Complete Licensing

Home
Complete Licensing

Our wraparound service will ensure you secure the correct licence to successfully and legally run your business. Whatever the issue, we’re here to help.

The solution to all your licensing matters in one place

The licensing process can be complex and involved, which is why Complete Licensing is here to help you every step of the way. We have expert consultants who can provide advice and guidance on every aspect of the licensing process or on specific matters. Our team of consultants come from a wide variety of backgrounds: lawyers, barristers, former senior police officers, acoustic consultants, industry-leading health and safety experts and others with first-hand experience of running successful and challenging night-time venues.

20/10/2026

👥 MEET OUR TEAM | David Oates

Senior Crime and Intelligence Analyst | Complete Licensing

From 20+ years in data analytics and performance management (policing, adult social care + local government) to licensing intelligence support—David helps organisations make evidence-led decisions, understand trends, and present clear statistical evidence in licensing matters. 📊🔎

✨ Highlights

👮‍♂️ Began his career as a data analyst at Nottinghamshire Police (2005), progressing to Senior Performance Analyst + team manager

📈 Introduced statistically informed techniques incl. Statistical Process Control (SPC) + predictive analytics

🏛️ Principal Performance Analyst (Adult Social Care) at Nottingham City Council (Corporate Performance team)

💻 Built senior-leader reporting tools using Power BI + SQL (incl. SSRS)

🏢 Senior public-sector consultancy roles across England + Wales (incl. Senior Performance and Intelligence Manager + Head of Performance and Data Management)

🧾 Experienced presenting performance and survey findings to scrutiny forums, clearly explaining methodology + limitations

How David helps:

📊 Data analysis • 📈 Trend & benchmarking • 🧪 SPC & predictive analytics • 💻 Power BI dashboards • 🗄️ SQL interrogation • ✅ Data-quality review • 🧾 Evidence-led reports • 🗣️ Clear, accessible findings for hearings/decisions

Learn more about David here: https://bit.ly/4xrZpL0

19/10/2026

Understanding the Licensing Act 2003 (Series 14/20): Appeals to the Magistrates’ Court

Appeals under the Licensing Act 2003 can protect your business when you disagree with a licensing decision.

Key points to know:

• You usually have 21 days from receiving the decision to appeal to the Magistrates’ Court.

• You can appeal against refusals, conditions on your licence, suspensions, revocations, or reviews.

• The court can confirm, change, or overturn the licensing authority’s decision.

• Prepare clear evidence: your operating schedule, incident records, staff training records, and correspondence with authorities.

• Get early legal advice if the decision affects your ability to trade or your reputation.

Understanding your right to appeal helps you respond calmly and confidently when faced with an unfavourable licensing outcome.

16/10/2026

LDN Wild festivals at Wheelers Farm in Little Waltham have now secured permanent licences, two capacity increases from 3,000 to 5,000 attendees, and temporary approval for an additional 7,500-capacity event.

This outcome follows detailed work on licensing compliance, robust traffic and crowd management plans, and clear engagement with local residents, all confirmed by a successful licensing committee decision.

These licences give organisers, partners, and the community greater certainty for future events while keeping safety, local impact, and regulatory standards at the centre of every festival.

Read the full blog here: https://bit.ly/4jYGbZw

14/10/2026

🔨 If you’re thinking of renovating your premises, make sure you check your licence

You might want to move the bar, remove internal walls or extend the customer area within your premises to help you make better use of the space and support your business’s growth.

When planning to refurbish your premises, it’s easy to get caught up in the design and building work. But did you know changes to your premises layout may also mean you need to vary your premises licence?

Some changes may only need a minor variation, but others may need a full variation. Checking before renovations are in full swing can help ensure your grand reopening isn’t delayed due to licensing issues.

Need advice? Speak to Complete Licensing and we’ll help you understand what’s needed.

📩 Message our team for further information or advice.

13/10/2026

👥 MEET OUR TEAM | David “Dave” Nevitt

Chief Environmental Health and Safety Consultant | Complete Licensing

With more than 40 years in environmental health—most of it spent with Westminster City Council (1985–2023), including around 15 years in the Licensing Consultation Team—Dave helps licensed premises, hospitality businesses and major events stay compliant, reduce risk, and protect communities.

✨ Highlights

🏛️ 40+ years’ environmental health experience (qualified Environmental Health Officer, 1982)

🏙️ Spent the majority of his career with Westminster City Council (1985–2023)

📣 Diploma in Acoustics and Noise Control (1984)

🧾 Responsible Authority role under the Licensing Act 2003 (Licensing Consultation Team)

⚖️ Prepared and presented evidence in the Magistrates’ Court

🏅 Institute of Licensing Chairman’s Special Recognition Award (Nov 2023)

🎪 Major events experience incl. Notting Hill Carnival, Hyde Park concerts, Trafalgar Square events, Chinese New Year & London Pride

How Dave helps:

🔊 Noise & nuisance • 🚶 Customer dispersal • 🧾 Compliance inspections • 🛡️ Public safety • 📝 Pre-application advice • 📄 Reports • ⚖️ Expert evidence

Learn more about David here: https://bit.ly/4xxO5wO

12/10/2026

Understanding the Licensing Act 2003 (Series 13/20): Summary Reviews (Section 53A)

Summary reviews under Section 53A of the Licensing Act 2003 are used when serious crime or serious disorder is linked to licensed premises.

Key points to understand:

• Who can apply: Only the police can request a summary review, and only for premises with a premises licence.

• When it’s used: Where there is evidence of serious crime, serious disorder, or both – for example, drugs, weapons, or repeated violent incidents.

• What happens next:

– Within 48 hours: The licensing authority must hold an interim steps hearing. It can suspend the licence, change conditions, restrict hours, or remove the designated premises supervisor.

– Within 28 days: A full review hearing takes place to decide long‑term steps. Interim steps remain in force until then (unless changed on appeal).

• Possible outcomes: No action, modified conditions, reduced hours, removal of the DPS, suspension of the licence, or revocation.

For licence holders, the priority is prevention: robust policies on crime, disorder, security, staff training, and incident recording can reduce the risk of a Section 53A review being triggered.

09/10/2026

🎆Before you plan Bonfire Night celebrations at your pub with an outdoor bar, a band or late-night barbecue, don’t forget to check your licensing permissions. If your current licence doesn’t permit these activities, you may need to apply for a relevant variation or TEN.

In this blog, we explore the key questions to ask:

🍻Does your licence cover alcohol sales for an outdoor bar?
🎶Are your plans for live music or a DJ covered?
🍔Will you be serving hot food or drinks late into the evening?
📋Do you need a Temporary Event Notice?

Leaving these checks or applications too late could mean your event is unable to go ahead as planned so make sure you give yourself plenty of time to arrange additional permissions.

07/10/2026

📱 Digital ID for alcohol sales – the rules have changed.

Licensed premises across England and Wales can now accept certified digital ID as proof of age when selling alcohol, alongside traditional physical identification.

For operators, this means it’s a good time to review your age-verification procedures and make sure staff understand what can be accepted and how digital ID should be checked.

Need support keeping your premises compliant? Get in touch with Complete Licensing.

06/10/2026

👥 MEET OUR TEAM | Sandy Tracey

Senior Licensing & Compliance Consultant | Complete Licensing

With 30 years of police service and extensive frontline licensing experience, Sandy supports hospitality and entertainment operators with clear, proportionate and commercially realistic advice. 🚓✅

She’s worked across some of the UK’s most complex night-time economy environments—helping venues prevent problems, strengthen compliance, and protect their licence and reputation.

✨ Highlights

🚓 30 years’ police service (including 24 years with the Metropolitan Police)

🏛️ Westminster Police Licensing Officer (2009–2018) — supporting a night-time economy of ~3,000 licensed premises

⚖️ Represented police at licensing hearings + prepared representations and evidential reports

🍸 Advised prestigious London venues (incl. hotels, members’ clubs, casinos, restaurants + nightlife operators)

🧾 Designed and delivered crime-scene preservation + use-of-force training for hospitality teams

🏅 Commendations for commitment and service in reducing crime linked to the night-time economy

📍 Northamptonshire Police Licensing Officer (from 2018) — work across 2,000+ premises incl. major events

How Sandy helps:

📄 Licences • 🔁 Variations • ⚖️ Reviews/hearings • 🔍 Compliance inspections/audits • 🧩 Operating schedules & conditions • 🛡️ Safeguarding/vulnerability procedures • 🆔 Challenge 25/age verification • 📹 CCTV/ID scanning • 🚪 Door supervision & venue security • 📝 Incident reporting & evidence preservation • 👩‍🏫 Staff/management training • 🎟️ Major events & late-night operations

Learn more about Sandy here: https://bit.ly/4wY4B8l

05/10/2026

Understanding the Licensing Act 2003 (Series 12/20): Licence Reviews

Licence reviews under the Licensing Act 2003 exist to protect the public, not to catch licence holders out.

Key points to know:

• Who can request a review? Responsible authorities (police, council, fire, etc.) and “any other person” affected by the premises.

• When is a review likely? Persistent crime or disorder, public nuisance, child protection concerns, or repeated breaches of licence conditions.

• Possible outcomes: No action, added conditions, change of opening hours, suspension, or full revocation of the licence.

• Why records matter: Clear incident logs, staff training records, and CCTV policies often make the difference in a review.

If you manage licensed premises, treat reviews as a risk you can control: train your team, keep accurate records, respond early to complaints, and work with local authorities before issues escalate.

Address

Opening Hours

Monday	08:00 - 19:30
Tuesday	08:00 - 19:30
Wednesday	08:00 - 19:30
Thursday	08:00 - 19:30
Friday	08:00 - 19:30
Saturday	09:00 - 17:00

Website

https://completelicensing.uk/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Complete Licensing posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Complete Licensing:

Want your business to be the top-listed law practice?

Country:

City: