Licensing
Many activities require licences, some of which are administered by Southampton City Council. The council deals with a range of licences, permits, consents, and registrations that are intended to safeguard the welfare and safety of the general public, animals and the environment. You can find out about licensing on these pages.
The city council, as licensing authority, has numerous licensing functions and these pages deal mainly with those carried out by the licensing team in Legal and Democratic Services which deals with:
alcohol, entertainment and late night refreshment, including premises licences, club premises certificates, personal licences and all matters under the Licensing Act 2003.
gambling including casinos, bingo, betting, gaming machines, lotteries and and tracks under the Gambling Act 2005, where the Gambling Commission is not the responsible authority.
fund raising, including charitable collections and lotteries
taxis and private hire vehicles, including hackney carriages and drivers, private hire vehicles, drivers and operators
pleasure boats and boatmen
sex establishments
scrap metal dealers and motor salvage operators
street trading in the city centre
Information on the following regulated activities, dealt with by Environmental Health and Trading Standards, are available via the Animals link:
animal movement
animal boarding
dangerous wild animals
dog breeding
pet shops
zoo licences
Please follow the Business Licences link for information about licences and registrations for the following:
building materials on the highway
butchers shops
chaperones
consumer credit
fireworks
explosives
non-medicinal poisons
nursing agencies
petroleum licences
hairdressers, tattooists, ear piercers, electrolysis and acupuncturists
skin piercing
Sunday trading
Information about the registration of births, deaths and marriages is is available from the Registration Service pages.
Licensing Service Charter
The guidance provided in these pages is on a "best endeavours" basis - if you intend to make a business or other critical decision on a licensing matter, you must seek your own independent legal advice. City council officers cannot give you legal advice about your application.
Contact information
Email: licensing@southampton.gov.uk
Licensing Act 2003 enquiries:
Telephone: 023 8083 4209
Gambling Act 2005 enquiries:
Telephone: 023 8083 4439
Taxi and private hire enquiries:
Telephone: 023 8083 2792
Other matters dealt with by the licensing team enquiries including temporary event notices and fund raising:
Telephone: 023 8083 3245
Fax: 023 8083 4061
Postal address:
Licensing Team
Southampton City Council
PO Box 1344
Southampton
SO15 1WQ
Document Exchange: DX 115710 Southampton 17
Personal callers:
Licensing Team
Southbrook Rise
4-8 Millbrook Road East
Southampton
SO15 1YG
Opening hours:
Members of the licensing team will normally be available at Southbrook Rise to assist personal callers on weekdays between 09:00 and 12:00 and between 14:00 and 16:00. We may be available at other times by prior appointment.
Please note that the addresses and numbers given above should only be used for communication with the licensing team.
Service of Documents:
Please use the PO Box or Document Exchange addresses for the service of all applications and notices on the licensing authority; please do not send or deliver such communications to the Civic Centre, as your application, notice or representation will inevitably be delayed, which may cause difficulties or result in your representation not being considered or your application failing to meet the strict prescribed time limits.
We are not able to accept service of applications, notices etc by fax or e-mail. Please note that all applications must be accompanied by the appropriate fee and bear original signatures.
Last updated: 11 July 2008
