Designated Premises Supervisor

There must be a Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) for all premises selling alcohol. A DPS must be a holder of a personal licence. If you are to be appointed to such position, your personal licence becomes all the more important. Should your licence be revoked for any reason when you are a DPS or you refuse to allow your name to be used, the premises will lose the power to authorise the sale of alcohol.

The DPS should be the point of contact at the premises, in day-to-day control, even though he may be absent from the premises from time to time. Effectively, this replaces the current general manager.

Due to the high level of responsibility involved, this person must formally give their consent to undertaking this role when the application for the premises licence is made.

The police may object to the appointment if they feel that there is likely to be a breach of the crime and disorder objective.

Premises which do not have a Designated Premises Supervisor, either because one was never appointed, or because the DPS has left, may not sell alcohol.

Applications On-line

You can apply to make the change to your DPS here, with Poppleston Allen. You will need to answer some basic questions and send it to us. One of our legal team will check the answers, complete the application form and send it with the appropriate fee and documentation to the Local Authority - all for just £120 + VAT.

Find out more about our Applications On-line Service.

Susanna Poppleston, Senior Partner

Susanna is a founding partner of the business and recognised industry commentator as well as being one of only two star-rated solicitors in the licensing field.

She is a highly respected advocate, an accomplished speaker and co-author of the definitive guide to the 2003 licensing act.

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