A personal licence is a licence granted to an individual by their local council that allows them to sell alcohol, or to authorise other people to sell it, at any premises that holds a premises licence in England and Wales. To get one you complete the Level 2 Award for Personal Licence Holders (APLH), obtain a basic criminal record certificate, and apply to the council where you live with a fee of £37. It takes about two weeks, and once granted it never expires.
This guide explains who needs one, what it lets you do, how to get it and the rules that come with it, under the Licensing Act 2003.
What a personal licence lets you do
Alcohol can only be sold under a premises licence if there is a designated premises supervisor (DPS) named on it who holds a personal licence, and every individual sale must be made or authorised by a personal licence holder. The licence itself does not let you sell alcohol anywhere you like: the premises still needs its own licence. What it does is make you one of the people who can lawfully be responsible for those sales.
Be the designated premises supervisor
The DPS is the person in day-to-day control of alcohol sales at a venue, named on the premises licence. Only a personal licence holder can be DPS, and every premises licence authorising alcohol must name one.
Authorise sales by staff
Bar staff do not each need a licence. A personal licence holder can authorise them, ideally in writing, and remains responsible for making sure the sales are lawful.
Give more Temporary Event Notices
A personal licence holder can give up to 50 TENs a year instead of 5, useful for event organisers and pop-ups.
Work at any licensed premises
The licence is portable. It is granted by the council where you live and is valid at any licensed premises in England and Wales.
Who needs a personal licence
- Anyone who will be the designated premises supervisor at a pub, bar, restaurant, hotel, shop, club or any other premises selling alcohol
- Managers and senior staff who need to authorise sales when the DPS is not there
- People running a business that holds a premises licence, so that the licence does not depend on an employee who might leave
- Event organisers who need more than 5 Temporary Event Notices a year
You do not need one to serve alcohol as a member of staff under someone else's authorisation, to sell alcohol at a members' club operating under a club premises certificate, or to run an event under a Temporary Event Notice that you have given yourself.
How to get a personal licence
- 1
Complete the APLH qualification
The Level 2 Award for Personal Licence Holders is a short accredited course, a few hours online or one day in a classroom, ending in a multiple-choice exam. It covers the Licensing Act 2003, the four licensing objectives, the mandatory conditions and the law on underage and irresponsible sales. Barnab's course includes a free mock exam.
- 2
Obtain a basic DBS certificate
A basic disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service, showing unspent convictions. It must be dated within one month of your application. If you have lived abroad in the last ten years you will also need a certificate from that country.
- 3
Gather the rest of the paperwork
Two passport photographs, one endorsed as a true likeness; proof of your right to work in the UK; the disclosure of convictions form; and the application form for the council where you live.
- 4
Apply to your home council
The application goes to the licensing authority for the area where you normally live, not where you work, with the £37 fee. Most councils accept it online. Barnab prepares and submits it for you.
- 5
Police check and grant
The council must grant the licence if you are 18 or over, hold the qualification, have not had a personal licence forfeited in the last five years and have no unspent relevant offence. If you declare a relevant offence the police have 14 days to object, which leads to a hearing. Otherwise the licence is issued within about two weeks.
What it costs and how long it takes
| Item | Cost | Time |
|---|---|---|
| APLH course and exam | Course fees vary by provider; included in Barnab's fee | A few hours to one day |
| Basic DBS certificate | £21.50 | Usually a few days |
| Council application fee | £37 | Set by regulation, the same in every council |
| Council decision | Included | About two weeks |
| Barnab personal licence service | £150 + VAT, including the course and mock exam | About two weeks end to end |
Relevant offences and the police
The Licensing Act lists the relevant offences that matter for a personal licence. They include offences of dishonesty, violence, drugs, sexual offences, driving offences involving drink or drugs, and offences under licensing law itself. If you have an unspent conviction for one, the council tells the police, who can object within 14 days on crime prevention grounds. A hearing follows and the council decides. A conviction for a relevant offence after the licence is granted can lead to the court ordering forfeiture or suspension, and you must tell the court that you hold a licence when you appear.
Personal licence vs premises licence
| Personal licence | Premises licence | |
|---|---|---|
| Held by | An individual | A business, for a place |
| Allows | Making or authorising alcohol sales at licensed premises | Alcohol sales, late night refreshment and entertainment at that place |
| Applied for at | The council where you live | The council where the premises are |
| Fee | £37 | £100 to £1,905 by rateable value |
| Lasts | Indefinitely | Indefinitely, with an annual fee |
| Needed by | The DPS and anyone who authorises sales | Any venue carrying out licensable activities |
Most new venues need both: the premises licence for the building and a personal licence for the person who will be DPS. If you are opening a venue, our guide to getting a premises licence covers the other half, and Barnab's combined package handles both applications together.
Need a personal licence?
Course, mock exam, DBS coordination and the council application in one place. Barnab prepares everything and submits to your home council. £150 + VAT, about two weeks.
Start my personal licenceFrequently asked questions
How long does it take to get a personal licence?
About two weeks from applying to the council, provided the application is complete. Add a few days for the APLH course and exam and for the basic DBS certificate, which must be less than one month old when you apply. Barnab's end-to-end service, course included, usually completes in two weeks.
Can I get a personal licence without a job?
Yes. The licence is personal to you, not tied to a venue or employer. Many people get one before taking a bar management role, and bar staff who hold one can authorise sales themselves rather than waiting for the DPS.
Does a personal licence need renewing?
No. Since 1 April 2015 personal licences have no expiry date. You must tell the council that issued it if you change your name or address, and you must tell the court and the council if you are charged with or convicted of a relevant offence.
What if I have a criminal conviction?
Declare it. The council must notify the police of any unspent relevant offence, and the police can object within 14 days. If they object there is a hearing, and the council refuses only if granting would undermine the crime prevention objective. Spent convictions and offences that are not relevant offences do not count. Lying on the form is itself a relevant offence.
How many personal licence holders does a venue need?
At least one: the designated premises supervisor named on the premises licence. Every sale must be made or authorised by a personal licence holder, but authorisation can be given in writing to staff who do not hold one, so a single holder can cover a venue. In practice having a second holder on the rota covers holidays and illness.
