Personal Licence
Mark S. Elliott has spent 25 years working in various management roles within the tenanted and leased divisions of the UK's largest breweries and pub companies. His extensive knowledge and day-to-day involvement with pubs and publicans make him well qualified to know what is required to run a successful pub. He shares his knowledge and many 'insider tips' with you in this book. Mark is based in Cockermouth, Cumbria.
PERSONAL LICENCE
A personal licence allows the holder to sell alcohol for consumption on or off any premises covered by a premises licence. The licence is portable and lasts for 10 years, after which it can be renewed for a further 10. To qualify for a personal licence, an applicant must meet certain criteria laid out by the Licensing Act:
- The applicant must be over 18 years old.
- They must not have had a personal licence forfeited within the previous 5 years.
- They must possess an accredited licensing qualification.
- They must not have been convicted of any relevant or foreign offence.
Where the applicant fulfils all these criteria, the licensing authority must grant the application. If any of the first 3 requirements are not met, the application must be rejected. Where an applicant has been convicted of any relevant or foreign offence, the licensing authority must notify the chief officer of police, who may object to the application. In the case of a police objection, the normal procedure would be to reject the application, unless there are exceptional and compelling circumstances which justify granting it. If the police do not object, and the application meets the other requirements of the Licensing Act, the application must be granted.
