longer Than 28 Days
Applications exceed 28 days when a representations are received.
A single representation from a responsible authority means the application must go to a licensing hearing, typically within 20 working days of the consultation period ending, though council backlogs can push that out further.
Incomplete applications are the most avoidable delay: if the authority rejects your submission as invalid, the 28 days does not start until you resubmit correctly.
How to Apply for a Premises Licence: Step by Step
Applying for a premises licence involves three sequential steps: completing the application form, operating schedule and plan which must be submitted to the correct licensing authority along with the application fee, and displaying the notice on site while publishing it in a local newspaper.
Pub landlord reviewing a premises licence application form.
Getting any step wrong resets the clock.
Step 1: Complete the Application Form, Operating Schedule and Plan.
The application form sets out your business details, the licensable activities you intend to carry out, and your designated premises supervisor where alcohol is involved.
The operating schedule is the substantive part. It explains how you will promote the four licensing objectives: prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, prevention of public nuisance, and protection of children from harm.
Vague operating schedules invite representations. Be specific about closing times, staff training, CCTV provision and your challenge 25 policy.
The plan must be prepared in the correct format and include all the required details in the correct scale.
Step 2: Submit to the Licensing Authority and Pay the Fee
Submit your completed application to the licensing authority at your local council with the correct fee. The fee is banded by the premises' rateable value.
Applications must also be copied to each responsible authority, including the police and environmental health, a legal requirement, not a courtesy.
Once the authority confirms receipt of a valid application, the 28-day statutory period begins.
Step 3: Display the Application Notice and Publish the Public Notice
Two notices are required.
The Blue Notice. A notice of application must be displayed at the premises, visible from outside, for the full 28-day consultation period. This must be prepared and displayed in the correct size font and blue paper of A4 in size. This must be clearly displayed, without obstruction 24 hours a day for the full 28 days of the consultation period.
A Public Notice must then appear in a local newspaper circulating in the postcode area of the premises address, within 10 working days of submission.
The Premises Licence Consultation Period Explained
The premises licence consultation period is the 28-day window in which responsible authorities and any other person may make representations, the most important date in the timeline.
The clock starts the day after a valid application is received. It runs continuously, including weekends and bank holidays. The consultation period ends at midnight on day 28 of the consultation period.
Premises Licence Representations: What They Are and What Happens Next
A representation is a formal objection or comment made by a responsible authority or interested party during the consultation period, and must relate to at least one of the four licensing objectives.
Not every complaint counts: a representation unconnected to a licensing objective can be rejected as irrelevant.
If a relevant representation is made, the application cannot be granted automatically, it must be determined at a licensing hearing where both sides present their case.
The hearing must normally be held within 20 working days of the consultation period ending. Mediation beforehand often resolves objections without the need for a Licensing hearing.
Common Reasons for Application Delays
Delays fall into two categories: those within your control and those driven by the authority or a third party. Knowing which is which tells you where to focus.
Delays within your control
An invalid or incomplete application. If the authority rejects your submission as invalid, a missing signature, unpaid fee, missing plan or incomplete operating schedule, the 28-day clock never starts. You lose the days between first submission and corrected resubmission, plus the 28 days. A single missing document commonly causes a two to four week slip.
A notice that is late, missing or in the wrong place. The application notice must be displayed at the premises, readable from outside, for the full consultation period. If not, the authority can treat the application as invalid, the most expensive mistake, because it resets everything. Display it on submission day, photograph it, and check it at the end of the period.
A public notice published late or in the wrong paper. The newspaper notice must appear within 10 working days of submission, in a paper circulating in the area. A free sheet that does not cover the relevant ward, or publication on day 12, can invalidate the application.
A vague operating schedule. A schedule that does not address the four licensing objectives specifically invites representations, and a representation means a hearing, and weeks. Named closing times, CCTV specification, staff training regime and challenge policy keep you out of the committee room.
The wrong fee. Fees are banded by the non-domestic rateable value of the premises. Paying below your actual band is treated as an underpayment and may invalidate the application. Check the band against the Valuation Office Agency record before submitting.
Delays outside your control
A representation from a responsible authority. The Police, Environmental Health, the Fire Authority or the Licensing Authority itself can object. Once received, the application must go to a hearing, adding at least 20 working days, often more.
Hearing scheduling backlogs. Some councils list hearings well beyond the 20 working day expectation, with no statutory remedy for a late hearing. If your opening date is fixed, this is a risk you can only plan around.
Requests for further information. An authority may ask for clarification or extra documents before deciding validity. Each exchange adds days, respond the same day where you can.
How to recover once a delay has occurred
If your application is rejected as invalid, correct the defect and resubmit immediately rather than argue the point. A resubmission starts a fresh 28-day period, but challenging the rejection by correspondence usually takes longer.
If a representation is made, ask the authority whether mediation is available and engage the representor directly. Many representations, especially from Environmental Health, are resolved by agreeing conditions, removing the need for a hearing.
If a hearing is required, keep all your evidence ready and use the time to strengthen your operating schedule. You may wish to prepare witness statements, particularly from those who support your application.
Delay cause |
Typical added time |
Within your control? |
|---|---|---|
Invalid application |
2-4 weeks (resubmission + fresh 28 days) |
Yes |
Blue Notice not displayed |
Full reset of the 28 days |
Yes |
Public Notice late or wrong publication |
Full reset of the 28 days |
Yes |
Weak operating schedule |
Weeks, via hearing |
Yes |
Wrong fee band |
Reset from corrected payment |
Yes |
Representation received |
20+ working days |
No |
Hearing backlog |
Variable, often 2-6 weeks |
No |
Further information request |
Days per exchange |
Partly |
If you are unsure whether your operating schedule or fee band is correct before you submit, the official guidance on premises licence applications sets out the requirements the licensing authority will check.
Your Checklist for a Ready-to-Submit Application
Use this checklist before you submit, every item is a delay cause we see regularly.
- Application form fully completed, with no blank fields
- Operating schedule addresses all four licensing objectives in specific terms
- Designated premises supervisor named and consent form signed (where alcohol is sold)
- Correct fee calculated from the premises' rateable value
- Copies sent to all responsible authorities, including the Police and Environmental Health
- Blue Notice printed and ready to display at the premises
- Public Notice drafted and booked with the correct local newspaper
- Dated photographs taken of the displayed Blue Notice
- Personal Licence holder identified for the DPS role
If you are unsure whether your operating schedule will withstand scrutiny, the official guidance on premises licence applications sets out what responsible authorities expect to see.
What Happens After the 28 Days?
What happens next depends on whether a representation was made during the consultation period.
Path one: no representations, automatic grant
If no responsible authority and no interested party makes a relevant representation by the end of the 28-day period, the licensing authority must grant the licence, there is no discretion to refuse. It will issue the licence with any mandatory conditions attached to your licensable activities, plus any conditions you volunteered in your operating schedule.
Most authorities issue the licence within five to ten working days of the consultation period closing, by post or via the council's licensing portal. If it has not arrived after two weeks, chase the licensing team in writing.
Path two: a representation was made, the hearing
If a relevant representation is made, the application cannot be granted automatically. It must be determined at a licensing hearing before the licensing committee (or a sub-committee of at least three members).
The hearing must normally be held within 20 working days of the consultation period ending, a statutory expectation, not an absolute deadline, and backlogs at some councils push it past.
Before the hearing, the authority must give you and the representor at least 10 working days' notice of the date, time and place. You may attend, be represented by a solicitor or licensing consultant, call evidence, and question the representor.
A hearing is not a court. The Licensing Sub-Committee hears both sides, then retires to decide. It can:
- grant the licence as applied;
- grant it subject to additional conditions; or refuse it.
The committee must give reasons tied to the licensing objectives. A decision that is not evidence-based or ignores relevant representations can be challenged on appeal.
Mediation before the hearing
Most licensing authorities offer, and some encourage, mediation between the applicant and the representor before the hearing. It is often the fastest route to resolution: a noise representation from environmental health, for example, can frequently be resolved by agreeing conditions on door supervision, dispersal policy or regulated hours, without reaching a committee.
If mediation succeeds, the agreed conditions are recorded and the application is granted without a hearing. If it fails, the hearing proceeds as scheduled. Engaging early costs nothing and frequently saves weeks.
If the decision goes against you: appeal to the magistrates' court
An appeal is a challenge to a decision made by a Licensing Committee. Those involved in or affected by the decision may have the right of appeal. Appeals must be made to a magistrates’ court within 21 days of the Licensing decision.
Once the licence is granted
A granted premises licence is not static. To change operating hours, add a licensable activity, alter the layout, or change the designated premises supervisor, you must apply for a variation or DPS transfer. Each carries its own fee and, for a full variation, its own 28-day consultation period.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a premises licence application take?
The statutory consultation period is 28 days, starting from the day after your application is submitted to the licensing authority. If no representations are received, the licence is typically granted shortly after this period ends. However, incomplete applications, missing public notices, or objections from responsible authorities can extend the process well beyond 28 days. Planning for around six to eight weeks is sensible for a straightforward application.
What happens if there are representations against a premises licence application?
If a responsible authority or other party makes relevant representations during the consultation period, the licensing authority must hold a hearing. This is usually scheduled within 20 working days of the consultation period ending. Both you and the person making the representation can attend and present your case. The hearing adds several weeks to the overall timeline.
Can I start trading before my premises licence is granted?
No. Selling alcohol or providing licensable activities without a granted premises licence is a criminal offence under the Licensing Act 2003. You must wait until the licence is granted before opening. If you need to trade sooner, a temporary event notice may cover a one-off event, but it does not replace a full premises licence.
How much does a premises licence application cost?
Fees are set by the Licensing Act 2003 (Fees) Regulations and depend on the rateable value of your premises. For most pubs and restaurants, the application fee falls between £100 and £635. You also need to budget for a Public Notice in a local newspaper, which can cost several hundred pounds, and any professional application support you choose to use.