London business licence timelines for alcohol premises

What to take away

How national premises licence fees are set

The Licensing Act 2003 sets the framework for premises licences. The fees are set nationally, so every London council uses the same band table. Your band is set by the non-domestic rateable value of the premises, which the Valuation Office Agency assesses. If you disagree with the NDRV, you can challenge it through the VOA's Check and Challenge service. Each council's licensing register lists current premises licences.

The Home Office main fee levels table sets both the application fee and the annual charge for each band. Where premises in bands D and E are used exclusively or primarily for the supply of alcohol on the premises, the fee is two times the band amount in band D and three times in band E. These amounts are set under the Licensing Act 2003 (Fees) Regulations 2005, and each council publishes its own schedule using them. Minor variations cost less than full variations.

Why London council bills differ: late-night levy and cumulative impact

Two local policies create most of the cost difference.

A late-night levy is an annual charge introduced under the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 on premises that sell alcohol between midnight and 6am. The council must consult before introducing one. The levy amounts are set by central government, not the council, and are banded by rateable value and the premises' use, so a council's levy decision notice is where to read the figure for your band.

A cumulative impact policy (CIP), published under the statutory guidance issued under section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003, presumes new applications in a defined area will be refused unless you show no negative impact. CIPs often cover saturated night-time areas such as Soho in Westminster or Shoreditch in Hackney.

The GOV.UK alcohol licensing guidance explains the authority's duties.

Statutory timelines and what changes the risk of a hearing

See premises licence application time for a step-by-step walkthrough. Once the council receives a complete application, the clock starts, and an application is complete only when the band fee comes with it. The Licensing Act 2003 sets strict deadlines.

The Licensing Act 2003 sets these deadlines, and the premises licence fee schedule fixes the fee that starts them: £100 for band A, £190 for band B, £315 for band C, £450 for band D and £635 for band E. A straightforward application with no representations takes 8 to 12 weeks. A hearing can push it to 6 months. Councils with CIPs see more representations, so the risk of a hearing is higher. Actual processing times vary by council and by how quickly you submit a complete application; some London councils publish their own service standards, but the statutory deadlines above are the only fixed timetable.

Preparation, advertising and agent costs outside the fee

The licence fee is only one line. Budget for these items as well.

Use our costs and budget guide to separate official fees from preparation costs. If your premises is in a CIP area, expert evidence can double the agent cost. Check the current policy before you set a budget.

Example: a Camden cafe selling alcohol until 11pm

A new cafe in Camden sells alcohol until 11pm. Its NDRV is £20,000, so it falls in band B. Sales end before midnight, so no late-night levy applies. The location is outside Camden's cumulative impact area.

The cafe pays the statutory band B application fee and annual charge from the fee table above. It also budgets £500 for plans and application help, £300 for the newspaper notice, £237 for a personal licence and training, and £1,500 for an agent. That is roughly £2,537 in preparation costs, before the statutory fee.

If the cafe wanted to sell until 2am, it would need to check the levy rules. It would also face a higher risk of representations. For the costs that catch founders out, read about hidden costs.

Common questions

How much is a premises licence in London?

There is no single London fee. The statutory application and annual fees depend on the premises’ NDRV band, with a multiplier for some premises in bands D and E where alcohol sales are the main use. The band amounts are set out in the fee section above; add any local late-night levy and preparation costs.

How long does a premises licence take?

A clean application with no representations takes 8 to 12 weeks. If representations lead to a hearing, the process can take up to 6 months. The statutory deadlines are 28 days for representations, 20 working days for a hearing and 5 working days for the decision.

Do London councils charge different fees?

No. The statutory fees are identical across councils. Local differences come from the late-night levy and cumulative impact policies, not the licence fee.

What is a late-night levy?

It is an annual local charge introduced under the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 on premises selling alcohol between midnight and 6am. Not every council has one. The amount is banded by rateable value, so check your council's licensing policy for the current rates.