Find out which types of changes to a premises licence under the Licensing Act 2003 for alcohol and entertainment can be made by a Minor Variation application, and when a Full Variation is necessary.
Please note that some types of very simple changes to your licence, such as changing your Premises Supervisor, do not need a variation application at all. Go to the other pages in this section for details of forms and fees for these other changes.
When Can You Use a Minor Variation Application?
Minor Variations are a new simplified type of variation application, introduced from 29 July 2009 under an amendment to the Licensing Act (inserted sections 41A to 41C), for small variations that will not impact adversely on the Licensing Objectives.
Minor variations will generally fall into four categories:
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minor changes to the structure or layout of a premises
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small adjustments to licensing hours
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the removal of out of date, irrelevant or unenforceable conditions and the addition of volunteered conditions
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the addition of certain licensable activities
When Must a Full Variation Application be Made?
The following are excluded from the minor variations process and must be treated as full variations in all cases - go to our Full Variations page:
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to extend licensing hours for the sale or supply of alcohol for consumption on or off the premises between the hours of 23.00 and 07.00; or
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to increase the amount of time on any day during which alcohol may be sold or supplied for consumption on or off the premises.
Applications to reduce licensing hours for the sale or supply of alcohol or to or move (without increasing) the licensed hours between 07.00 and 23.00 will normally be processed as minor variations.
In all cases the overall test is whether the proposed variation could impact adversely on any of the four licensing objectives.
