Watford Borough Council

Any premises which provides hot food, hot drinks, or both, between 11:00pm and 05:00am requires licensing under the Licensing Act 2003.

This activity is known under the Licensing Act as 'late night refreshment'.

If this activity is offered to the public, then that premises will need to obtain a Premises Licence which permits the provision of late night refreshment. This is the same type of licence required by public houses and restaurants, even though the premises may not require all licensable activities such as alcohol or entertainment.

Private members' clubs which hold a Club Premises Certificate can provide late night refreshment to their members without needing to add this activity to their Club Premises Certificate.

However, clubs which hold a Premises Licence and which provide late night refreshment must ensure that their licence permits the provision of late night refreshment in order to comply with the Licensing Act.

If the premises is already licensed by a Premises Licence, it is possible to amend the existing licence to add the provision of late night refreshment to the licence as a permitted activity.

For information on how to apply for a licence, or to amend an existing licence, please visit Licence - Alcohol & Entertainment.