How to apply for a Personal Licence.
What is a personal licence?
All sales of alcohol must be made by, or under the authority of, a Personal Licence Holder. This means that any individual may sell alcohol on a licensed premises provided that the sale has been authorised by a Personal Licence Holder.
You can have as many Personal Licence Holders at a licensed premises as you wish, but you can only nominate one Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS).
You can also choose to become a Personal Licence Holder if you wish to have more than five Temporary Event Notices a year, but otherwise would not require one.
You must apply to the local authority where you normally live, and your licence will always remain with that local authority, even if you move elsewhere.
What is a designated premises supervisor?
All premises operating under a Premises Licence to sell or supply alcohol must appoint a Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) for the premises. There can only be one DPS per premises.
The DPS will normally be the person in overall charge, or day to day control, of the premises. You should therefore choose this person with care.
Applicants must nominate the DPS on their application form for a premises licence. This person does not have to be on the premises at all times, however they must take responsibility for what happens there.
This means the DPS should ensure any staff they appoint are appropriately trained in the requirements of the Licensing Act 2003 and of any specific conditions attached to the Premises Licence.
A person cannot become a DPS unless they are also a Personal Licence Holder.
How do I apply for a personal licence?
Applicants must be over the age of 18. You must submit the following to the Licensing Authority:
- A copy of your completed pdf personal licence application form (345 KB)
- A copy of your pdf disclosure of convictions form (273 KB)
- Two passport photographs, one of which is signed verifying the likeness of the photograph to the applicant by a solicitor, notary, a person of standing in the community or any individual with a professional qualification. It must have a statement verifying the likeness, a signature alone is not acceptable.
- Proof that you hold a Licensing Qualification that has been accredited by the Secretary of State. You must forward your original certificate. You can find a list of approved qualifications onGOV.UK .
- Your Criminal Record Certificate. These can be obtained either from the Disclosure and Barring Service website (apply for a Basic Disclosure). You must ensure that the certificate is issued no earlier than one calendar month before the submission of the application to Bristol City Council.
- Evidence of your right to licence.
- Application fee of £37. To pay, either:
- send a cheque or postal order, payable to Bristol City Council, to: Licensing Team (100TS),Bristol City Council, PO Box 3399, Bristol, BS1 9NE
- call 0117 3574 900 to make a telephone payment.
To make a telephone payment we must have already received your application, put a note on your application to state you will be making a telephone payment.
Right to licence check
As of 6 April 2017, any person applying for a licence must provide proof that they are eligible to reside and work in the UK. This may be a photocopy of the relevant document, or with a share code.
See our Licence and Immigration Act 2016 page for information on the Immigration Act 2016, links to the documents we can accept, and how to get a share code.
What happens if my application is granted?
You will be issued with a photocard and a paper licence.
How long are personal licences valid for?
Personal licences previously were valid for 10 years. However a change to the law means that from 1 April 2015 Personal Licences are valid indefinitely. If you already hold a personal licence that would have expired after this date, it is now valid indefinitely unless you have surrendered it, it was revoked, or you no longer have the right to reside and work in the UK.
Can I still apply if I have relevant convictions on application?
If you have relevant convictions on submitting your application, the police are given 14 days to object to the grant of the licence. If the Licensing Authority receive an objection the application will be placed before the Licensing Committee.
A list of relevant convictions can be found in the Licensing Act 2003.
What happens if I change my address or name?
If you change your name or address, it's your responsibility to tell us as soon as possible so we can amend your licence.
You'll need to confirm this in writing to us at:
Licensing Team (100TS)
Bristol City Council
PO Box 3399
Bristol
BS1 9NE
You'll also need to return your paper licence and photocard.
If you can't return one or both of these, you will need to write a statement stating why you cannot return these.
A fee of £10.50 is payable for any change of details.
If you're changing your name, we'll need evidence of your name change in addition to the documents above.
What happens if my licence is lost or stolen?
If either your licence card, paper licence or both have been lost or stolen you must report this to the Licensing Authority.
You'll need to pay a fee of £10.50 for a replacement licence.
Fees can be paid by sending a cheque or postal order, payable to Bristol City Council, to: Licensing Team (100 TS), Bristol City Council PO Box 3399, Bristol, BS1 9NE.
Alternatively, a telephone payment can be made, call 0117 3574 900.
How do I surrender my personal licence?
You are required to return your licence to the Licensing Authority together with a signed letter advising that you wish to surrender the licence.
If you want someone else to discuss your application or licence with us on your behalf, you'll need to give us written permission.