Alcohol licensing - anyone here know their stuff?
Discussion
Any in house licensing experts?
Got a business based question, and dont know if I'm best just calling the council and laying my cards on the table, or if that may well burn bridges and im best off getting some initial advice before applying?
Is there such a thing as a licensing consultant who i can pay for advice?
Thanks
Kieran
Got a business based question, and dont know if I'm best just calling the council and laying my cards on the table, or if that may well burn bridges and im best off getting some initial advice before applying?
Is there such a thing as a licensing consultant who i can pay for advice?
Thanks
Kieran
21TonyK said:
You make it sound like you have already been supplying alcohol? If that is the case then "cards on the table" is NOT the approach.
Do you hold a personal licence?
(No expert but had numerous licensed businesses)
No, this is a completely new business which I'm after advice on before I take it any further, so no worry of any comeback as it's not even in motion yet. Do you hold a personal licence?
(No expert but had numerous licensed businesses)
It's just a bit of an off the wall idea and I dont want the council to say "no" as it doesn't fit into a standard category
Our butcher was selling booze at very good prices this Xmas. All clearly on display with price tags.
In the new year, when I was the only customer in the shop I asked him if he'd ever had any bother with selling the booze. He said that his story was that the bottles were left over from a wedding that he'd organised and that he was giving it away at cost prices to his best customers. Then he told me of a case a few years ago when someone reported him to the council. He received a call from the man in charge of licencing who asked him if he had indeed been selling booze alongside his turkeys.
The licencing officer said that he was more than welcome to apply for a licence - he could have a permanent licence, a month, or even a week's licence. All he had to do was ask. He didn't bother and carries on as normal.
In the new year, when I was the only customer in the shop I asked him if he'd ever had any bother with selling the booze. He said that his story was that the bottles were left over from a wedding that he'd organised and that he was giving it away at cost prices to his best customers. Then he told me of a case a few years ago when someone reported him to the council. He received a call from the man in charge of licencing who asked him if he had indeed been selling booze alongside his turkeys.
The licencing officer said that he was more than welcome to apply for a licence - he could have a permanent licence, a month, or even a week's licence. All he had to do was ask. He didn't bother and carries on as normal.
IME the granting of a licence is very much like a planning application in that there have to be clear and valid reasons that breach licensing law for the application to be rejected or objection from the Police.
I'll see if I can dig out the details of a consultant I used on an application several years ago, he's mid-Devon so might be useful.
I'll see if I can dig out the details of a consultant I used on an application several years ago, he's mid-Devon so might be useful.
Ok thanks both.
I have no concerns about objections/the police, its more around the whole idea.
Ok imagine a holiday home with a well stocked and rather swish wine cellar, guests can help themselves to what they want and pay in the honesty box, or perhaps its priced into the nightly stay cost.
So we are talking very very low key, 2 people tucked away in the middle of nowhere, but my concern is around the lack of staff/oversight/unlimited booze side of things.
I would normally just crack on, but as this whole idea (not quite the above, but same concept) is going to be one of our main USP's we will get press and media coverage around it so has to be legit
I have no concerns about objections/the police, its more around the whole idea.
Ok imagine a holiday home with a well stocked and rather swish wine cellar, guests can help themselves to what they want and pay in the honesty box, or perhaps its priced into the nightly stay cost.
So we are talking very very low key, 2 people tucked away in the middle of nowhere, but my concern is around the lack of staff/oversight/unlimited booze side of things.
I would normally just crack on, but as this whole idea (not quite the above, but same concept) is going to be one of our main USP's we will get press and media coverage around it so has to be legit
sidekickdmr said:
Ok imagine a holiday home with a well stocked and rather swish wine cellar, guests can help themselves to what they want and pay in the honesty box, or perhaps its priced into the nightly stay cost.
Looks like there is a retail sale taking place, so you will need a license.I can't see why you wouldn't get one.
Leithen said:
sidekickdmr said:
Ok imagine a holiday home with a well stocked and rather swish wine cellar, guests can help themselves to what they want and pay in the honesty box, or perhaps its priced into the nightly stay cost.
Looks like there is a retail sale taking place, so you will need a license.I can't see why you wouldn't get one.
Very interesting site...
website said:
Scenario #2: At the same event, free alcohol is linked to a car that customers have to purchase.
If you or the car dealership were selling tickets to customers to attend the open day, asking them for a donation for the alcohol or clearly linking the “free” alcohol to a car they had to purchase on the day of the event, the customer would be buying the alcohol, albeit by roundabout means. This would mean that a retail sale is taking place and as the supplier of the alcohol, you would need a personal licence. Under such circumstances, you or the dealership would also need to have a Temporary Events Notice (TEN) in place for the provision of alcohol to take place.
So - the BMW dealership gave us a bottle of presecco when we bought the i3 - need a licence? If you or the car dealership were selling tickets to customers to attend the open day, asking them for a donation for the alcohol or clearly linking the “free” alcohol to a car they had to purchase on the day of the event, the customer would be buying the alcohol, albeit by roundabout means. This would mean that a retail sale is taking place and as the supplier of the alcohol, you would need a personal licence. Under such circumstances, you or the dealership would also need to have a Temporary Events Notice (TEN) in place for the provision of alcohol to take place.
Where are you in the country?
I would suggest a phine call to your local licensing dept and ask the questions. They will then point out any immediate concerns they may have. Also talk to the local licensing police representative. They might have security concerns regarding theft when the let is vacant. Or the potential ease for under age drinking.
I'm not an expert, but have dealt with licensing quite a bit. They're not ogres I find. But they do like honesty from the outset.
I would suggest a phine call to your local licensing dept and ask the questions. They will then point out any immediate concerns they may have. Also talk to the local licensing police representative. They might have security concerns regarding theft when the let is vacant. Or the potential ease for under age drinking.
I'm not an expert, but have dealt with licensing quite a bit. They're not ogres I find. But they do like honesty from the outset.
Can't find the guys details I used but I did find a related email dated 2009! so probably not much use now.
What you are suggesting may not be an issue at all. Few years back I stayed in a suite at Hotel du Vin in Bristol, that had a pretty extensive bar and collection of wines, ISTR about 10-15 bottles. You just paid for what you drank.
As suggested a quick call to your local licensing office may give you a steer in the best approach.
What you are suggesting may not be an issue at all. Few years back I stayed in a suite at Hotel du Vin in Bristol, that had a pretty extensive bar and collection of wines, ISTR about 10-15 bottles. You just paid for what you drank.
As suggested a quick call to your local licensing office may give you a steer in the best approach.
its not unique
stayed at this gaff a few years back and they have a fully stocked, unmanned bar for you to use complimentary
https://www.brimstonehotel.co.uk/reading-room.html
stayed at this gaff a few years back and they have a fully stocked, unmanned bar for you to use complimentary
https://www.brimstonehotel.co.uk/reading-room.html
Doesn’t this already happen? The number of air bnb’s And holiday cottages I’ve stayed in when they supply a welcome hamper free of charge / built into the price of the holiday often containing a bottle of wine. Ok not on your scale but it happens. I don’t see anything different to stocking the wine fridge in a top end holiday let. The honesty box is different IMO as that could be seen as a sale.
The Moose said:
If you’re not ‘serving’ it as such, I can’t see that it’s a big issue if you’re worried about over consumption. There isn’t a limit of what you can buy at a supermarket or an off license?
The issue I see is limiting access to people old enough?
How would it be any different to a mini bar in a hotel room? The issue I see is limiting access to people old enough?
To answer a few questions:
1. We are adults only and over 18's, could always ask for ID if we felt it was needed but cant see many 16 year olds wanting to spend £££ to stay in a holiday let to steal some nice booze.
2. The only issue I can see there being, over a mini bar in a hotel room, or a bottle of red left on the table is the quantity of booze, we are talking a cellar full of wine, Gin, whiskey etc, without oversight or "sorry sir you have had to much, I cant serve you".
If it helps, we are planning to cost it into the stay price, so there isn't direct payment for the booze, but they are still paying for it in a round about way.
I'll give the council a call next week.
1. We are adults only and over 18's, could always ask for ID if we felt it was needed but cant see many 16 year olds wanting to spend £££ to stay in a holiday let to steal some nice booze.
2. The only issue I can see there being, over a mini bar in a hotel room, or a bottle of red left on the table is the quantity of booze, we are talking a cellar full of wine, Gin, whiskey etc, without oversight or "sorry sir you have had to much, I cant serve you".
If it helps, we are planning to cost it into the stay price, so there isn't direct payment for the booze, but they are still paying for it in a round about way.
I'll give the council a call next week.
The premises license is determined by your operating schedule which will detail how you supply alcohol safely and meet licensing regulation.
Its not difficult and I really don't see you having any great issues bearing in mind others are already doing what you propose.
A massive advantage is you can specify you are an adult only venue so that's a massive part of the list ticked off.
IME as far as licensing is concerned alcohol is alcohol in whatever form, quantity or cost.
Bear in mind licensing is normall not just alcohol so be clear in your application exactly what you want and how you will operate. You don;t want "provision of entertainment until 0:00" or neighbours will start screaming. Might be an idea to get them (if you have any) onside first.
Its not difficult and I really don't see you having any great issues bearing in mind others are already doing what you propose.
A massive advantage is you can specify you are an adult only venue so that's a massive part of the list ticked off.
IME as far as licensing is concerned alcohol is alcohol in whatever form, quantity or cost.
Bear in mind licensing is normall not just alcohol so be clear in your application exactly what you want and how you will operate. You don;t want "provision of entertainment until 0:00" or neighbours will start screaming. Might be an idea to get them (if you have any) onside first.
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