Licensing Services
Occasional Licence
If you hold a premises licence, a personal licence or are from a voluntary organisation
and wish to sell alcohol from premises that are not licensed, you may apply
for an occasional licence.
An occasional licence will be valid for no more than 14 days.
Conditions will be attached to a licence.
A voluntary organisation may only be issued with an occasional licence if they have
not had more than four occasional licences that last for four days or more or more
than 12 licences that last for less than four days and that the licences issued
do not cover more than 56 days in a 12 month period.
How to apply
Please contact South Ayrshire Council using the contact details below in the first
instance.
What happens next?
Before considering an application South Ayrshire Council must have received all
the required supporting documentation before the application is considered lodged.
The application will be processed by the Licensing Department who will consult with
the Licensing Standards Officer and the Police. If there are no adverse comments,
the application may be granted under delegated powers otherwise it will be considered
by the Licensing Board. The applicant will be advised of the date of any hearing
Applicants for an occasional licence must be either the holder of a premises licence,
the holder of a personal licence or a representative of a voluntary organisation.
South Ayrshire Council will give notice to the local chief constable of the application.
The chief constable can serve a notice recommending that the licence would put crime
prevention objectives at risk.
If a licensing board has not received any notice from a chief constable, a report
from a Licensing Standards officer or a notice of objection or representation from
any other person they must grant the application.
If any of these have been received the board must consider if there are grounds
for refusal. If so the application will be refused, if not it must be granted.
Hearings may be heard when applications are being considered. If a hearing is not
heard the applicant must be given the opportunity to comment on any notice or report.
The following are grounds for refusal:
- the premises in the application are excluded premises
- there are no exceptional circumstances for allowing the sale of alcohol over a 24
hour period or if the application requests the sale of alcohol off the premises
before 10.00, after 22.00 or both
- the granting of the application would not be consistent with one or more of the
licensing objectives
- considering the nature of the activities proposed, the location, character and condition
of the premises and the types of people likely to visit the premises it is decided
that the premises are unsuitable for selling alcohol
A licensing board must take into account any notice from a chief constable or report
of a Licensing Standards Officer.
Notification of a refusal or granting of an application will be given to the applicant,
the chief constable, the Licensing Standards Officer and any person who gave a notice
of objection or representation. A statement of reason can be requested by any person
served with such a notice.
It is in the public interest that the South Ayrshire Council must process your application
before it can be granted. We would expect to process your application within 183
calendar days or 131 working days. If you have not heard from us within a reasonable
period, please contact us.
What if I have been refused approval?
Please contact South Ayrshire Council using the contact details below in the first
instance.
Appeals against the refusal of an application must be made to the local sheriff.
Appeals can only be made under one of the following grounds:
- the Licensing Board erred in law
- the decision was based on incorrect material facts
- the Licensing Board acted contrary to natural justice
- the Licensing Board used their discretion in an unreasonable manner
- if any of the following steps were taken and are disproportionate, that is that
at a review hearing of a premises licence the licence was suspended, varied or revoked
or the licence holder was given a written warning or that a personal licence was
revoked, suspended or endorsed
Consumer complaints
We would always advise that in the event of a complaint the first contact is made
with the service provider by you - preferably in the form a letter (with proof of
delivery). If that has not worked, if you are located in the UK, Consumer Direct will give you advice or you can
contact us directly. From outside the UK contact the UK European Consumer Centre.
Other complaints
If you wish to complain about a licence holder then please use the contact details
below.
Who to contact
Licensing Services
South Ayrshire Council
Town Buildings
29 New Bridge Street
Ayr KA7 1JX
Tel: 01292 617682
Trade Associations
Not applicable