Licensing applications (business premises) pricing

Introduction

The purpose of our pricing overview is to explain the pricing options available to you. Napthens is committed to transparency, being efficient in handling your work and providing you with what to expect, without fear of unpleasant surprises.

It is our goal to provide you with exceptional quality work and the personal attention you would expect.

The most common types of licensing applications that businesses seek assistance with are:-

1. Application for a new Premises Licence
2. Application to vary an existing Premises Licence  

Application for a new Premises Licence

We conduct this type of work on a fixed fee basis, moving to an hourly rate if the matter becomes complicated.

Fees

• Straight forward case – £850 + vat.

• Complicated cases would then be billed at the hourly rate of £160 + vat per hour.

If the case is likely to have complications, we will advise and provide you with specific costs estimate at the start of the matter.

Disbursements

Disbursements are costs relating to your matter which are payable to third parties, such as the application fees. We will pay disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process. We would seek money on account of costs for disbursements in advance of them being incurred.

• Application fee (payable to Licensing Authority).
• Advertising fee (variable depending upon publication).

The fee includes:

• Taking your instructions and advising you as to how you can promote the licensing objectives within your application.
• Advising you as to the type of plans you are required to submit with your application.
• Completing the application form for a new premises licence in the prescribed form.
• Advising you upon the operating schedule, in accordance with your instructions and submitting the application to the local Licensing Authority.
• Providing guidance on the fee levels payable to the Licensing Authority for your application.
• Drafting the notices advertising the application and submitting the notice to the local newspaper on your behalf.
• Arrange with you for the display of the notices advertising the premises licence application and advising as to where and how this should be done.
• Provide a form for the Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) to sign in order to give their consent to act as the DPS as part of your application.
• Checking the licence once granted and correct any errors with the Licensing Authority.

The fee does not include:

• Obtaining suitable plans.
• Attending pre-consultation meetings with the Licensing Authority or Responsible Authorities.
• If representations are received and attendance and representation at a licensing subcommittee is required, then we will provide a separate fee estimate for this work.  

Time Scales

Applications are usually prepared for submission within 1-2 weeks of receipt of full instructions from you. This is on the basis that you will provide the necessary documents promptly.

Once the application is submitted to the Licensing Authority there is a minimum consultation period of 28 days.

Hearings

Should an application attract representations, a hearing will be required, and we will represent our clients in the hearing to secure the licence. The need for a hearing will mean the timescale increases to a total of approximately 8 weeks.  

The vast majority of hearings for new and variations to premises licences, would attract a fee for representation of – £1,500 + vat – £3,500 + vat, an estimate which depends on the complexity of the case.

Instruction of Counsel will incur fees that will be advised to the client at the time.

Application to vary an existing Premises Licence.

A premises licence holder may apply to the Licensing Authority to vary an existing licence.

Variations can include changes to the opening times or activities conducted at the premises or changes to the layout of the premises covered by the licence.

Fees

• Straight forward case – £850 + vat.
• Complicated cases would then be billed at the hourly rate of £160 + vat per hour.

If the case is likely to have complications, we will advise and provide you with specific costs estimate at the start of the matter.

Disbursements

Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as the application fee. We will pay the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smooth process. We would seek money on account of costs for disbursements in advance of them being incurred.

• Application fee (payable to Licensing Authority).
• Advertising fee (variable depending upon publication).

The fee includes:

• Taking your instructions and advising you as to how you can promote the licencing objectives within your application.
• Advising you as to the type of plans you are required to submit with your application.
• Completing the application form for to vary the premises licence in the prescribed form.
• Advising you upon the operating schedule, in accordance with your instructions and submitting the application to the local Licensing Authority.
• Drafting the notices advertising the application and submitting the notice to the local newspaper on your behalf.
• Arrange with you for the display of the notices advertising the premises licence application and advising as to where and how this should be done.
• Provide a form for the Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) to sign in order to give their consent to act as the DPS as part of your application.
• Checking the licence once granted and correct any errors with the Licensing Authority.

The fee does not include:

• Obtaining suitable plans.
• Attending pre-consultation meetings with the Licensing Authority or Responsible Authorities.
• If representations are received and attendance and representation at a licensing subcommittee is required, then we will provide a separate fee estimate for this work which will be charged at an hourly rate or a disbursement cost of counsel.

Time Scales

Applications are usually prepared for submission within 1-2 weeks of receipt of full instructions from you. This is on the basis that you will provide the necessary documents promptly.

Once the application is submitted to the Licencing Authority there is a minimum consultation period of 28 days.

Hearings

Should an application attract representations, a hearing will be required, and we will represent our clients in the hearing to secure the licence. The need for a hearing will mean the timescale increases to a total of approximately 8 weeks.   

The vast majority of hearings for new and variations to premises licences, would attract a fee for representation of – £1,500 + vat – £3,500 + vat, an estimate which depends on the complexity of the case.

Instruction of Counsel will incur fees that will be advised to the client at the time.

Transfer of Premises Licence

We can assist you with an application to transfer an existing premises licence under the Licensing Act 2003.

This is usually a straightforward application which we can deal with for a fixed fee of £150.00 + vat.  

Disbursements

Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as the application fee. We will pay the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smooth process.

• Application fee (Payable to licensing authority) £23.00

Timescales

Applications are usually submitted within two days of receiving full instructions from you. This is on the basis of the application being relatively straightforward and your being able to provide all necessary documents promptly.

Application to vary the Designated Premises Supervisor

We can assist you with an application to change the Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) on the premises Licence.

This is usually a straightforward application which we can deal with for a fixed fee of £150.00 + vat.  

Disbursements

Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as the application fee. We will pay the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smooth process.

• Application fee (Payable to licensing authority) £23.00

Timescales

Applications are usually submitted within two days of receiving full instructions from you. This is on the basis of the application being relatively straightforward and your being able to provide all necessary documents promptly.

Temporary Event Notice (TEN)

The Licensing Act 2003 introduced a system of permitted temporary events allowing licensable activities to be authorise where there is no premises licence.

This is usually a straightforward application which we can deal with for a fixed fee of £150.00 (including VAT but excluding disbursements).

Disbursements

Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as the application fee. We will pay the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smooth process.

• Application fee (Payable to licensing authority) £21.00

Timescales

Applications are usually submitted within one week of receiving full instructions from you. This is on the basis of the application being relatively straightforward and your being able to provide all necessary documents promptly.

Fee Earners

Our licensing team has many years of experience in dealing with all aspects of licensing applications for business premises. 

We have two members of the team who may work on your matter. Regardless of who works on your matter, they will be supervised by Gill Sherratt, Head of Licensing – for more information on our licensing team, please click here

Appendix

The fee levels (payable to the Licensing Authority) are set by the Licensing Act 2003 (Fees) Licensing Regulations 2005 (SI2005/79) (Fees Regulations). *

The level of fee will depend on the rateable value of the premises. In certain circumstances a fee multiplier may also apply. Increased fees also apply to exceptionally large events.

Rateable value bands	A No rateable value to £4,300	B £4,301 to £33,000	C £33,001 to £87,000	D £87,001 to £125,000	E £125,001 and above
Main application fee	£100	£190	£315	£450	£635
Main annual charge	£70	£180	£295	£320	£350

The following multiplier is applied to premises in bands D and E where they are exclusively or primarily in the business of selling alcohol (mainly large town and city centre pubs).

Band	D (x2)	E (x3)
City/town centre pub application fee	£900	£1.905
City/town centre pub annual charge	£640	£1,050

The following additional fees are payable for exceptionally large events:

Number in attendance at any one time	Additional fee
5,000 to 9,999	£1,000
10,000 to 14,999	£2,000
15,000 to 19,999	£4,000
20,000 to 29,999	£8,000
30,000 to 39,999	£16,000
40,000 to 49,999	£24,000
50,000 to 59,999	£32,000
60,000 to 69,999	£40,000
70,000 to 79,999	£48,000
80,000 to 89,999	£56,000
90,000 and over	£64,000

Other fees

Theft, loss etc of premises licence or summary	£10.50
Application for a provisional statement where premises being built, etc.	£195.00
Notification of change of name or address	£10.50
Application to vary licence to specify individual as premises supervisor	£23.00
Theft, loss etc of certificate or summary	£10.50
Duty to notify change of name or address	£10.50
Right of freeholder etc to be notified of licensing matters	£21.00

Regulations 9 and 10 of the Fees Regulations make provision for exemption from fees in relation to the provision of regulated entertainment in schools, colleges, church and village halls and similar facilities. Please contact us for further information.