Personal Licence Course Southampton

🍷 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:

  • Completed application form

  • Two signed passport-style photos

  • Basic Disclosure (DBS) certificate (less than 30 days old)

  • Right to work in the UK evidence

  • APLH course certificate

  • £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:

  • A completed application

  • A to-scale floor plan of the premises

  • Appoint a DPS with a valid Personal Licence

  • Place a public site notice for 28 days

  • 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:

  • A home address used to store/dispatch alcohol

  • A warehouse or storage unit used for fulfilment

  • A retail shop sending out local or national orders

❌ You do not need a Premises Licence for:

  • A standalone ecommerce website

  • 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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Course Fee: £75 + VAT
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