Object to or support a premises alcohol licence application

You can support or object to an application for a new premises alcohol licence that's under consultation. This is called 'making a representation' under the Licensing Act 2003. 

You can also make a representation for or against an application to vary an existing premises alcohol licence, for example, to extend the operating hours. 

View a the latest list of licensing applications:

If you're not happy with an existing licensed premises, you need to request a review of a premises licence. 

Criteria for making an objection 

You must base your representation on one of 4 licensing objectives. These are: 

• prevention of crime and disorder
• prevention of public nuisance
• public safety
• protection of children from harm 

You should state in what way the premises may contravene or promote the objectives. 

Your representation must not be frivolous, vexatious or repetitious (see definitions below). 

Find out more in our residents guide to premises alcohol licensing:

Submit your representation

You must submit your comment or objection before the last date for representations. You can find this date on the list of current licensing applications above. 

To make a valid representation against an application, you must: 

• do it in writing
• make sure you include your name and address  

In exceptional cases, you can ask us to withhold your details. But you must include them in the representation anyway. 

Download and complete our licensing representation form

Send it to us by email at licensing@royalgreenwich.gov.uk or by post to The Woolwich Centre. 

After you’ve submitted your representation 

We’ll set a date for a hearing within 20 working days of the representations deadline. 

You'll be invited to the hearing and have the opportunity to make your point. 

Other hearing attendees are: 

• the applicant
• a legal adviser
• a committee officer 

We’ll inform you about the committee's decision. If you're not happy with it, you can appeal. 

Definition of licensing terms 

Responsible authorities 

Read about responsible authorities 

Other persons 

'Other persons' are defined in the Licensing Act 2003 as a local councillor or as: 

“...including any individual, body or business entitled to make representations to licensing authorities in relation to applications for the grant, variation, minor variation or review of premises licences and club premises certificates, regardless of their geographic closeness to the premises; in addition, these persons may themselves seek a review of a premises licence.” 

Frivolous, vexatious and repetitious 

Frivolous 

A frivolous complaint is one so trivial that it would be unreasonable to consider. 

For example, a pub may have operated without any problems for 10 years, but on New Year's Eve have a noisy party ending at 1am. 

A complaint may also be frivolous if it cannot be related specifically to the event or premises concerned. 

Vexatious 

A complaint is vexatious if it's made as a result of a dispute between neighbouring residents and businesses or put forward for the purposes of annoyance and oppression. 

Repetitious 

A complaint is defined as repetitious if it's identical or extremely similar to: 

• grounds for review that we’ve already considered
• a representation made by a reasonable authority or interested party to the granting of a premises licence
• a representation about a provisional statement that was excluded and a reasonable interval has not passed since it was made