If you're planning to serve alcohol, offer late-night food, or provide entertainment at your business, you may have come across two different types of licences: Personal Licence and Premises Licence.
While they often go hand-in-hand, they serve very different purposes. Let’s break it down.
What is a Personal Licence?
A Personal Licence is tied to an individual, not a location. This licence authorises the person to sell alcohol or supervise others doing so. Every premises that sells alcohol must have at least one Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS), and that person must hold a valid Personal Licence.
The Personal Licence holder is responsible for ensuring that alcohol sales follow the law. For example, they must prevent sales to underage customers and handle any issues with disorderly conduct.
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Get startedWhat is a Premises Licence?
A Premises Licence allows a specific location (your business premises) to carry out licensable activities. These activities typically include:
- Selling alcohol
- Serving hot food and drink after 11 pm
- Providing live or recorded music, dance, or entertainment
The licence specifies the permitted activities, the hours they’re allowed, and any conditions the business must follow (such as noise limits or security requirements). Importantly, this licence stays with the premises, not the individual, if the business changes hands, the new owner can usually transfer the premises licence into their own name or the new company's name.
Key Differences
| Licence | Personal | Premises |
|---|---|---|
| Holder | Individual | Property |
| Required for | Supervision | Alcohol sales |
| Transferable | No | Yes |
Do I Need Both Licences?
In most cases, yes - if you want to sell alcohol:
- Your business needs a Premises Licence.
- Someone involved in day-to-day alcohol sales must hold a Personal Licence and act as the Designated Premises Supervisor.
If you're only offering entertainment or late-night refreshments without alcohol, you do not need a Personal Licence, but you’ll still require a Premises Licence.
If you are an individual, who's been asked to get a Personal Licence for the purposes of their employment, you only need a Personal Licence.
