Licensing: Advice, Assistance and Representations in Relation to Licensing Applications for Business Premises

Our Fees

Our fees are based on hourly rates. The hourly rates of the team who may deal with your matter range from £190 to £265 plus VAT (£228 to £318 per hour with VAT).

In straightforward cases, where no objections/representations are received or where they can be dealt with easily by agreement we anticipate that our fees for dealing with your matter will be in the range £500 to £1,500 plus VAT (£600 to £1,800 with VAT).

Applications which receive objections/representations that require a formal hearing are relatively rare but will require further work. If that happens, we will discuss what further work is required and provide you with a revised schedule of what additional work is required and the likely costs.

Disbursements

There will also be licensing fees payable on the lodging of such application which are payable to the Local Authority to whom the application is lodged – the rate of fee depends on the non-domestic rateable value of the store and will range from £100 to £635. No VAT is charged on those fees.

There will also be advertising fees payable for advertising the application in a local newspaper covering the area where the premises are located. They vary from between £150 to £600 plus VAT (£180 to £720 with VAT).

Services Included

• Taking instructions
• Advising and assisting you
• Preparing the application
• Serving the application on the responsible authorities
• Arranging for the application to be displayed on site
• Arranging for the application to be advertised in the local press
• Notifying you of any objections and taking your instructions
• Notifying the Local Authority of agreements reached with regard to objections
• Notifying you of the grant of the licence or otherwise

Services not Included Within the Price Range Above

• Liaising with the court and making arrangements for a hearing
• Attending a hearing and representing you/instructing a barrister to represent you at a hearing
• Notifying you of the outcome of the hearing

Timescales

In the majority of cases where applications for new premises licences or formal variations are undertaken, the applications are approved after the end of a 28 day consultation period. The whole process normally takes six to eight weeks where there is no need for a hearing.

The Team

Find out more about the individuals who may be working on your case via the links below. Their profiles will include information as to their experience and qualifications.

Cindy Darlington, licensing manager
Adrian Roberts, partner and head of the criminal team