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The Licensing Act

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You are here: Home > Environment > Environmental Health > Licensing > The Licensing Act > The Licensing Act

Licensing Act

This section provides information and links relating to the Licensing Act 2003.

The law relating to alcohol sales, public entertainment and late night refreshment changed on the 24 November 2005.

The Licensing Act 2003 contains a number of measures which came into force on that day including one which allows licensees to apply for up to 24 hour opening.

Since 24 November 2005

• people who sell alcohol, or 
• premises that supply alcohol or late night refreshments or 
• premises that provide ‘regulated’ entertainment  

need to apply to the Council for a premises licence or club premises certificate.

The Council reviewed its Licensing Policy in December 2007.

We have issued a range of information leaflets to help the public and businesses understand licensing issues and the new licensing act.

Useful link

For government-issued application forms and advice see 

• the Department for Culture, Media and Sport website's alcohol and entertainment section (external site)  

Further information

• Tell me about new applications and how I can comment on them
• Tell me about the new types of licence and which one my business needs 
• Tell me about the Council's Licensing Policy document
• Tell me about the Council's licensing advice leaflets