Licensing Act:  annual fee due

The first annual fees for premises/club licences are due on 24 November 2006.  The new licensing regime requires holders of a premises licence to pay an annual fee to their licensing authority.  A failure to pay the annual fee means that the licensing authority can pursue the sum as a debt. 

The annual fee is due on the anniversary of the date of the grant of the premises licence.  As the Licensing Act 2003 came into force on 24 November 2005, all those premises that converted their previous licences to premises licences will be required to pay the annual fee on 24 November 2006.  Premises that obtained their licences at a later date will need to check the date. 

The amount of annual fee depends on the rateable value of the premises.  The fees range from £70 to £1,150 except where the premises licence permits 5,000 or more people on the premises at one time.  If this is the case, an additional sum ranging from £500 - £32,000 must be paid.  The amount depends on the number of people permitted on the premises. 

Exemptions may apply to educational institutions, church halls, chapel halls, village halls, parish halls, community halls and other similar buildings.

Holders of premises licences should therefore check the date of their premises licence and take steps to pay their annual fee.

Law: Licensing Act 2003 (Fees) Regulations 2005