About premises licences

You need a premises licence to provide late night refreshments, regulated entertainment and to sell alcohol in premises within Woking Borough. 

A 'premises' is defined as any place and includes a vehicle, vessel or moveable structure. The licence allows the holder to use the premises to which it relates for licensable activities.

Licensable activities

The following are licensable activities:

  • sale by retail of alcohol
  • provision of regulated entertainment
  • provision of late night refreshment
  • regulated entertainment.

Regulated entertainment includes:

  • performance of a play
  • exhibition of a film
  • indoor sporting event
  • boxing or wrestling entertainment
  • performance of live music
  • playing of recorded music
  • performance of dance
  • making music
  • dancing.

A licence for late night refreshment is required if a person is supplying hot food and hot drink to members of the public on or from any premises, for consumption either on or off the premises, between the hours of 11pm and 5am.

Who can apply

The following may apply for a licence, but they must be over 18 years old:

  • anyone who carries on a business in the premises
  • recognised club
  • recognised charity
  • health service body
  • person registered under the Care Standards Act 2000 in relation to an independent hospital
  • anyone discharging a statutory function under Her Majesty’s prerogative
  • person from an educational institute
  • any other permitted person.

Designated premises supervisor (DPS)

If one of your licensable activities is the sale of alcohol, you are required to name a Designated Premises Supervisor on your premises licence.

Provisional statements

You can apply for a provisional statement if you’re considering opening licensed premises.

This means you can prepare new premises with the confidence that a full licence will be granted, providing it is built according to the original operating schedule and plans submitted to us, and there have been no material changes.

Read more about alcohol licensing on the government website

More information

We encourage all new applicants to contact the licensing team for an informal discussion about their proposals before submitting an application. 

Useful links

Apply for a new premises licence

Object to a premises licence application