If an entity holding a premises licence goes into administration, liquidation, dissolution or enters a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA), the licence immediately lapses, making any continuation of licensable activities a criminal offence. However, there is a28 day window in which the position can be remedied. After this period, the licence permanently lapses, often necessitating a new premises licence application to be submitted to resume licensable activities legally.
We have witnessed numerous unfortunate cases where this occurs, whether as a result of a company restructuring resulting in the dissolution of the licence, small businesses liquidating their operating company without understanding the consequences or large administrations where licence management was inadvertently overlooked.
At Harrison Drury, our Licensing Team understands the urgency in these situations and are adept at providing timely and efficient advice. We have experience in coordinating several licence applications within tight timeframes, sometimes a matter of hours, as part of administration processes for significant portfolios consisting of several licensed premises.
To speak to our licensing specialists please call us on 01772 258321 or make an enquiry below to see how we can assist you and your business.