Which Authorised Persons Are Allowed to Enter a Licensed Premises?

Authorised officers may enter licensed premises to carry out inspections under the Licensing Act 2003.

Which Authorised Persons Are Allowed to Enter a Licensed Premises?

Running a licensed premises means understanding who can legally enter your venue and under what authority.

Confusion in this area can lead to offences, enforcement action, or licence reviews.

This guide, Which Authorised Are Persons Allowed to Enter a Licensed Premises, outlines the key authorised persons and when professional advice is recommended.

⚠️ Need licensing advice for your premises?

We provide professional UK licensing support for pubs, bars, restaurants and retailers.

👉 Book a free 15-minute call

What Does “Authorised Person” Mean?

Under the Licensing Act 2003, certain individuals are legally permitted to enter licensed premises, often without prior notice, to carry out specific functions such as enforcement, inspection, or investigation.

Refusing entry to an authorised person can itself be an offence.

Who Is Allowed to Enter a Licensed Premises?

1. Police Officers

Police officers may enter licensed premises:

• To prevent or detect crime

• To enforce licensing conditions

• To investigate breaches of the Licensing Act 2003

They do not require a warrant when exercising licensing powers.

2. Licensing Authority Officers

Local authority licensing officers are authorised to:

• Inspect premises for compliance

• Investigate complaints

• Check licence conditions and operating schedules

Obstructing an authorised officer can result in enforcement action.

3. Environmental Health Officers

Environmental Health may enter premises to assess:

• Noise nuisance

• Public safety

• Health and hygiene matters

Their powers may arise under licensing or other legislation.

4. Fire Authority Officers

Fire and Rescue Service officers may enter to:

• Inspect fire safety arrangements

• Assess capacity and escape routes

• Enforce fire safety legislation

Fire safety failures can directly affect your premises licence.

5. Trading Standards Officers

Trading Standards may attend to:

• Check age-restricted sales compliance

• Investigate underage alcohol sales

• Review pricing or consumer protection issues

6. Immigration Officers

Where applicable, Immigration Enforcement officers may attend to:

• Investigate illegal working

• Check right-to-work compliance

This often occurs alongside police or council officers.

When Entry Can Cause Problems

Issues commonly arise when:

• Staff are unsure who has authority

• Entry is delayed or refused

• Managers are unavailable

• Licence documents cannot be produced

💡 These situations frequently trigger licence reviews or formal warnings.

👉 Speak to a licensing professional before problems escalate

When Professional Licensing Support Is Recommended

You should seek advice if:

• Enforcement officers are visiting regularly

• You’ve received written warnings

• A licence review is threatened

• Staff need compliance training

• You’re unsure about inspection powers

Early advice can prevent formal action and costly disruption.

Why Premises Licence Holders Contact Us

• Clear guidance on enforcement powers

• Support during inspections and investigations

• Licence reviews and representations

• Staff compliance advice

• End-to-end licensing support

We work with licensed premises across the UK and understand how local authorities operate in practice.

✅ Want peace of mind?

If you operate licensed premises and want to avoid enforcement issues, we can help.

👉 Book a free 15-minute licensing call. We’ll explain your obligations and what to do next.