Licence - Personal licence

Licence summary

To supply or authorise the sale of alcohol, you need a licence from the local authority if you are in England and Wales. The personal licence is separate from the licence which authorises the premises to be used for the supply of alcohol.

A personal licence does not authorise its holder to supply alcohol anywhere, but only from establishments with a premises licence authorising the supply of alcohol in accordance with the premises licence. An individual may hold only one personal licence at any one time.

A personal licence is issued for ten years in the first instance and can be renewed on application for a further ten years if the licence holder has not been convicted of any relevant or foreign offence.

Applicants for personal licences will need to obtain an accredited qualification first. The aim of the qualification is to ensure that licence holders are aware of licensing law and the wider social responsibilities attached  to the sale of alcohol. Personal licence qualification providers are accredited by the Secretary of State. Download the full list of accredited personal licence qualification providers (PDF 38kb).

Quick Guide to applying for a personal licence

Basic criminal record checks

Basic criminal record checks can be obtained from Disclosure Scotland. For further details call their helpline number: 0870 609 6006, or visit their website at http://www.disclosurescotland.co.uk/

Eligibility Criteria

 All of the following apply to a personal licence:

• the applicant is aged 18 or over
• no personal licence held by him has been forfeited within the period of five years before making the application
• he possesses an accredited licensing qualification, or is a person of prescribed description
• he has not been convicted of any relevant or foreign offence  

Regulation Summary

A summary of the regulation relating to this licence
 

Application Evaluation Process

Applications must be sent to the licensing authority for the area where you live.

Fee

A fee of £37 is payable for this application. This can be paid by cheque or using a bank card.
 

Apply by Post  

If you want to apply for a personal licence by post download the Application for a Personal Licence (word) or Application for a Personal Licence (pdf) and Personal Licence Disclosure (word) or Personal Licence Disclosure (pdf) and send it to us with the licensing fee of £37.
 

Failed Application Redress

Please contact your Local Authority in the first instance.
Any applicant who is refused a licence can appeal to their local Magistrates' court.
 

Contact Us

Licensing Team
Council Offices
High Street
Coleford
Gloucestershire GL16 8HG

Tel: 01594 812402
Fax: 01594 812590
Email: Licensing@fdean.gov.uk