Object to an Application

Types of licenses that can be objected to

Licensing law allows the public to object to the following types of licence application dealt with by the Council:

• Premises Licenses under the Licensing Act 2003
• Club Premises Certificates under the Licensing Act 2003
• Special Treatments Licenses 
• New premises applying for a licence to officiate marriages and ceremonies

A list of current licence applications together with closing dates for applications can be viewed on the Current Applications page.

Who can object to a licence?

If you live in the vicinity of the premises concerned you can lodge an objection by writing to the licensing service before the closing date for objections. You must provide your full name and address and grounds for the objection.

Objections must relate to one or more of these four licensing objectives.

1. The prevention of crime and disorder 
2. Public safety 
3. The prevention of nuisance 
4. The protection of children from harm

When to object to a licence application

Objections should be made by the given closing date. Closing dates for current applications can be seen on the current applications page.

How to object to a licence application

• your name and signature
• the date you wrote the letter
• the application that you are opposed to
• the reasons why you are opposed to the application

Here you can download a guide to objections (45 kb)

To view the above document, you need Adobe Acrobat software installed on your computer. Download Acrobat Reader for free.

If an objection is being made on behalf of a group (e.g. a tenants or residents association), then proof of the group's decision to make the objection must be sent to the Licensing Service along with the objection letter. This could be a document such as minutes of a meeting.

If a petition is submitted the organizer must:

• Provide their own contact details
• state clearly the application that is being opposed and the reason for opposition on each page of the petition
• ensure all names and addresses are clearly legible and preferably written in black ink
• show the date the signatures are collected on each page

Objections will not be accepted if they are libelous, slanderous, racist or of unacceptable nature. Objections relating to impact of new businesses on existing trade can not be taken into account.

Anonymous objections

Copies of objections are given to the applicant so that he or she may fully understand the case being made against the application. Initially the applicant is not given the names and addresses of the objectors, but if the objection is pursued to a public hearing, then the objectors' names and addresses must be made known.

What happens to the objection

We usually try to help the applicant and the objector reach an agreement.  This may be done through either a conciliation meeting or written exchanges. If the applicant and the objector still can't agree, then the application and all objections to it will be considered at a public hearing. The Council will then decide whether the licence will be issued or not and if any conditions will be attached to the grant of the licence.

Contact us

Tel: 020 7525 2000
Fax: 020 7525 3077
licensing@southwark.gov.uk
Licensing unit,
Chaplin Centre,
Thurlow Street,
London SE17 2DG