If you wish to transfer a premises licence for a premises that is within West Lothian then you must apply to West Lothian Licensing Board.
Please note that all the Licensing web pages are intended to guide you through the procedures associated with making an application for a licence. They are not intended to summarise relatively complex areas of the law. Anyone using these pages should obtain independent advice from their own solicitors or advice centre.
An application for transfer of premises licence can be made by the premises licence holder at any time, this is known as a section 33 transfer application.
If a transfer application is made by any other person other than the premises licence holder then the application has to be made by a prescribed person to the Licensing Board within 28 days of:
A licence holder dying or becoming incapable
A licence holder being an individual, a partnership or a company, becomes insolvent
A licence holder being a person other than an individual, a partnership or a company is dissolved
The business carried on in the premises being transferred by sale or otherwise to another person
Such an application is known as a section 34 application however you should seek your own legal advice on such matters.
Application forms which have guidance notes attached can be found in the downloads section of this webpage and you should complete the relevant application based on the circumstances of the request. You should read the guidance notes carefully before completing an application form and details of where to submit the application along with supporting documents can be found in the guidance notes.
The fee amount varies depending on whether the transfer includes a variation.
An application must be accompanied by the full premises licence including the layout plan. If the premises licence is not available there must be a statement of the reason for the failure to produce the licence.
The fee for a transfer application is £25.00
The fee for a transfer application and a change of designated premises manager is £56.00
A list of fees can be found in the downloads section of this page.
The Licensing Board will process the application as quickly as possible.
On receipt of the application form, the Licensing Board will acknowledge receiving it and will notify the application to the Chief Constable. The Chief Constable has a period of 21 days to submit a report to the Licensing Board to confirm if the transferee has any relevant or foreign convictions.
Applications are granted automatically unless the Licensing Board has received a report from the Chief Constable specifying that the transferee has convictions for relevant or foreign offences.
In this event the application will go to a Board meeting to be determined and you or your agents may have to attend. An email be will be sent to you giving details of the time and place of the meeting and how you can engage with that plus a copy of any representations or objections that the Licensing Board intend to take into consideration.
If the premises currently has a licensed premises gaming machine permit for three or more machines then this must also be transferred to the new premises licence holder.
If the premises had notified Board that it currently has two or less gaming machines then a new 'notification' must be made to the Licensing Board by the new premises licence holder
In both of these cases you must complete and return the notification/application form[238KB] with the relevant fee. Further information on Gaming permits can be found on the gaming permits webpage Gaming Permits
If the complaint relates to any decision taken by the Board, then you have a right of appeal to the Sheriff Principal Scot Courts (opens new window) you should seek your own legal representation on this process.
Please contact the Licensing Board if there are any changes to your circumstances that do not require a variation to the premises licence. If you are in any doubt whether you need a variation you should check with the Licensing Board.
