Where premises are being, or are about to be, constructed or altered, applicants may apply for a provisional statement to see if they would be granted a premise licence after building works are complete. 

If a provisional statement is granted, applicants will still need to apply for a premises licence in the normal way before the premises can be used for any licensable activities.

Applications

The application process is very similar to make an application for a Premises Licence. The main difference is that the applicant does not need to demonstrate that they have a right to occupy the premises to which the application relates.

Once a Provisional Statement is granted, and when an application is made for a Premises Licence, we shall disregard representations unless they think they address matters that could not have been addressed in relation to the application for the Provisional Statement, or reflect a change in the applicants circumstances. I.e. the representations are from people who have recently moved into the location or the layout of the new premises has changed significantly from the original.

You will need to complete an application for a premises licence to be granted. The application will need to include the following:

  • Completed application form.
  • A scale plan of the premises - for more information please see below.
  • The fee.
  • The applicant must give notice to each of the Responsible Authorities
  • The application must be advertised.

  Download application form for a provisional statement

  Download application form for a provisional statement for a boat or ship

  Download a Notice to Responsible Authorities (single applicant)

  Download a Notice to Responsible Authorities (multiple applicants)

  Download a site notice advert

Fees

Applicants have to pay a fee to apply for a provisional statement. If you then go on to make an application for a premises licence the application fees will be reduced.

Application fees for a provisional statement
Small Casino Bingo Premises Betting Premises (Tracks) Betting Premises (Other) Adult Gaming Centres Family Entertainment Centre
£8000 £3500 £2500 £3000 £2000 £2000

Additional information

Regulations state that the plan of the premises must be in standard scale, though doesn’t specify what scale that has to be.

The regulations specify the plan must show in all premises:

  1. The extent of the boundary or perimeter of the building;
  2. Where the premises includes, or consists of, one or more buildings, the location of any external and internal walls of each such building;
  3. Where the premises form part of a building, the location of any external and internal walls of the building which are included in the premises;
  4. Where the premises are a vessel or part of a vessel, the location of any part of the sides of the vessel, and of any internal walls of the vessel, which are included in the premises;
  5. The location of each point of entry to and exit from the premises, including in each case a description of the place from which entry is made or to which the exit leads;
  6. Any other matter required in accordance with the following provisions.

Casino Premises Licence

Application for Casino Premises Licence, the plan must show:

  • the principal entrance to the premises of those identified in accordance with paragraph (e) above;
  • the location and extent of any part of the premises which will be a table gaming area
  • the location and extent of any other part of the premises which will be used for providing facilities for gambling in reliance on the licence;
  • the location and extent of any part of the premises which will be a non-gambling area;

Bingo Premises Licence

Application for Bingo Premises Licence, in respect of a premises to which children or young persons will be permitted to have access, the plan must show:

  1. The location and extent of any part of the premises which will be used to provide facilities for gaming in reliance on the licence (other than those parts which include Category B or C gaming machines);
  2. The location and extent of any part of the premises in which Category B or C gaming machines will be made available for use in reliance on the licence; and
  3. The nature or location of any barrier or other thing separating any part of the premises in which Category B or C gaming machines will be made available for use from any other part of the premises.

Adult Gaming Centre Premises Licence

Application for Adult Gaming Centre Premises Licence, the plan must show the location and extent of any part of the premises in which gaming machines will be made available for use in reliance on the licence. Application for Family Entertainment Centre Premises Licence, the plan must show:

  1. The location and extent of any part of the premises in which Category C gaming machines will be made available for use in reliance on the licence;
  2. The location and extent of any part of the premises in which Category D gaming machines will be made available for use in reliance on the licence; and
  3. The nature or location of any barrier or other thing separating any part of the premises in which Category C gaming machines will be made available for use from any other part of the premises.

Betting Premises Licence

Application for Betting Premises Licence, other than in respect of a track, the plan must show the location and extent of any part of the premises which will be used to provide facilities for gambling in reliance on the licence. Application for Betting Premises Licence, in respect of a track, the plan must show:

  • the location and extent of any part of the premises which is a five times rule betting area;
  • the location and extent of any part of the premises which will be used for providing facilities for betting in reliance on the licence;
  • the location and extent of any part of the premises in which Category B or C gaming machines will be made available for use in reliance on the licence;
  • the nature or location of any barrier or other thing separating any part of the premises in which Category B or C gaming machines will be made available for use from any other part of the premises.

The applicant has to send a ‘Notice’ to each of the responsible authorities, which are listed. This must be done within a period of 7 days beginning on the date on which the application is made.

There are two forms that you can use to do this, one for a single applicant and one where there are multiple applicants.

Gambling Act Responsible Authorities
Contact details of the authorities that require notices to be sent to them following applications.

In the case of an application for a provisional statement, the applicant must advertise the application for a period of no less then 28 consecutive days starting on the day after the day on which the application was made to us, by displaying a notice on the premises, in a place at which it can be conveniently read by members of the public from the exterior of the premises; and

By publishing a notice:

  1. In a local newspaper circulating in the vicinity of the premises (Herald Express).
  2. On at least one occasion during the period of ten working days starting on the day after the day on which the application was given to us.