The Deregulation (Licence Transfers) Order 1998

Approval of prospective licensees

2.  After section 8 of the Licensing Act 1964 there shall be inserted—

“Approval of prospective licensees.

8A.—(1) If, on an application made to licensing justices with respect to any licensed premises, the justices are satisfied that the applicant—

(a)is a fit and proper person, and

(b)is not disqualified under this or any other Act for holding a justices' licence,

the justices may, subject to subsection (3) of this section, approve him as a prospective licensee of the premises.

(2) Where the power of licensing justices to transfer a justices' licence for any premises is exercisable by virtue of section 8(1) of this Act, any person who has been approved as a prospective licensee of the premises may, by notice in writing—

(a)to the clerk to the licensing justices, and

(b)to the chief officer of police,

elect that the enactments relating to the sale of intoxicating liquor and to licensed premises shall apply as if the licence were transferred to him immediately after the giving of the notice; and any election so made shall have effect accordingly.

(3) Licensing justices shall not approve a person as a prospective licensee of any licensed premises if, in their opinion, there is a likelihood that, if he became a licensee of the premises under subsection (2) of this section, he would be prevented by other commitments from properly discharging his functions as such a licensee.

(4) Licensing justices approving any person as a prospective licensee of any licensed premises shall cause a memorandum of the approval to be endorsed on the justices' licence for the premises or, where a copy of the licence is admissible in evidence, on a copy of the licence.

(5) Paragraphs 1(a) and (c), 4(a) and (b) and 5 to 8 of Schedule 2 to this Act (application for justices' licence) shall apply in relation to an application for approval under this section as they apply to an application for the grant of a justices' licence.”.