Premises licence

Making an application for a premises licence

An application for a premises licence may be made by any individual (aged at least 18) or business. Recognised clubs, charities, a proprietor of educational establishments, health service bodies and a chief officer of police may also apply for a premises licence.

Detailed guidance on making an application is available on the Government site you are advised to refer to this guidance.

The fee charges for the premises licence will be the same no matter what or how many licensable activities will take place on the premises. Hearings on an application will only occur where representations are made.

An application for a premises licence must be made to the relevant licensing authority, that is, the authority within whose area the premises is situated.

To make an application you must submit:

• a completed application form Download the application form for premises licence
• a plan of the premises in the prescribed form
• if the application requests the authorisation to supply alcohol, a form containing the consent of the proposed designated premises supervisor in
• the prescribed form
• the prescribed fee
• the consent of Designated Premises Supervisor form (unless the application of for club registration)

a club declaration form if the application is for a club registration.

A copy of the application must be provided to the responsible authorities.

Responsible authorities are listed at the end of this page

The fee for your licence depends upon the non-domestic rateable value of your premises. These fees are set nationally by Central Government and not by Sandwell Council so we are unable to vary them in any way.

In order to calculate the fee(s) payable with your application please refer to the tables below.

If you are not sure of the non-domestic rateable value of your premises you can obtain this information by telephoning the Local Business Rates Office on: 0121 368 1155, or you may obtain the information from the website of the National Valuation Office

When you have established the non-domestic rateable value for the premises use the table to establish the licence fee to be paid. Cheques are to be made payable to Sandwell M.B.C.

Premises which are exempt from fees

Where an application relates to 'regulated entertainment' ONLY, and no other licensable activity is being applied for, the following premises are EXEMPT from paying a licence fee:

1. Any educational establishment which consists of a school or college and where the provision of regulated entertainment is carried on for and on behalf of the purposes of the school or college.

2. Any premises which are, (or form part of), a church hall, chapel hall, village hall, parish hall, community hall, or other similar building.

A "school" means a school within the meaning of section 4 of the Education Act 1996. 

A "college" means a college or similar institution principally concerned with the provision of full-time education suitable to the requirements of persons over compulsory school age who have not attained the age of 19.

Additional fees

If you need any further information on the fee structure under the Licensing Act 2003 you may find this on the Government website

Plans to be submitted with all applications

The plan must show

• the extent of the boundary of the building, if relevant, and any external and internal walls of the building and, if different, the perimeter of the premises;
• the location of points of access to and egress from the premises;
• if different from the location of points of access to and egress from the premises, the location of escape routes from the premises;
• where the premises is used for more than one existing licensable activity, the area within the premises used for each activity.
• fixed structures (including furniture) or similar objects temporarily in a fixed location (but not furniture) which may impact on the ability of individuals on the premises to use exits or escape routes without impediment;
• where the premises includes a stage or raised area, the location and height of each stage or area relative to the floor;
• where the premises includes any steps, stairs, elevators or lifts, the location of the steps, stairs, elevators or lifts;
• where the premises includes any room or rooms containing public conveniences, the location of the room or rooms;
• the location and type of any fire safety and any other safety equipment; and
• the location of a kitchen, if any, on the premises.

The plan may include a legend through which all the above items are sufficiently illustrated by the use of symbols on the plan.

Applications must be advertised to allow other people to make representations, we have provided brief details, the full requirements may be found in The Licensing Act 2003 (Premises licences and club premises certificates) Regulations 2005

Council officers may carry out checks to ensure you have displayed the notice and your application may be invalidated unless this is done.

You must also publish notice of your application in a local newspaper within ten working days of making the application (starting on the day after which the application was given to the Licensing Authority). The notice must be published in a local newspaper circulating in the vicinity of the premises. You can use a copy of the 'Notice of application for a premises licence' for this purpose, complete that form and use it for your newspaper advertisement.

We ask that you send a copy of the newspaper containing the advertisement to us as soon as it is published.

Copies of the application form, including any relevant accompanying documents, must be sent to all the Responsible Authorities and Police on the same day as the application is given to the relevant licensing authority. A list of responsible authorities is provided below.

We may agree to email submission please contact us to discuss this with us, you will have to make any payment by telephone. If you send your application by email, the application or notice will not be treated as given until the completed form, fee and plan or other document or information as agreed has been received by the licensing authority.

The application form, sets out various details on how the premises is proposed to operate when carrying on licensable activities. It must include the following information:

• the licensable activities to be carried out
• the proposed hours that the relevant licensable activities are to take place
• the proposed hours that the premises are to be open to the public
• the duration of the licence (if it is to have a fixed term)
• details of who is to be the designated premises supervisor if the licensable activities include the supply of alcohol - not required for club registration.
• where alcohol is to be supplied, whether the supplies are proposed to be for consumption on and/or off premises
• a statement of the steps the applicant proposes to take to promote the licensing objectives (for example, the arrangements for door security to prevent crime and disorder)

If the application for the premises licence is granted, this information will be incorporated into the licence itself and will set out the permitted activities and the limitations on them.

Any application for a premises licence (but not for club registration) must also include a form of consent given by the individual whom the applicant wishes to have specified in the premises licence as the DPS. The DPS consent form is available separately.

Please send original application to the Local Authority at this address: (updated 21 June 2022)

General Licensing Team
Sandwell Council House
PO Box 2374
Oldbury B69 3DE

(Please note our offices are not at this address)

Email: Licensing_Team@sandwell.gov.uk

Section 13(4) Licensing Act 2003 - list of responsible authorities

You must send a copy of the application to each of the responsible authorities and the police for the area in which the premises is situated.

Fire service (updated 21 June 2022)

Fire Safety Officer - LEEPS Team, Tipton Fire Station, Alexandra Road, Tipton, DY4 7NZ

E Mail : firesafety.admin@wmfs.net

Health and safety (updated 21 June 2022)

Health and Safety Section, Sandwell Council House, PO Box 2374, Oldbury B69 3DE

Email: ehts_enquiries@sandwell.gov.uk (mark subject 'for attention of health and safety')

Planning (updated 21 June 2022)

Planning, The Development and Regulatory Services Manager, Sandwell Council House, PO Box 2374, Oldbury B69 3DE

Email: planning_enforcement@sandwell.gov.uk   

Environmental health (updated 21 June 2022)

Air Pollution/Noise Control Section, Sandwell Council House, PO Box 2374, Oldbury B69 3DE

Email: ehts_enquiries@sandwell.gov.uk (mark subject 'for attention of noise control')

Child protection (updated 21 June 2022)

Sandwell Children's Safeguarding Partnership, Metsec Buildings 1st Floor , Broadwell Road, Oldbury B69 4HE

Email: SCSP_business@sandwell.gov.uk

Trading standards (updated 21 June 2022)

Trading Standards Section, Sandwell Council House, PO Box 2374, Oldbury B69 3DE

Email : ehts_enquiries@sandwell.gov.uk (mark subject 'for attention of trading standards')

West Midlands Police contacts for Sandwell (updated 21 June 2022)

Police Licensing Officer, C/o Administration Unit , LPU Headquarters , Moor Street, West Bromwich B70 7AQ

Email: sw_licensing@west-midlands.pnn.police.uk

Primary Care Trust (updated 21 June 2022)

Mary Bailey, Alcohol Project Manager, Public Health Department, Sandwell Council, Jack Judge House, PO Box 15888, Oldbury B69 9EN

Home office immigration enforcement(updated 18 April 2023)

Alcohol Licensing Team, Lunar House, 40 Wellesley Road, Croydon, CR9 2BY

E Mail : alcohol@homeoffice.gov.uk

Useful Links

Home Office web site for alcohol licensing