Licensing In Northern Ireland

Commercially-Focused Liquor Licensing Experts

Clarendon Legal specialises in licensing for all types of hospitality businesses across Northern Ireland.

A licensed solicitor is required to obtain a liquor license for your hospitality business. This may include pub, restaurant and hotel liquor licences and entertainment licences; off-licence liquor licensing, or club liquor and entertainment licensing. Licensing is part of a complex area of law. Thankfully, licensing expertise is a speciality at Clarendon Legal.

Tailored Advice To Keep Your Business Going Strong.

We recognise that a license is one of your company’s most important assets. That’s why we offer tailored advice on all aspects of licensing law to ensure you can secure and keep the licenses you need to operate your businesses.

We can assist with licensing hotels, restaurants, pubs, clubs, guesthouses, places of public entertainment, cinemas and other establishments.

We support the hospitality industry in Northern Ireland. We are proud to have provided legal services to many pubs, off-licences hotels, restaurants and other establishments to offer first-class service to tourists and locals alike. Our commercially-focused team prioritises learning everything about your business so that you always put your best foot forward in your applications.

We place great emphasis on open and honest communication with our clients. This is why many license holders in Northern Ireland have continued to use our services over the years.

We can help with the following:

• Applications for first-time licenses, renewals, and transfers
• Requests for extension of working hours
• Off-licence sales and purchases
• Consent and permission to alter premises

Licensing Northern Ireland

Licensing FAQ

The Licensing (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 governs the law surrounding licensing pubs, hotels, restaurants, cinemas and other locations where alcohol is sold in Northern Ireland.

Yes. The sale of alcohol to the public is controlled by legislation in various licensed establishments. It is the County Court that issues liquor licenses for their region.

Each type of premises has its own licensing requirements. These premises are:
• Pubs
• Off-licences
• Hotels
• Guest houses
• Restaurants
• Conference centres
• Higher education institutions
• Public entertainment venues (cinemas and theatres, ballrooms, racetracks)
• Refreshment rooms at public transport facilities (railway, bus stations, airports, harbours)
• Canteens for seamen
• Indoor arenas
• Outdoor stadia
• Non-seagoing vessels
• Alcohol producer’s premises