Scotland Licensing applications for business premises

Pricing

We are transparent about our pricing and will seek to agree a fixed or capped fee with you for some or all of the work we carry out for you, based on what you need us to do and how we will go about delivering on that for you.

Where we cannot fix or cap our fee we will let you know what the cost will be of taking agreed steps or achieving/reaching a particular point in the work we are carrying out for you. This will be based on our hourly rates and the time we anticipate spending on carrying out the work.

We will keep you fully informed about what we are doing, how we are resourcing the work and if what we are doing changes, agree a revised fee with you.

Liquor applications under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005

Our cost to you for making applications for a new premises licence under sections 20 of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005.

Our fee will ordinarily be within the fee ranges set out below, depending upon the nature/circumstances surrounding the application:

• Simple application: £1,750 - £2,000 exc VAT
• Medium complexity: £2,000 - £2,500 exc VAT
• High complexity: £2,500 - £3,500 exc VAT

Our cost to you for making applications to vary an existing premises licence under section 29 of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005.
Our fee will ordinarily be within the fee ranges set out below, depending upon the nature/circumstances surrounding the application:

• Simple application: £1,250 - £1,500 exc VAT
• Medium complexity: £1,500 - £1,750 exc VAT
• High complexity: £1,750 - £2,500 exc VAT

Our cost to you for making applications to transfer an existing premises licence under sections 33 or 24 of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005.
Our fee will ordinarily be between £500 and £600 ex vat.

Our cost to you for dealing with application for an occasional licence, extended hours certificate , or review of a premises licence.
We are happy to agree to a fixed fee in relation to the aforementioned applications having discussed the scope of the work involved. The fixed fee will be based on our hourly rates and the time.

Factors affecting complexity may include (but are not limited to) whether there is a overprovision policy in place, the type and size of the premises, the history of activity at/previous applications in relation to the premises, the approach of the licensing board to which the application will be submitted, and whether the premises is in a residential area.

Key stages of the transaction

The fee includes:

• Taking your instructions and advising you as to how you can promote the licensing objectives within your application.
• Advising you on the type of plans you are required to submit with your application.
• Completing the application form (including the operating plan) in accordance with your instructions and submitting this to the relevant licensing board alongside suitable plans. You must provide suitable plans.
• Providing guidance on the fee levels payable to the licensing board.
• Arranging with you for you to display the notice advertising the premises licence application and advising as to where and how this should be done by you in order to comply with the requirements of the 2005 Act.
• For applications for new premises licences, drafting and submitting subject, to your input, to the licensing board a disabled access and facilities statement and statement of licensing objectives (where necessary).
• Checking the premises licence once granted and correcting any errors with the licensing board and issuing a certificated copy of said premises licence.

The fee does not include:

• Obtaining suitable plans.
• Attending pre-consultation meetings with the statutory consultees.
• Attendance at subsequent licensing board meetings should the application be continued.

Our fee will ordinarily be

• Work involved to confirm a provisional premises licence. 
• A hearing in relation to a transfer of premises licence our fee will ordinarily be, occasional licence or extended hour’s certificate. We will agree a fixed fee based on our hourly rates and the time. 

Disbursements

Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as the application fee. We will pay the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process (subject to receiving payment of said disbursements from you in advance).

Application fee (payable to licensing board)

Fees for new applications for premises licences or variations to premises licences are set by the relevant licensing board. Applications for premises licences depend upon the rateable value of the premises licence. We will confirm the appropriate fees at the outset. 

Fees for other applications are as follows:

• Minor variation (DPM change): £31
• Minor variation (other): £20
• Occasional licence: £10
• Extended hours: £10

Other fees

• Enquiry agent fees to display public notices £*
• Printing additional copies of plans if necessary £*

*These fees vary depending on the individual premises and where it is located. We will give you an accurate figure for each item as soon as we are able to do so.

How long will it take for my application to be granted?

The timescales for the processing of an application depends largely on the licensing board processing it. Processing timescales tend to average out around four to six months.  

NB. The fees set out above apply to Scotland only.

Our cost to you for making applications for a new premises licence under Section 159 of the Gambling Act 2005 and applications to vary a premises licence under Section 187 of the Gambling Act 2005 Gambling Act 2005 Gambling Act 2005 Gambling Act 2005.

Our fee will ordinarily be within the fee ranges set out below, depending upon the nature/circumstances surrounding the application:

• Simple application: £1,000 to £1,500 exc VAT
• Medium complexity: £1,500 - £2,500 exc VAT
• High complexity: £2,500 - £10,000 exc VAT

Factors affecting complexity may include the terms of the licensing board’s policy, the type and size of the premises, the history of activity at/previous applications in relation to the premises, the approach of the licensing board to which the application will be submitted, and the proposed operation’s compliance with the Gambling Commission Local Conditions and Codes of Practice.

The fee includes:

• Taking your instructions and advising you as to how you can promote the licensing objectives within your application.
• Advising you on the type of plans you are required to submit with your application.
• Completing the application form for a new or variation of premises licence in accordance with your instructions and submitting this to the licensing board alongside suitable plans. You must provide suitable plans.
• Providing guidance on the fee levels payable to the licensing board.
• Preparing notices for disclosure to the responsible authorities and serving copies of the application on the responsible authorities.
• Drafting the notices advertising the premises licence application and submitting the notice to the local newspaper.
• Arranging with you for you to display the notice(s) advertising the premises licence application and advising as to where and how this should be done by you in order to comply with the requirements of the Gambling Act 2005.
• Checking the premises licence once granted and correcting any errors with the local authority.

The fee does not include:

• Obtaining suitable plans.
• Attending pre-consultation meetings with the licensing board or responsible authorities.
• Attendance and representation at a licensing sub-committee hearing of the responsible authority. If representations are received and attendance and representation at a licensing board meeting is required then we will provide a separate fee estimate for this work which will be normally be a fixed fee ranging between £500 and £1,500 exc vat. 

Disbursements

Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as the application fee. We will pay the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.

Application fee (payable to licensing authority)
Fees for new applications for premises licences or variations to premises licences are set by statue. We will confirm the appropriate fee at the outset. 

Advertising fee
The application must be advertised in a local newspaper. The cost of the newspaper advert will vary depending on the size of the advert and the paper it is placed in. The advert costs are generally in the region of £400 to 600 ex VAT.

Other fees

• Enquiry agent fees to display public notices £*
• Printing additional copies of plans if necessary £*

*These fees vary depending on the individual premises and where it is located. We will give you an accurate figure for each item as soon as we are able to do so.

How long will it take for my application to be granted?

The timescales for the processing of an application depends largely on the licensing board processing it. Processing timescales tend to average out around four to six months.  

NB. The fees set out above apply to Scotland Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 only.