Applying for a Premises Licence under the Licensing Act 2003 is not an instantaneous process. Even where applications are well prepared and uncontroversial, there are statutory stages and minimum timeframes that cannot be shortened.
Understanding these timelines — and the options available if objections arise — allows applicants to plan realistically, avoid commercial frustration, and make informed interim arrangements where appropriate.
Before an application is even submitted, there is usually a pre-application phase, which can range from a few days to several weeks depending on complexity.
This stage typically includes:
Time spent at this stage is rarely wasted. Poorly prepared applications often result in representations, conditions, or hearings that significantly extend the process later.
Once a complete Premises Licence application is formally lodged with the Licensing Authority and correctly served on the Responsible Authorities:
👉 Day 1 of the statutory process begins.
From this point onward:
The Licensing Act provides for a mandatory 28-day consultation period.
During this period:
This consultation period cannot be shortened, regardless of urgency or commercial pressures.
Even if no representations are received, the Licensing Authority must wait until the end of the 28 days before granting the licence.
Where no valid representations are received by the end of the consultation period:
In practice, the Licence is usually issued within a few working days of day 28, subject to backlogs which can run to months in certain Councils.
If relevant representations are not withdrawn, the Licensing Authority is required to refer the application to a Licensing Sub-Committee Hearing.
Hearing timelines
This means that where representations remain, the overall process commonly extends to 6–8 weeks, and sometimes longer depending on scheduling and complexity.
At the hearing, the Sub-Committee may:
The written decision is usually issued shortly after the hearing, at which point the licence comes into effect unless appealed.
Any party with standing (applicant or representation maker) has 21 days from the date of decision to lodge an appeal with the Magistrates’ Court.
While not all decisions are appealed, the possibility of appeal is an important part of the overall timeline in contested cases.
Where commercial timing does not align with statutory licensing timescales, applicants sometimes ask whether they can operate before the Premises Licence is granted.
The answer is often: Yes — but only temporarily and with constraints, via Temporary Event Notices (TENs).
What TENs allow
TENs permit licensable activities for:
TENs can be used:
They do not accelerate the Premises Licence process itself.
While lawful, TENs should be used carefully:
TENs are best used as a bridging mechanism, not a substitute for proper Licensing.
Putting everything together, a typical timeline looks like this:
| Scenario | Likely timeframe |
| Well-prepared, unopposed application | ~4–5 weeks |
| Application with representations resolved during consultation | ~5–6 weeks |
| Application requiring a Sub-Committee hearing | ~6–8+ weeks |
| Application followed by appeal | Several months |
| Opening under TENs while application pending | Immediate (subject to notice periods) |
The most common frustrations in Licensing arise when:
Understanding the statutory process early allows applicants to:
The timescales for Premises Licence applications are largely set by statute and cannot be rushed. What can be controlled is how smoothly the process runs, whether objections arise, and how interim trading is managed.
With proper preparation, early engagement and a clear understanding of options such as TENs, Licensing need not be a barrier — but it does require realistic expectations and informed planning.
If you require assistance with a Premises Licence Application, then book an appointment with us by clicking the button at the top of this screen.
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