Introduction
If you want to sell or authorise the sale of alcohol, you may need a personal licence.
You will need a personal licence to become a designated premises supervisor (DPS) of a premises that sells alcohol.
This is detailed in The Licensing Act 2003 (Personal licences) Regulations 2005. Instances when a personal licence is not needed are listed in Section 192 of the Act.
Since the Deregulation Act 2015 came into force, personal licences do not need to be renewed. All personal licences carry on indefinitely, until they are surrendered or revoked.
Apply for a personal licence
The statutory fee to apply for a licence is £37. This is not refunded if a licence is refused.
You will need to upload the following:
- two photographs of yourself, one of which is endorsed as a true likeness of yourself by a solicitor or notary, a person of standing in the community or any individual with a professional qualification
- a criminal conviction certificate, a criminal record certificate, or the results of a subject access search of the police national computer by the National Identification Service. You can request a basic DBS check suitable for the application on Request a basic DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check (gov.uk) website
- a completed disclosure of criminal convictions and declaration form
- proof of your right to work in the United Kingdom. You can find out how to prove your right to work on Prove your right to work to an employer (gov.uk) website.
If you have convictions which are ‘relevant’ under Schedule 4 of the Licensing Act 2003, we will consult with the Police. A Licensing Officer will contact you to explain the next steps if this happens.
Licences are issued and dispatched within 14 days of an application being granted.
Licence holders who change name or address
Personal licence holders have a duty under section 127 of the Licensing Act 2003 to notify the licensing authority that granted them a licence, as soon as reasonably practicable, if they have changed their name and/or address.
It is an offence if a personal licence holder fails to notify the licensing authority without a reasonable excuse. Notice must be given in writing by completing the Change of name or address for a personal licence holder form.
The statutory fee for notifying the licensing authority and having a new licence issued is £10.50.
To give notice, first pay the fee using Pay Licensing Fee form. Once you have paid the fee, please refer to Where to send your completed form section.
Request a replacement licence
A personal licence holder may apply to the licensing authority that granted them a licence for a replacement where the previous one was lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed. You can apply for a replacement by completing the Apply for replacement personal licence form.
The statutory fee for applying is £10.50.
To apply, first pay the fee using Pay Licensing Fee form. Once you have paid the fee, please refer to Where to send your completed form section.
Where to send your completed form
Once you have paid the fee, send the completed form to your local licensing team along with a recent passport style photograph.
- Mendip (East): licensing.mendip@somerset.gov.uk
- Sedgemoor (North): licensing.sedgemoor@somerset.gov.uk
- Somerset West and Taunton (West): environmentalhealth.west@somerset.gov.uk
- South Somerset (South): licensing.south@somerset.gov.uk