Choosing a Premises for Alcohol Sale & Supply

What to check before signing a lease or buying premises for retail sale or supply of alcohol:

Existing Licence: Does the property have an existing premises licence which can be transferred to you?

Cumulative Impact: Located in a cumulative impact area? Your licence or club premises certificate may be refused, or restricted.

Mixed Use Areas: Are there nearby residences? Noise objections and stricter licence conditions are more likely.

Planning: Does the building have planning constraints, conservation status or listed building issues?

Due Diligence: Review fire-safety, security, deliveries and waste disposal and alcohol-free zones.

Final Recommendation: Final advice on choosing your premises.

Existing Premises Licence?

If a premises licence is already in place:

It must be formally transferred to your name before it is surrendered or lapses.
Failure to transfer means applying for a new licence — which may be refused, or granted with less favourable conditions.
See our Licence Transfer Services for assistance.

Cumulative Impact Zones

Check whether the premises is in a Cumulative Impact Zone (CIZ). These are designated areas with a high density of licensed premises, and associated risks of crime and/or public nuisance.

CIZ boundaries are referenced/designated in the relevant local authority's five-yearly Statement of Licensing Policy.

Applications within CIZs are presumed refused unless you can provide compelling evidence of risk mitigation.
Expect potential limits on hours and operating conditions to be imposed by the police, environmental health or licensing authority.
Feasibility checks are recommended before committing. Contact us for a location check.

Mixed-Use and Residential Areas

If residential properties are nearby (particularly above the premises), your application may attract objections regarding potential noise or odour nuisance. Where valid objections are received, a licensing hearing may be required.

Valid objections are those relating to the licensing objectives under the Licensing Act 2003 - generally focused on the risks of crime and/or public nuisance.
Objections may be anonymous. Whilst they should generally be justified, not all Licensing Authorities enforce this.
The Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 removed the requirement for an interested party to live “in the vicinity” of the premises when objecting to an application. This allows any party to raise crime/nuisance issues.
Objections may be exploited by potential competitors who would prefer for the licence not to be granted.

Planning Permission and Use Class

Licensing permission does not override planning consent. Verify that the premises has the correct planning use classification:

Class E: Includes shops, restaurants, and cafes (formerly A1, A3).
Sui Generis: Includes pubs and bars (formerly A4), Hot food takeaways (formerly A5), and nightclubs.

Additional planning risks:

Planning conditions imposed by previous, property-specific planning decisions may prohibit late opening or otherwise restrict operations permitted by the premises licence - such as usage of external areas.
General restrictions in conservation areas or for listed buildings may limit signage, ventilation, or alterations.

Other Due Diligence Factors

You should also consider the following, general due diligence factors:

Fire safety and accessibility compliance.
Access for waste disposal and deliveries.
General security issues which may risk antisocial behaviour.
Check for any local Public Space Protection Orders (alcohol-free zones).

Final Recommendation

Do not commit to a site until you've checked:

Whether a premises licence is already in place.
Whether you’re in a CIZ.
Whether planning permissions align with your intended use.
Whether objections are likely based on area and building type.

Want to discuss a potential premises?

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