Premises Licence Review Hearing Representation

We deliver professional independent representation for clients at Premises Licence Review Hearings in front of the Licensing Authority Licensing Committee anywhere throughout England & Wales.

Independent representation at a premises licence review hearing gives our clients the peace of mind to know that they will receive honest professional representation by our experienced licensing consultants, if their premises licence is subject to a review by the licensing authority.

Our licensing consultants have many years of experience representing clients at licensing committee hearings for a wide variety of premises; these include retail shops, bars, restaurants, night clubs, hotels, blue chip companies and event spaces. For more details please visit The Advantage of Licensing Consultants >>

How We Approach Premises Licence Review Hearings

Discuss the case behind the review with the client – We discuss the details of the premises licence review and use all our experience and knowledge to advise our clients of all the available options.
Site visit to the premises – Where required we conduct a site visit to hold the initial client consultation. We take the opportunity to review the circumstances behind the premises licence review and familiarise ourselves with the business and its location.
Consult with the responsible authorities – We consult with the appropriate responsible authorities (police, licensing authority, environmental health etc.), depending on the nature of the review. Where possible / appropriate we seek to reach consensus prior to the premises licence review hearing, in order to reduce the risk to the premises licence at the licensing committee hearing.
Plan the defence of the premises licence – We will examine all the arguments outlined in the review documents and any supporting evidence. Our experienced licensing consultants will then formulate their arguments and plan the approach for the licensing committee review hearing.
Brief the client – We will discuss the proposed approach with the client to ensure they are satisfied with the strategy. The final briefing takes place just before the review hearing itself. Our licensing consultant will meet the client on the day of the premises licence review hearing, provide any further information on the process itself and advise of any final revisions to the case.
Represent clients at licensing committee hearings – We represent the client at the premises licence review hearing. We act as the client’s representative, setting out the arguments on behalf of the client to the licensing committee and fielding questions. We also provide counsel to the client, on any proposals presented at the licensing committee hearing and the final outcome.
Check and return the premises licence – Following a review hearing, any amended premises licence is checked by one of our licensing consultants and sent on to the client within 24 hours of being received by us.

Fees¹

Our fees for this service are transparent; however some of the fees are variable subject to the complexity of the premises licence review and the location of the hearing.

Premises licence application service (standard service package) – £600.00. This includes all the work described in points 1- 7 above.
Additional time - £85.00 per hour. Where additional time is required above the time allocated within the standard service package, for detailed negotiations or consultations, additional meetings or site visits and other work associated with the premises licence review hearing, this will be charged out by the hour. Any additional costs are always discussed with the client in advance of being incurred.
Travel² – Where travel and over-night stays are required, additional travel costs apply.

Contact Us Early in the Process

There are significant advantages in contacting us early in the process, the earlier the better; ideally as soon as the premises licence holder is informed that a review hearing is going to be initiated or there is any suspicion of such action being taken.

The initial call to us is FREE and no obligation is entered into until the client confirms our appointment in writing.

The earlier we are appointed to represent clients the more opportunity we have to reach negotiated or partially negotiated settlements, in advance of the licensing committee review hearing. Premises licence holders should avoid agreeing to any proposals by those initiating a review, until they have sought independent professional advice from our licensing consultants.

Call us on 01784 434 392 or email us at info@btbl.co.uk

Premises Licence Review Hearing

A review of a premises licence can be initiated by any responsible authority (police, licensing enforcement, environmental health, trading standards, health & safety, planning, fire service etc.) or any other individual; usually local residents or businesses.

An application for a premises licence review must reference one or more of the licensing objectives:

Prevention of Crime & Disorder
Public Safety
Prevention of Public Nuisance
Protection of Children from Harm

Once a review hearing has been initiated against a premises licence, the hearing will be advertised by the local licensing authority. A public notice will appear outside the premises itself and usually local residents and businesses will be notified with notices posted to their property.

This public notice effectively invites any other person or responsible authority to comment on the review hearing, either in support of the premises licence holder or against the premises licence. Review hearings can thus quickly escalate, beyond the initial reason for the application for a review of the premises licence.

Engaging with any party seeking to review the premises licence should therefore take place as early as possible. It is occasionally possible to reach consensus prior to the application for a review hearing being made, thus avoiding the hearing altogether; this is especially the case when the review is initiated by one of the responsible authorities.

The outcome of a premises licence review hearing can seriously affect the business, have significant cost implications, reduce future income or lead to businesses folding. The licensing committee have the option to take the following measures against the premises licence at a review hearing:

Order no change to the premises licence
Remove one or more of the permitted licensable activities
Reduce in the operating hours
Reduce the hours of one or more permitted licensable activities
Add and / or strengthen conditions on the premises licence
Remove the Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS)
Suspend the Premises Licence for a period not exceeding 3 months
Revoke the Premises Licence
A combination of the above

Obtaining professional independent advice from our professional licensing consultants early in the process, offers the best chance of any damage to the premises licence and hence the business itself being minimised and can avoid costly errors associated with ill-advised or ill-judged agreements.

For further information please call 01784 434 392 / 0845 602 55 95 and speak with one of our Professional Licensing Consultants.

Beyond the Blue’s Licensing Consultants

Our professional licensing consultants have years of experience working and negotiating with different licensing authorities, police services and other responsible authorities.

We have submitted many successful premises licence applications, variations and transfers as well as successfully representing many clients at licensing committee hearings. Below are just a few examples:

• The Yacht London (Westminster City Council) • Italian Traditions ‘& Pasta’ (Westminster City Council – West End Stress Area) • BlackRock (City of London) • Household Cavalry Museum & Horse Guards Parade Ground (Westminster City Council) • Coolcats Café (London Borough of Southwark) • HooHaas (Wokingham Borough Council) • Salem Stores (London Borough of Islington) • No Curfew (London Borough of Hackney – Shoreditch Special Policy Area) • Café Leo (London Borough of Richmond upon Thames) • Food Choice Ltd. (London Borough of Waltham Forest) • Arco Bars (Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea) • Rainbow Restaurant (London Borough of Croydon) • Taste of Siam (London Borough of Camden – Camden Town Cumulative Impact Policy Area) •

There are a many good reasons why you should choose an experienced licensing consultant to represent you at a licensing authority review hearing. For more information please visit The Advantage of Licensing Consultants >>

Notes

¹All fees are exclusive of vat at the current rate.

²Travel is undertaken by public transport or car and charged to the client at the cost of the most appropriate option. Where overnight stays are required, these are also charged out at cost. Where travel of more than 60 minutes from our offices in Surrey is required, services may be subject to additional fees to cover travel time.

Additional Information

• BIIAB Level 2 Award for Personal Licence Holders (APLH) Course • BIIAB Level 2 Award for Designated Premises Supervisors (ADPS) Course • Authorisation to Sell Alcohol Induction Course • Alcohol Licensing • Licensing Consultancy Service • Licensing Resources & Downloads • Premises Licence Application Service • Premises Licence Variations • Temporary Event Notice (T.E.N.) Service • Why Choose Beyond the Blue • Testimonials • Our Clients • Approval Ratings & Learner Feedback • Latest News Blog • Facebook • Twitter • LinkedIn •

Page Updated: 12^th June 2014