Licensed premises
If you apply for a license, the licensing authority (usually your local council) must consult Kent Fire and Rescue Service before granting one. We will check that the fire safety provisions you have are sufficient for the safety of the public and anyone who is in or uses the premises.
When you need to apply for a licence
If your business needs or wishes to
you will need to apply to your local council for a licence. This applies to indoor, outdoor and temporary events.
What sort of licence you will need
There are different types of licence. The sort of licence you need will depend on your business activity.
Information on licences and how to apply for a licence for your premises can be found on the .Gov website or on the licensing section of the website of your local council.
Types of licence include:
- personal licence - which relates to the sale of alcohol and attaches to the person who supervises the place where alcohol is sold
- premises licence - your premises will need a licence if you wish to sell alcohol, provide entertainment, or hot food and drinks between 11pm and 5am
- club premises certificate – this applies to social, sporting and political clubs where alcohol and/or entertainment is provided to members
- temporary event notice
- Approval of premises for civil marriage and civil partnership licence
- House in multiple occupation licence
What KFRS will do when you apply for a licence
When you apply for a licence, your local council are required by law to notify and consult KFRS during a 28-day ‘consultation period’. This is because they need to consider certain things including public safety, before granting a licence.
Once the local council have notified us of your application for a licence we will contact you to check that you have carried out a fire risk assessment and ask to see it. We may also visit and inspect your premises to check that you have appropriate fire safety provisions in place.
We may also ask you to:
Provide a scale plan
Your plan should detail your fire safety provisions such as exits and routes, alarms, emergency lighting etc, the fire safety provisions you have in place and show:
- available exits and associated routes
- fire alarm if fitted
- emergency lighting
- location of firefighting equipment
Section 2.9 of the Government 'Premises licence guidance' provides helpful information about the information your plan should show.
Calculate the occupancy of your premises
You will need to calculate the occupancy of your premises so that you can:
- state the number of people who will occupy the premises and how that figure has been reached - see our handy occupancy calculation guide. (Without this, conditions may be attached by the council).
- show how you will ensure good order and behaviour when the premises are occupied and there is public entertainment
- steward the premises when there are over 50 people, be aware of how many people are on the premises and prevent overcrowding
Provide your detailed fire evacuation plan.
This should include the action to be taken by all staff in the event of a fire and the arrangements for calling the fire service. Our handy template can help you create your evacuation plan.