Personal licences and designated premises supervisors

The Licensing Act 2003 requires all alcohol sold by retail to be authorised by a person holding a personal licence and from premises licensed for the purpose.

Every premises that holds a premises licence must have a personal licence holder named on that premises licence as The Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS). The DPS is usually the manager of the premises with overall responsibility.

There can only be one DPS at any premises, but there can be as many personal licence holders as the premises wish.

Applying for a personal licence

Applicants for a personal licence must apply to the local licensing authority for where they normally reside. This may not necessarily be the same authority that cover the premises in which they work.

To apply for a personal licence the applicant must hold the level 2 award for personal licence holders. Details of these courses and further details can be found from the Home Office website.

For further information on applying for a personal licence and for application forms please contact us. You cannot apply for this licence online.

Designated premises supervisor

The role of the designated premises supervisor (DPS) is to ensure that there is always one specified individual to take day-to-day responsibility for running licensed premises and to liaise with the responsible authorities. Only one DPS may be specified on a premises licence and must hold a personal licence in order for alcohol to be sold from those premises.

Police objections

The police may object to the designation of a new premises supervisor in exceptional circumstances where they believe that the appointment would undermine the crime prevention objective.

Review of licences

The police can, at any stage after the appointment of the DPS, seek a review of a premises licence on any grounds relating to the licensing objectives if they are being undermined by the performance of the DPS.

Applying to change the Designated Premises Supervisor

The DPS is usually named at the outset on applications for new premises licences. A premises licence holder can apply to change the DPS by varying the premises licence under Section 37 of the Licensing Act to name a new one.

Application forms can be obtained from the Licensing Authority or you can apply online here.

For further information please contact the Legal and Licensing section.