Alcohol and entertainment

Licensing in England and Wales

Licensing Act 2003

The Licensing Act 2003 (LA 2003) consolidated the regulation licensing of alcohol and entertainment. It moved authorisation of licensing applications from the magistrates’ court to local authorities.

Responsibility for the grant and review of premises licences lies with the relevant licensing authority, which is the local authority for the relevant area. Each licensing authority must establish a licensing committee consisting of at least 10, but not more than 15, members of the authority. Certain functions may be delegated. See also Practice Note: Licensing committees and the relevant paragraphs in the Revised guidance issued under section 182 of the Licensing Act 2013 entitled ‘Administration, exercise and delegation of functions’ (para 14.69), which includes a table setting out a recommended scheme of delegation

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