Licensing Advice Project

The Licensing Advice Project (LAP) provides a free, independent, impartial and confidential information, advice and representation service to residents, residents’ groups and businesses in Westminster on their rights and responsibilities as ‘interested parties’ relating to Licensing Act 2003 and related legislation; Gambling Act 2005; and Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1985.

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The Licensing Act requires premises intending to sell/supply alcohol by retail, provide late night refreshment or provide regulated entertainment to apply for a premises licence. Premises which already hold a premises licence such as bars, restaurant, nightclubs and pubs can also apply to open later or to change conditions on their licence.

More about the Licensing Act

The Gambling Act covers applications involving betting shops, and requires licensing authorities to ‘aim to permit’ gambling, subject to a number of factors. There are two main types of betting shop application: for a new betting shop, or an extension of hours for an existing betting shop.

More about the Gambling Act

This Act (as amended by Policing and Crime Act 2010) categorises lap-dancing and similar premises as sexual entertainment venues (SEVs). When the amendments to the Act came in to force in it required each premises providing relevant entertainment to reapply for an SEV licence, unless they were exempt under the Act.

More about the Local Government Act

New email address for submitting representations!
August 31, 2022
Residents have in the past been able to send representations to licence-reps@westminster.gov.uk. WCC has informed us that this email address will be no longer in …Read More »
Licensing processes during Covid-19 crisis
March 27, 2020
The measures currently in place to address the crisi are clearly going to have an effect on licensing processes and timescales. Following developments earlier in …Read More »
Licensing advice during Covid-19 pandemic
March 26, 2020
We hope to continue to operate with as little disruption as possible. Our offices are closed until further notice and we are now working from …Read More »
We walked the Legal Walk!
June 20, 2019
The 2019 London@legalwalk took place on Monday 17th June 2019 – and Team Citizens Advice Westminster completed it just under two hours.Read More »