Personal licences
A Personal Licence allows an individual to authorise sales of alcohol from premises with an appropriate Premises Licence.
Every Premises Licence which allows the supply of alcohol must specify a Personal Licence holder as the Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS), to ensure that at least one Personal Licence holder is associated with each alcohol-related business.
Holders of Personal Licences are also entitled to apply for a greater number of Temporary Event Notices every year than non-holders.
A Personal Licence can be used anywhere in England or Wales - it is not necessary (nor permitted by law) to obtain licences from every local authority in whose area you intend to work. Scotland has separate licensing laws, and English Personal Licences are not valid for use in Scotland (and vice versa).
Qualifications
Personal Licence applications can only be made by individuals who have successfully completed an accredited qualification. Five courses are currently accredited:
The National Certificate for Personal Licence Holder courses are no longer accredited, and should not be taken. Certificates issued before the accreditation expired may still be used to apply for a Personal Licence for a limited time.
For more information about these courses, including details of local training centres, please contact the examining bodies.
Application process
After passing one of the accredited training courses, an application can be made for a Personal Licence, using the prescribed application form.
Applications must be made to the local authority for the area in which the applicant lives, so we can only accept applications from persons living within the London Borough of Lambeth. We may also accept applications from persons who do not live in England or Wales - however, we advise that you contact us prior to making your application to ensure that you follow the correct procedure.
The completed application form should be sent to the Licensing Section, 5th Floor, Blue Star House, 234-244 Stockwell Road, London, SW9 9SP, together with:
- payment of the application fee (£37)
- two passport photos, one of which has been endorsed (by a solicitor, notary, a person of standing in the community or an individual with a professional qualification) with a statement that the photo is a true likeness of the applicant
- the certificate issued after passing the accredited training course
- a completed 'Disclosure of Criminal Convictions' form (supplied with the application form)
- a criminal record certificate, issued within the last month, such as a Basic Disclosure or a Subject Access Search of the Police National Computer.
If an applicant has an unspent conviction for a relevant offence, the Metropolitan Police will be notified of the application and given the opportunity to make representations. If an objection is received, the application would be referred to our Licensing Sub-Committee to be considered in greater detail. Please see our list of relevant offences for further information, or contact us should you wish to enquire about a particular offence or conviction prior to making your application.
Maintenance
Personal Licences come in two parts - a photo card, and a paper counterpart. The holder must ensure that they have at least one part of the licence with them at all times while they are authorising the supply of alcohol, as a police officer or an authorised council officer may ask that it is produced for inspection.
Licence holders are required to notify the licensing authority that issued their licence if they change the name by which they are known, or if they move to a new residential address. We have provided a notification form that can be used for this purpose.
Duration
Personal Licences are valid for a period of 10 years from when they are issued, and will only cease to have effect earlier than this if surrendered by the holder, or if a magistrates court orders a licence to be suspended or forfeited upon conviction for a relevant offence.
An application to renew a Personal Licence can be made 1-3 months before the licence expires. Renewal applications will follow the same procedure as for a new licence, and must be made to the authority that originally issued the licence, even if you have since moved out of that area.
Electronic applications
Personal Licences are not included in the scope of the EU Services Directive, and it is not possible to apply for a Personal Licence online. The application form must be completed on paper and sent to us with the original supporting documents.
Frequently Asked Questions
More Questions and answers on the FAQ page.