Licensing
The Licensing Act 2003 covers a broad spectrum of licensable activities within a multitude of business sectors and certain activities specific to individuals. It is essential that businesses requiring a license to trade meet stringent regulatory legislation criteria and public safety regulations.
Licensing issues covered include:
Alcohol Licensing Applications (Premises and Personal), Entertainment & Temporary Event Notices, Licence Review Hearings Closure Orders Magistrates Court Appeals Trading Standards Health & Safety Food Safety Fire Safety venue licenses, adult entertainment licensing, gambling & gaming licences & online gaming licenses, taxi licensing, outside table and chair licences and sale and purchase of licensed property, shotgun & firearms, street trading, scrap metal, waste disposal.
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
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.
Additional costs
If required, travel and hotel expenses are charged at cost and included within the fixed fee unless stated.
For court fees please see https://www.gov.uk/court-fees-what-they-are
Rates
We 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 ranges of fixed fees for barristers at Quartz Barristers Chambers. All fees include VAT (where applicable), each barrister profile states if they are VAT registered.
The fixed fees 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 case. If you have a particularly complex case, your fees may also be higher than the estimates below.
There are also likely to be additional costs for time spent in correspondence via telephone/video conferences or drafting documents. The cost will be fixed and agreed in advance based upon the barrister’s hourly rate as stated on their profile.
An indication of our range of typical fixed fees are listed below:
| Stage of Case | Ranges of fixed fees (estimate) |
| Written advice on your application | £750 – £1580 |
| Advising in face to face conference | £750 – £1580 |
| Advising by telephone/video conference | £500 – £1185 |
| Assistance with drafting of application | £500 – £1185 |
| Local authority licensing committee hearing | £1000 – £2500 |
| Appeal to Magistrates’ Court – initial hearing | £1250 – £2500 |
| Appeal to the Magistrates’ Court – full hearing | £1500 – £3000 |
All information is correct as of 21/12/22, but fees are estimates only. For the most accurate fee estimate, please contact the clerks on 0115 8961983 or clerks@quartzbarristers.co.uk