Licensing policy
Each licensing authority must determine and publish a statement of licensing policy at least every five years. The City of London Corporation first published its Statement of Licensing Policy in January 2005, which was subsequently reviewed and revised 2022.
The Statement of Licensing Policy document outlines the approach the City of London will take when considering applications for the sale and supply of alcohol, the provision of regulated entertainment and the provision of late night refreshment, with a view to promoting the licensing objectives.
All applicants for premises licences or club premises certificates in the City of London's geographical area are expected to have regard to the City of London's Statement of Licensing Policy, Code of Good Practice for Licensed Premises and Model Conditions when preparing their operating schedules.
For more information on these documents and to download, please refer to the drop down menus below.
If you have any queries please contact us by phone on 020 7332 3406 or by email the Licensing team.
In addition, the City of London Safer City Partnership (SCP) has access to expertise and materials that could assist licensees with various challenges including crime prevention, drug related problems and helping customers to be more aware of their personal safety and crime issues. Please email the Safer City team or call on 020 7332 3808.
Whilst this policy must be reviewed every five years, the City of London will keep its policy under review within this period and make such revisions as it considers appropriate. Any proposed changes to the statement of licensing policy will be subject to a full public consultation.
Through its Licensing Policy, the City of London has introduced a Code of Good Practice for Licensed Premises. The aim of the code is to provide applicants and licensees with guidance on good practice for the promotion of the four licensing objectives of The Licensing Act 2003. It promotes well run premises and a responsible approach to the provision of alcohol, entertainment and late night refreshment in the City of London.
It outlines what the City of London licensing authority and its responsible authority partners expect in practical terms from applicants when completing their operating schedules and from licensees when operating their premises under the terms of a premises licence.
Applicants and licensees are expected to make a proactive commitment to preventing problems from occurring at licensed premises through the voluntary adoption of this code.
Licensees are encouraged to complete a premises self-assessment form, which is designed to help them identify any risks associated with their premises and the measures they can implement to reduce those risks. Adopting the code and implementing any necessary good practice measures shows a commitment by the licence holder to ensuring that their premises contributes to a safe and vibrant night time economy in the City.
If you would like some assistance with completing the self-assessment form, please contact the licensing team by phone on 020 7332 3406 or by emailing the Licensing Team
Applicants are also expected to have regard to the City of London's list of model conditions to help them identify measures they can include in their operating schedule.
The City of London has also introduced a Traffic Light risk assessment scheme to run alongside the Code of Good Practice.
The scheme provides a simple but effective monitoring tool which brings together the findings of the licensing authority and responsible authorities in a way that flags up problematic premises at an early stage.
Advice and support will be offered to problematic premises with a view to improving standards at their premises and to prevent or minimise subsequent problems.
The scheme will be based on a points system where penalty points will be marked against premises for each relevant incident that occurs there. The scheme will also recognise good practice and award credit points where appropriate measures have been implemented and remedy the problem.
Premises will fall into a green, amber or red zone based on their total penalty points at a given time. Premises in amber or red zone will be required to complete a self assessment form and agree an improvement action plan with the licensing authority and/or relevant responsible authority. The aim of the scheme is to avoid the need for enforcement action by supporting premises to improve standards at their premises and keep them in the green zone.