🍷 Personal and Premises Licences in Portsmouth
How to Legally Sell Alcohol in Portsmouth
If you're looking to sell alcohol in Portsmouth — whether from a traditional venue, off-licence, or online — you’ll need to hold both a Personal Licence and a Premises Licence before trading.
A Personal Licence is for the individual authorising alcohol sales and is issued by the council covering their residence.
A Premises Licence is for the physical address in Portsmouth where alcohol is stored or sold, and must be issued by Portsmouth City Council.
A Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) is legally required at each premises and must hold a valid Personal Licence.
Before applying for your Personal Licence, you must pass the Level 2 Award for Personal Licence Holders (APLH) qualification.
Personal Licence Application – Portsmouth
Submit to your residential council:
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Application form
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Two passport photos (one certified)
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Basic DBS certificate (issued within 30 days)
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Evidence of right to work
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Certificate showing APLH pass
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£37 fee
Premises Licence in Portsmouth
Apply through Portsmouth City Council with:
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Application form
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Scaled floor plan
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Appointment of a DPS
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On-site notice displayed for 28 days
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Local newspaper advert
If no objections are raised, your licence is typically granted.
Selling Alcohol Online from Portsmouth
If you dispatch alcohol from a property in Portsmouth — even from home — that location must have a Premises Licence.
The law says the sale happens at the point of dispatch, not when the customer pays.
✅ Licence is required for:
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🏠 Your home (if dispatching from there)
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🏬 Retail premises or warehouses
❌ Not required for:
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Website-only platforms
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Order-taking offices with no stock
🛒 Many marketplaces (Amazon, eBay) also expect sellers to hold both licence types, regardless of fulfilment method.
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Inn Confidence provides:
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Self-paced online training
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Exam from home
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Instant pass/fail notification
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Free re-sits
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Fast certificate delivery
Course Fee: £75 + VAT
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