London Calling: What the Mayor’s new licensing call-in powers mean in practice

Section 51 of, and Schedule 26 to, the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 amended the Licensing Act 2003 to give the Mayor of London new powers to call-in and determine certain premises licence applications of potential strategic importance to Greater London. On 3 November 2026, the Licensing Act 2003 (Applications of Potential Strategic Importance to Greater London etc and Consequential Amendment) Regulations 2026 ("the Regulations") come into force, confirming which applications are of potential strategic importance ("PSI"), as well as setting out the procedural framework and statutory timescales for the new regime. The s182 Guidance to the Licensing Act 2003 has also been updated in relation to the Mayor's call-in powers.

The call-in power forms part of wider reforms giving the Mayor and Greater London Authority (GLA) a greater role in licensing decisions with implications for the capital. GLA is also now a responsible authority under the Licensing Act 2003, while the Mayor can issue a London-wide Strategic Licensing Policy ("LSLP").

In our view, the significance of the new regime goes beyond the prospect of individual applications being called in. It has the potential to change how strategically significant applications are approached from the outset, with applicants needing to consider London-wide priorities alongside local licensing policy and potentially engage with GLA earlier in the process. Below, we look at what the Regulations mean in practice and the key questions that remain.

What is the call-in process and what do the Regulations confirm?

The call-in process applies to 'relevant licence applications', which are applications for a new premises licence or a full variation where the premises are to be used for the retail of alcohol (particularly for premises that sell alcohol for consumption on the premises), the provision of regulated entertainment, or providing late-night refreshment.  Such premises include, but are not limited to, pubs, bars, restaurants, nightlife spaces, cafés, beer gardens, hotels, festivals, and events. The draft LSLP also indicates the Mayor does not intend to use the call-in powers in relation to premises that engage primarily in off sales of alcohol, such as off-licences, supermarkets, convenience stores, and other retail outlets primarily selling alcohol for takeaway. Excluded from the call-in process are temporary event notices, club premises certificates, SEV licences and Gambling Act premises licences. The call-in powers do not apply to reviews or summary reviews.

Importantly, the Regulations now confirm what is a PSI application, which is where a relevant licence application falls into one of the following five categories:

1. Premises in Fee Band D or E;
2. Licensable activities proposed after 11pm at premises in Fee Band B or C;
3. A premises with a proposed maximum occupancy exceeding 5,000 persons;
4. A premises licence that is for a limited period of less than three months; or
5. A premises licence that includes live music at premises in Fee Band B or C.

The actual call-in process begins at the point of application and involves a series of notifications, all of which must be transmitted electronically in a form that is capable of being accessed, reproduced and stored by the recipient, and is "legible in all material respects".

First, the licensing authority must notify Greater London Authority (GLA) of any relevant application. This should be done as soon as is practicable (which is expected to be within one working day).

Upon receipt of a valid notice, GLA mustnotify interested parties within ten working days whether the application should be formally treated as an application of potential strategic importance. If the PSI criteria are not met, then notice does not need to be given.

Upon receipt of that notice, the London licensing authority must advertise it as soon as is reasonably practicable and for five working days before the end of the consultation period for the application.

Any responsible authority wishing to make a representation must do so by the end of the application's consultation period. Where the London licensing authority then proceeds to determine the application at a hearing, GLA is entitled to participate much like residents and other responsible authorities who object.

In any event, the licensing authority must always notify GLA of a hearing, including its date, time, place, relevant procedure, and representations, no later than 10 working days before the hearing.

Then, within five working days of the last day of the hearing, the licensing authority must provide the Mayor's office with a statement of the determination and reasons, along with a copy of the record of proceedings, any officer's report, and all other documents before the committee. In cases where a decision is made without a hearing, then the London licensing authority must send notice to GLA as soon as possible.

Where an application is granted in full, there is no further action for GLA to take. Where an application is declined completely or approved with conditions, the Mayor's office then has 20 working days to consider the determination. The 20 working days start only from the day on which the licensing authority has complied with its post-hearing notification obligations. During this time, the licensing authority's decision does not take effect.

During the 20 working days, the Mayor has to decide whether to either:

• let the licensing authority's original decision stand (take effect) and so the application is either declined or granted with conditions; or
• "call-in" the application and use his discretionary power to substitute the determination by giving a direction.

The direction given may:

• Have the same substantive outcome as the licensing authority's original decision (that the application is either declined or granted with conditions). In such cases, for example, the reasons given by licensing authority may be too locally narrow and the Mayor arrives at the same substantive result by applying different strategic reasoning.
• Grant the application in full or with less restrictive conditions than those imposed. Such grant may also exclude licensable activities that were excluded by the local licensing authority's decision. It may also refuse to specify a particular person as the designated premises supervisor where the local licensing authority refused to do so.

Importantly, the Mayor can only reject an application if the London licensing authority rejected the application in their initial decision.

Once the Mayor's office has signed off its decision, notice of the decision must be given to the interested parties within five working days.

The London licensing authority must then advertise as soon as reasonably practicable and keep published the Mayor's decision until the licence is revoked, surrendered, or — in the case of a time-limited licence — until the licensed period has ended.

The local London licensing authority must send out a formal notification to the applicant of the outcome of the application following the Mayor's decision to let the licensing authority's decision stand or to issue a direction granting the application in full or with less restrictive conditions.

The 21-day appeal window starts on the day the local London licensing authority sends out its formal notification to the applicant of the outcome.

Where the call-in power is exercised, the Mayor's substituted decision becomes the operative decision, and it is the Mayor's decision that is subject to appeal. Courts considering such appeals shall have regard to the LSLP.

Key questions

Author: Claire Morris

This publication is intended for general guidance and represents our understanding of the relevant law and practice as at November 2026. Specific advice should be sought for specific cases. For more information see our terms & conditions.‍