🍷 Personal and Premises Licences in Southampton
Alcohol Licensing in Southampton – What You Need
Selling alcohol in Southampton — whether in a venue or online — requires you to hold two legal licences: a Premises Licence for the location where alcohol is sold or dispatched, and a Personal Licence for the individual authorising those sales.
Your Personal Licence must be issued by the council that covers your home address.
If your business operates from a premises in Southampton, your Premises Licence will need to be granted by Southampton City Council.
These licences are required for bars, cafés, shops, takeaway outlets offering alcohol delivery, and online-only alcohol sellers working from home or a warehouse.
Each licensed business must have a Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) who holds a Personal Licence. Every alcohol sale must be made by, or under the supervision of, a Personal Licence holder.
To obtain a Personal Licence, you must first pass the Level 2 Award for Personal Licence Holders (APLH).
Personal Licence Application – What You’ll Need
Submit your application to your home licensing authority with:
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Completed application form
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Two signed passport-style photos
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Basic Disclosure (DBS) certificate (less than 30 days old)
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Right to work in the UK evidence
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APLH course certificate
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£37 fee
Premises Licence in Southampton
Selling alcohol from any business in Southampton requires a Premises Licence issued by Southampton City Council.
You’ll need to submit:
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A completed application
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A to-scale floor plan of the premises
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Appoint a DPS with a valid Personal Licence
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Place a public site notice for 28 days
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Publish a notice in a local newspaper
If no objections are made during the consultation window, licences are normally granted without a hearing.
Selling Alcohol Online from Southampton
Selling alcohol online? You must licence the address where the alcohol is physically handled — not the website.
According to the Licensing Act 2003, the sale takes place where the alcohol is prepared for delivery — meaning the dispatch location needs to be licensed.
✅ You need a Premises Licence for:
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A home address used to store/dispatch alcohol
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A warehouse or storage unit used for fulfilment
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A retail shop sending out local or national orders
❌ You do not need a Premises Licence for:
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A standalone ecommerce website
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A phone line or office used only to take orders
🛒 Platforms like Amazon and eBay often require sellers to hold their own licences — regardless of whether they use third-party fulfilment.
🚫 Operating from an unlicensed dispatch address puts your business at serious legal risk.
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