Licensing Review Solicitors.

Instructing a licensing review solicitor will secure you the best outcome for your business.

An introduction to our licensing review services

Facing challenges with your business licence can threaten your entire livelihood. We provide expert representation during licensing reviews and appeals, working to protect your business interests while ensuring compliance with all regulations.

  • Legal support on licensing reviews
  • Clarity on your legal position
  • Clear and efficient case management
  • Court appeals
Paul Britton
Managing Director

FAQs

Commonly asked questions on
licensing reviews.

1. What are licences?

Licences are granted to businesses or business premises to permit a company to carry out specific activities. The most common types of licences are:

  • Premises licences, typically granted to pubs, bars and clubs, but also to hotels, festivals and some co-working spaces, enabling them to sell alcohol and offer entertainment. Often combined with extended hours licences to enable a premises to remain open for longer.
  • Gambling licences, which are granted to casinos, bingo halls, amusement arcades and bookmakers
  • Activities licences, which cover businesses offering outdoor activities like hikes, caving and watersports
  • Food business registrations and food premises approvals for cafés, restaurants, catering businesses and other premises handling or preparing food

Such licences are granted in the interest of safety, and may come under review if there are any concerns about:

  • crime and disorder
  • public nuisance
  • children coming into harm
  • general public safety

Failure to respond effectively to a licensing review could lead to the suspension or removal of a business’ licence.

2. How are licensing reviews triggered?

There are two types of licensing review that can be triggered:

Regular reviews

Normally initiated by licensing bodies, members of the public or local councils. If someone believes your business is undermining the terms or objectives of its licence, they can make an application to the Licensing Authority asking for them to review your licence.

Expedited reviews 

Expedited reviews are more serious than regular licensing reviews. They are instigated by the police if a business premises is associated with serious crime or disorder such as stabbing, glassing or drug dealing.

When a licensing committee receives an expedited review they must decide within 48 hours if any interim measures such as suspending the premises licence are required.

Your licence will then be listed for a full review within 28 days. During these 28 days, other parties can join the police calling for a review of your licence. At that hearing, the licensing committee will decide whether to continue granting the licence concerned, or to revoke it based on the evidence against you.

3. What happens during a licence review?

A regular licensing review is broken down into three main steps: consultation, committee and outcome.

1. Consultation – the consultation period lasts 28 days and starts when the responsible authorities raise a complaint about your licence (usually the police or local authorities). During this time, other parties affected may choose to join the complaint against you.

2. Committee – the licensing authority will then assemble a committee to consider the case against you, and everyone with concerns will be invited. During this committee meeting, the committee will look at the evidence put forward by both sides.

3. Outcome – A licensing review’s outcome is to modify or restrict your premises licence, revoke it entirely, or continue unchanged if you are successful in your defence.

If you are unsuccessful, the decision can be appealed in the Magistrates’ Court.

4. How much do licensing reviews cost?

Licensing review costs vary depending on the type of licence under review, how complex and serious the complaints are that call the licence into question, and how quickly the defence case needs to be prepared.

For simple reviews, you can expect to pay between £2,000 to £10,000 exclusive of VAT. For more complex licence reviews, costs start from £10,000 plus VAT and disbursements.

Please note that these are fees for licensing reviews and not initial licence applications.

Meet our expert licensing review team.

Need legal advice now from a solicitor in London or Brighton?

Call, email or provide us with a few details of your matter, and we’ll help you arrange an initial consultation. You’ll get:

  • Unlimited time to discuss your matter with a solicitor.
  • An outline of your legal position and available options.
  • A clear time and fee estimate for your case.

How can we help?

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Why Choose Our Solicitors in London and Brighton?

Full Billing Transparency

No fee surprises. Ever. Our solicitors in London and Brighton will inform you from the outset how much your case will cost and we will do everything in our power to keep costs down and within your original fee estimate.

Award-Winning Service

You are our priority and law is our speciality. Our award-winning solicitors in London and Brighton ensure you know exactly where you stand from a legal perspective so you can make a well-informed decision.

Regular Communication

With fortnightly updates on your case, you’ll never be left in the dark. Our solicitors in London and Brighton ensure you know exactly how your case is progressing and are with you every step of the way.

Our Perspectives.

Established in 2020 in Brighton and Hove, we’re one of the newest and fastest-growing law firms in the South East. Our award-winning team have enabled us to grow to two locations; our head office in Hove, East Sussex, and our Mayfair office in London’s West End.

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