Personal alcohol licence

Under the Licensing Act 2003, a personal licence permits you to:

• sell or supply alcohol under an authorised premises licence or temporary event notice
• use it anywhere in England or Wales but does have some conditions for use
• give 50 temporary event notices each year

You must hold a personal licence if you want to be the named designated premises supervisor on a premises licence. 

You will not need a personal licence under a club premises certificate.

Fee

For prices, view our alcohol and entertainment licensing fees.

The application fee is non-refundable. This includes applications that are rejected (where we have started to process the application and have undertaken checks) as well as applications which are withdrawn, discontinued or have been refused by the Licensing Committee. You are advised to check your application thoroughly before submitting it or seek professional advice if you are unsure of your requirements.

New applications

Applicants must:

• be over 18
• be able to prove your right to work in the United Kingdom
• not have forfeited a personal licence in the previous 5 years
• not already hold a personal licence issued by another authority
• declare any relevant offence or foreign offence

On the application, you will need:

• an accredited or certified personal license qualification
• a basic disclosure and barring service (DBS) issued within the last month
• a copy of your proof of entitlement to work in the UK or your 9-digit share code from the right to work service
• a photograph which is endorsed as a true likeness of you by a solicitor or notary, a person of standing in the community or any individual with a professional qualification

Photographs must be:

• taken against a light background so that the applicant’s features are distinguishable and contrast against the background
• of your full face uncovered and without sunglasses and, unless the applicant wears a head covering due to his religious beliefs, without a head covering

To endorse the photograph the signatory must:

• be someone who is know to you but not your spouse or relative
• confirm in writing that the photograph is a true likeness of you
• both print and sign their name
• confirm the capacity in which they are signing - if they are signing as a person of standing in the community they must state what that position is e.g. a bank or building society official, a police officer, a civil servant or a minister of religion. If they are signing as an individual with a professional qualification they must state their qualification which we will expect to be a graduate level 6 and above professional qualification.

You cannot submit an application if you do not have the required documents. 

Next steps

We will check your application and if it is considered valid we will consult the Police. 

The Police can object to a personal licence application on grounds of crime and disorder. If there is no representation by the Police the licence will be granted. If there is a representation by the Police a hearing will be held by our licensing sub-committee.

If there is no representation to your application we will process and issue it within 28 days of the date it was deemed valid. 

Appeal

Please contact us in the first instance:

• email: [email protected]

You may appeal against a decision within 21 days of the date we notified you to the local Magistrates Court:

Clerk to the Justices
Northamptonshire Magistrates Court
85 to 87 Lady’s Lane
Northampton
NN1 3HQ

Phone: 01604 497000

Change your licence

You have a legal duty to notify us if you:

• change your name or address
• lost or had your licence stolen
• need to disclose a conviction, civil immigration penalty or any other relevant offences

You will need:

• to upload a photograph which is endorsed as a true likeness of you by a solicitor or notary, a person of standing in the community or any individual with a professional qualification. We will need a clear copy of the photograph and a second upload with its endorsement (see our new applications section above for further photograph requirements)
• and if changing your name, to upload proof of name change e.g. deed poll, marriage certificate, decree absolute.

Convictions, civil immigration penalty or other relevant offences

You have a legal duty to notify us if you are convicted of a relevant offence or civil immigration penalty. 

You must send details of the nature and date of the conviction and any sentence or penalty imposed to the Licensing team at: [email protected]. We will also require you to send us both parts of your licence.

Last updated 06 February 2025