Licensing

The City council, under the Licensing Act 2003, licenses nearly 800 premises   These include places such as pubs, clubs, hotels, restaurants, off-licences, theatres, cinemas as well as village, school and community halls.

As well as issuing licences, we are also an enforcement authority under the Licensing Act 2003 and and have a responsibilty to investigate complaints about premises and breaches of the Licensing Act. 

 You will need a Premises licence or a Temporary Events Notice under the Licensing Act 2003 if you are considering events where :

• You intend to sell or supply alcohol
• You intend to sell hot food or drink between 11pm and 5am
• You intend to provide entertainment such as Plays, Films,  Live or Recorded Music,  Indoor Sporting Events, Performance of Dance and anything of a similar description.   
   

       The Licensing team can also provide you with information on:

• Taxis
• Street Trading
• Gambling
• Smoking  (Health Act 2007)

If you have any queries please contact the Licensing Team on 01227 862 484. 

There are other types of licence which are dealt with by other departments:

The Commercial Health Team can provide you with information on:

• Animal Licensing
• Skin Piercing Licences
• Food Registration
• Pleasure Boat Licensing Consultation

Community Services can provide you with information on caravan sites and mobile home parks:

• Public register of licensed holiday touring sites
• Public register of licensed holiday static caravan sites
• Public register of licensed residential mobile homes

Private Sector Housing can provide you with information on:

• Licensing of private rented properties

For information on waste carrier's licences, please visit the Environment Agency's website.

Contact us

If you need help or advice about any of the services offered by Commercial Health, you can contact us in one of the following ways:

For food, infectious diseases, and animal licensing

• By phone on 01227 862 222
• By email food@canterbury.gov.uk

For health and safety at work and skin piercing applications

• By phone on 01227 862 222
• By email occ-safety@canterbury.gov.uk

For all enquiries in person or in writing

Commercial Health Section
Environment Department 
Canterbury City Council
Military Road
Canterbury
CT1 1YW