Public Access – Licensing Applications (Businesses)
Our barristers can advise you on the following licensing applications for your business: the sale or supply of alcohol, change of opening hours, and entertainment purposes. Our barristers can also represent you when your application is heard by the local authority licensing committee, and in any appeal to the Magistrates’ Court.
Timescales for our services may vary depending on factors such as barristers’ availability, the complexity of your application and the need for additional documents. As a guide, written advice on your application will be available within two to four weeks where possible.
Hearing dates for local authority licensing committees are set in advance, and our barristers will aim to represent you on your preferred hearing date where possible. If the local authority licensing committee refuses your application, appeals must be made to the Magistrates’ Court within 21 days.
We may charge fixed fees, which means that we will charge you a set amount of money for the work. Below we provide estimates based on the averages of fixed fees for barristers at FTB. All fees include VAT (where applicable). If we charge fixed fees, these may vary depending on your needs – for example, your fees may be towards the higher end of the range if you need a more experienced barrister and/or you have a more complex application. If you have a particularly complex application, your fees may also be higher than the estimates below. There are also likely to be additional costs to factor in regards to Court fees. Reasonable travel expenses may also be charged.
Stage of case Ranges of fixed fees (estimates)
Conferences/Consultations £500 – 6,000
Written advice on your application £250 – £6,000
Preparation, including meetings with you £500 - £5,000
and assistance with drafting of application
Local authority licensing committee hearing £750 - £5,000
Appeal to the Magistrates’ Court – initial hearing £750 – £5,000
Appeal to the Magistrates’ Court – full hearing £2,500 - £15,000
All information is correct as of September 2022, but fees are estimates only. For a quotation, please contact the Clerks on 020 7353 8415 or e-mail clerks@ftbchambers.co.uk.