Premises Licence
You will need to have a Premises Licence if you intend to carry out any of the "licensable activities" on your property as defined by the law. You do not need a premises licence if you have successfully applied for a Temporary Event Notice.
Licensing policy
The Licensing Act 2003 requires Allerdale Borough Council as the Licensing Authority, to prepare and publish a statement of Licensing Policy. The policy sets out principles that the Council generally applies to promote the licensing objectives when making decisions on applications made under this act. Click the link below to download the policy.
Statement of Licensing Policy 2021-2026 289.8 KB
What is meant by "licensable activities"
Licensable activities include:
- selling alcohol
- serving hot food and drinks between 11pm and 5am
You’ll also need a licence if you provide the following types of entertainment:
- theatrical performance
- showing a film
- indoor sporting event
- boxing or wrestling (indoor or outdoor)
- live music
- recorded music
- dance
- facilities for making music
- dancing facilities
You still need a licence even if the activities are for charity.
More information on a premises licence can be found on the Gov.UK website . We recommend you read this before applying for a premises licence.
Apply for a Premises Licence
Unless you have a Temporary Event Notice, and you want to carry out the sorts of activities shown above, then you need to apply to us for a Premises Licence.
The application (form ALL6 below) must be accompanied by:
- an Operating Schedule
- a plan of the premises and if the application is for a Premises Licence which includes authorisation for the supply of alcohol
- a form of consent given by the individual whom the applicant wishes to have specified in the Premises Licence as the Designated Premises Supervisor (this is the accompanying ALL16A form below).
Don't forget to include the relevant fee too - you can find this on our fees and charges document.
Accompanying consent form (ALL16A form)
Other types of Premises Licence applications
Click on the relevant link below to find out more information and to download the application form.
Use this form to apply to make major changes to your Premises Licence.
Send your application to the Licensing Department at our Workington office .
Please note we no longer accept cheques for applications. The fee can be paid over the telephone with a credit/debit card. You can also pay at one of our offices with a credit/debit card. The latest fees and charges can be found on our fees and charges document.
Use these forms to apply to make minor changes to your Premises Licence.
Send your application to the Licensing Department at our Workington office .
Please note we no longer accept cheques for applications. The fee can be paid over the telephone with a credit/debit card. You can also pay at one of our offices using a credit/debit card.The latest fees and charges can be found on our fees and charges document.
You will also need to download the "minor variation template notice" and display it in a public area in your premises.
Use these forms to apply to make major changes to your person named as your Designated Premises Supervisor.
Send your application to the Licensing Department at our Workington office .
Please note we no longer accept cheques for applications. The fee can be paid over the telephone with a credit/debit card. You can also pay at one of our offices using a credit/debit card. The latest fees and charges can be found on our fees and charges document .
Each application must be accompanied with the notice of consent ALL16A form which you can also find below.
Use these forms to apply to make apply to transfer a Premises Licence.
Send your application to the Licensing Department at our Workington office .
Please note we no longer accept cheques for applications. The fee can be paid over the telephone with a credit/debit card. You can also pay at one of our offices using a credit/debit card.The latest fees and charges can be found on our fees and charges document .
Each application must be accompanied with the notice of consent ALL16B form which you can also find below.
Use this form to register an interest in a licensed premises - you may be the freeholder of a property and want to be informed of any changes to the licence.
Send your application to the Licensing Department at our Workington office .
Please note we no longer accept cheques for applications. The fee can be paid over the telephone with a credit/debit card. You can also pay at one of our offices using a credit/debit card. The latest fees and charges can be found on our fees and charges document .
Use this form to make a licensing provisional statement, where a licenseable premises has yet to open to the public.
Send your application to the Licensing Department at our Workington office .
Please note we no longer accept cheques for applications. The fee can be paid over the telephone with a credit/debit card. You can also pay at one of our offices using a credit/debit card. The latest fees and charges can be found on our fees and charges document .
Use this form to make an interim authority notice on a licensed premises. This could be if someone has died, or other circumstances, when you need to make interim arrangements quickly.
Send your application to the Licensing Department at our Workington office .
Please note we no longer accept cheques for applications. The fee can be paid over the telephone with a credit/debit card.You can also pay at one of our offices using a credit/debit card. The latest fees and charges can be found on our fees and charges document .
Use this form to notify us that your Designated Premises Supervisor is no longer responsible for your licensed premises.
Send your application to the Licensing Department at our Workington office .
Please note we no longer accept cheques for applications. The fee can be paid over the telephone with a creidt/debit card.You can also pay at one of our offices using a credit/debit card. The latest fees and charges can be found on our fees and charges document .
Use this form to apply to have a mandatory alcohol condition disapplied to your licence on your premises.
Send your application to the Licensing Department at our Workington office .
Please note we no longer accept cheques for applications. The fee can be paid over the telephone with a credit/debit card.You can also pay at one of our offices using a credit/debit card. The latest fees and charges can be found on our fees and charges document .
Applying for a Premises Licence as a Members Club
If you are a Members Club and carry out any of the licenseable activities, then you will need to apply for a Premises Licence. There are particular forms to apply, and vary, these licences. These are all available to download below.
Send your application to the Licensing Department at our Workington office .
Please note we no longer accept cheques for applications. The fee can be paid over the telephone with a credit/debit card. You can also pay at one of our offices using a credit/debit card. The latest fees and charges can be found on our fees and charges document .
Apply for a Members Club Premises Licence Apply for a variation on a Members Club Premises LicenceExemptions from the need for a Premises Licence
There are a number of exemptions from the requirement to hold a Premises Licence when providing regulated entertainment. However, it should be noted that if alcohol is to be sold or supplied, or late night refreshment provided, a licence will still be required for those activities.
The main exemptions are as follows:-
- Regulated entertainment in places of public religious worship;
- Morris dancing (or similar), or a performance of unamplified live music as an integral part of such dancing;
- Incidental music – the performance of live music or the playing of recorded music if it is incidental to some other activity;
- Garden fetes – or similar if not being promoted or held for purposes of private gain;
- Film exhibitions for the purposes of advertisement, information, education, etc. – if the sole or main purpose of the exhibition of a film is to demonstrate any product; advertise any goods or services, or provide information, education or instruction;
- Film exhibitions at museums and art galleries – where the use of the film is part of the exhibit;
- Television or radio broadcasts – as long as the programme is live and simultaneous (showing prerecorded entertainment would require a licence);
- Vehicles in motion – at a time when the vehicle is not permanently or temporarily parked;
Licensing Act 2003 – Consultation on Statement of Licensing Policy 2023-2028
Cumberland Council was formed on 1 April 2023. Under the Licensing Act 2003, each local authority is required to prepare and publish their statement of policy every five years. The sovereign Licensing Authorities had their own Licensing Policy which were due for review in January 2026. In line with legislation a draft policy has been prepared to produce a Cumberland Council policy. No substantive changes have been made to the contents of the sovereign documents in bringing them together to produce this policy and in principle is identical to the policies previously in place.
Prior to the adoption of the policy there must be a period of consultation with a wide range of organisations, responsible authorities including the Police, Fire Service, Environmental Health, Director of Public Health and other statutory agencies, licence holders, residents and businesses as specified in the legislation.
The statement of policy sets out the principles that Cumberland Council propose to apply in exercising its functions licensing alcohol, entertainment and late night refreshment under the Licensing Act 2003.
The Council is currently undertaking a consultation on its draft Cumberland policy and you have the opportunity to comment as part of this process. The draft policy is available below
A document is available for completion with any comments you may wish to submit. Both documents are also available from Allerdale House, Workington, The Civic Centre, Carlisle and The Market Hall, Whitehaven.
Cumberland Council Consultation Response Form - Licensing Policy 2023 -2028
The Statement will be referred to the Licensing Committee on 2 August 2023 together with any responses to the consultation for their consideration. It will then be presented to Council on 26 September 2023 for adoption. The new policy will be effective from 1 November 2023.
Please return any comments to the Licensing Department, Allerdale House, Workington or by emailing licensing1@cumberland.gov.uk by 11 July 2023.
