Personal Licence

To get a Personal Licence you must:

• be over 18
• not have any relevant criminal convictions as spelt out in the Act
• possess an approved licensing qualification
• have the entitlement to live and work in the UK
• pay the required fee

Personal Licences will be needed to supervise the sale of alcohol in any premises including pubs, off-licences, restaurants, hotels and private members' clubs.

You can apply for a Personal Licence to the council for the area in which you live. This authority will then remain the council responsible for continuing to licence you, even if you move away from the area.

Personal Licences have no expiry date and will remain valid unless surrendered. There will be various duties on holders of Personal Licences, and the court can forfeit their licence if they are convicted of any relevant offences.

The police will have the right to object to a licensee on the ground of crime prevention, particularly if someone has a relevant criminal conviction.  

You must have the legal right to work in the UK to hold a Personal Licence, proof of which will be required with the application. Licences will also lapse automatically if your right to work in the UK expires or comes to an end.

Personal licences are not tied to a specific premises, meaning holders of such licences can authorise sales of alcohol in all venues which have a premises licence, throughout England and Wales. This allows for greater flexibility for personal licence holders, and permits the movement of individuals from one premises to another.

The Licensing Act 2003 also states that if a Premises Licence includes the sale or supply of alcohol, a Designated Premises Supervisor must be named on the Premises Licence who will be responsible for the day to day running of the premises. The Designated Premises Supervisor must be a Personal Licence holder. It will not be necessary for all staff selling alcohol to hold a Personal Licence.

Licensing Act 2003

The Personal Licence relates only to the supply of alcohol under a Premises Licence. An individual does not require a Personal Licence for other licensable activities such as the provision of regulated entertainment or late night refreshment, or for the supply of alcohol under a club premises certificate.

Personal Licence holders will be able to give 50 Temporary Event Notices each year, whereas there will be a limit of five for non-Personal Licence holders.

A Personal Licence  may be revoked if you are convicted of a relevant criminal offence, have to pay an immigration penalty, or are found to have given incorrect or misleading information in your application.

Application forms can be found at gov.uk

Alcohol licensing: personal licences - GOV.UK

Please be aware that you cannot currently apply for a Personal Licence online.

Eligibility Criteria

Requirements for a new application for a Personal Licence:

• Be over the age of 18.
• Hold an accredited Licensing Qualification.
• Complete an Application Form for a Personal Licence.
• Complete a Disclosure of Current Convictions and Civil Immigration penalties declaration.
• You must have the legal right to work in the UK (see notes at back of application form).
• You must submit evidence of your right to work in the UK with your application.
• Obtain a Basic Disclosure certificate from the Disclosure and Barring Service (this is a criminal records check). Most basic checks will be processed within 14 days, and a basic check will cost £21.50.  This certificate is only valid for one calendar month so please ensure that you submit it to the council with your application and other required documents within this time frame or you may be asked to apply for a new check. Details of the online service can be found on the Government website: Disclosure & Barring Service - Basic Check.
• Two photographs, one of which must be endorsed.
• Fee - £37 for a Personal Licence application payable to Erewash Borough Council.

Request a basic DBS check - GOV.UK

Applications may be posted to the Licensing Section or sent by email.

You must advise us of a change of your name or address, so we can update your licence, otherwise you are not required to take any further action. If your details have changed you will need to contact the Licensing Section and pay the prescribed fee of £10.50.

Personal licence holders also have a duty to notify the relevant licensing authority if they have been convicted of a relevant or foreign offence. (This is a requirement under s.123 Licensing Act 2003. Relevant offences are listed in Schedule 4 to the Licensing Act 2003).

Regulation Summary

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