Business

Licensing.

Pubs, restaurants, off licences, hotels and clubs all need a licence from the court, renewed each year through Revenue. Transfers, new licences, extensions and objections all go before the District or Circuit Court. We handle the application and the appearance so your trading is not interrupted.

Talk to us about a licence What a court application looks like

Home / Practice areas / Business

At a glance

An application needs notice to the Gardai, the fire authority and the public, and the court date has to fall before the licence lapses. Late applications mean closed doors.

01Annual renewalThrough Revenue, by 30 September

02Transfer of a pub licenceDistrict Court, with Garda and fire notice

03New pub licenceCircuit Court, extinguishing an existing licence

04Restaurant certificateDistrict Court, renewed annually

The process

How a licence application runs.

The paperwork is procedural but unforgiving. A missed notice period means a fresh application.

Establish what you need

A transfer of an existing licence, a new licence, a restaurant or wine certificate, a special exemption, or an objection to someone else's. Each has its own court, form and timetable.

Title and planning

The premises need to be in order. We check the title, the planning permission and the fire safety certificate before we lodge anything.

Notices

Notice to the Garda Superintendent, the fire authority and the local authority, plus a newspaper advertisement, all within set periods before the court date.

Court application

We appear at the District or Circuit Court. Where there is no objection it is usually dealt with quickly. If the Gardai or a neighbour object, it is heard.

Revenue and the licence issues

With the court certificate we apply to Revenue for the licence itself. Tax clearance and a short-term certificate for a new operator are dealt with here.

Renewals and exemptions

Every September the licence renews through Revenue. Special exemption orders for late opening, and occasional licences for events, are separate District Court applications.

Common questions

The things people ring us about first.

I am buying a pub. Does the licence come with it

The licence attaches to the premises but has to be transferred to you by court order. We run the transfer alongside the purchase so both complete together.

Can I open a new pub

New pub licences are not created. An existing licence has to be bought and extinguished, and the Circuit Court approves the new premises. It is a significant transaction.

Can I serve alcohol in my restaurant

With a restaurant certificate and a wine retailer's licence, or a full licence. Which one depends on what you want to serve and how the premises are laid out.

What if the Gardai object

The court hears the objection. Grounds are usually the character of the applicant, the fitness of the premises or previous breaches. Early engagement with the Superintendent avoids most of them.

I missed the renewal date

Ring today. A late renewal is possible but involves a court application and the premises cannot trade in the meantime.

Bring this to a first meeting

The existing licence, the lease or title, the planning permission, the fire safety certificate and your tax clearance access number.

Make an appointment

Before you ring

Two things you can check tonight.

Guide