Late Night Refreshment Licence

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Late Night Refreshment Premises Licence

Where hot food or hot drinks are sold or supplied between 23:00 and 05:00, a Premises Licence authorising Late Night Refreshment is required.

Late-night refreshment is defined as the sale or supply of hot food and/or hot drinks (whether for consumption on or off the premises) during these hours. It is a licensable activity under the Licensing Act 2003.

Carrying on late-night refreshment without the appropriate Premises Licence constitutes an unauthorised licensable activity and may result in:

An unlimited fine
Up to six months’ imprisonment
Further enforcement action by the licensing authority

Premises Requiring a Late Night Refreshment Licence

A Premises Licence may be required for a wide range of operations, including:

Takeaways
Online food delivery businesses
Dark kitchens
Late-night cafés and restaurants
Events and conferences
Catering and mobile food services

A Premises Licence authorises the specific area shown on the approved plan to supply hot food and hot drinks after 23:00, either for consumption on the premises or for takeaway.

Each licence will specify the permitted terminal hour for late night refreshment on each day of the week and will include a set of legally binding conditions that must be complied with at all times.

Where no alcohol is sold, only a Premises Licence is required. A Personal Licence holder is not needed unless alcohol is also being supplied.

Exemptions

There are limited circumstances where a licence may not be required, including:

Supply to overnight guests in a hotel or guest house
Supply by self-service, such as vending machines
Supply to employees or volunteers while working
Supply connected to certain charitable activities, such as soup kitchens

These exemptions are narrowly defined and should be considered carefully.

How Licensing Professionals Can Help

Our Premises Licence Application Service provides expert support for businesses seeking permission to supply late night refreshment.

Our Licensing Consultants have extensive experience submitting applications for all types of late night food operations across London and the South East.

Applications for takeaways and late-night delivery businesses in high-density urban areas often attract scrutiny from residents and Responsible Authorities, including the Police and Environmental Health. These applications require careful preparation to address concerns relating to public nuisance, crime and disorder, and other licensing objectives.

We provide a clear and honest assessment before any application is submitted and use our experience to help clients achieve a proportionate and positive outcome wherever possible.

A free initial consultation is available to discuss your proposed operation and the most appropriate licensing route.