Propel Legel Briefing: 12 licensing tips of Christmas by Michelle Hazlewood

First appearing for Propel Hospitality in their Legal Briefing on 8th October 2025

The John Gaunt & Partners 12 licensing tips of Christmas by Michelle Hazlewood

As autumn arrives and the trees put on their brief but beautiful display of colour, the hospitality industry shifts its focus to Hallowe’en and the busy festive season ahead. Christmas seems to come earlier every year, and we work hard to be ready for it. I’ve even already picked up the kids’ advent calendars!

For hospitality businesses, early preparation is more important than ever. Planning ahead not only helps maximise seasonal profits, but also helps avoid unexpected costs from legal issues or fines that can quickly eat into your hard-earned turnover.

The phrase “fail to prepare, prepare to fail” has never been more relevant. While the season brings big opportunities, it also brings heightened attention from enforcement officers. In recent years, we’ve seen a clear increase in enforcement activity from police, licensing teams and environmental health officers, particularly through November and December.

So, in this month’s legal briefing, we’re focusing on practical advice and tips to help you make the most of the coming months. Instead of the 12 Days of Christmas, we bring you the John Gaunt & Partners 12 licensing tips of Christmas. No geese a-laying here; just a slightly early festive checklist to help keep your venue safe, compliant and trading smoothly all season long.

1. Be aware of bookings
Start by keeping a regular eye on your bookings. It’s the simplest way to avoid nasty surprises when the nights get busy. Knowing what’s coming helps you plan staffing and security levels so the only thing overflowing is holiday cheer.

2. Know your premises licence
Your team, especially managers, should understand your licence conditions, operating hours and licensable activities. This is essential for staying compliant and avoiding unnecessary issues during busy periods.

3. Submit temporary event notices (TENs) early
If you’re planning extra festive events, get those TENS in early. The sooner you submit, the more time you’ll have to deal with any objections and finalise your plans with confidence. If you can already see you’ll run out of TENs before the last mince pie is gone, there’s still time to apply for a variation and make those extra celebrations a permanent fixture.

4. Avoid late TENs
Try not to rely on late TENS. If a late TEN is objected to, there’s no hearing and no opportunity to respond. The event simply can’t go ahead, which can mean lost revenue and disappointed customers. No one wants to be the reason the work party is cancelled and social media lights up with complaints instead of Christmas cheer.

5. Keep training and records up to date
If something goes wrong, enforcement officers will look beyond a single incident and assess how the venue is managed overall. Good records show that you run a responsible operation and can make all the difference between a warning and a costly enforcement action.

6. Carry out a security risk assessment
Licence conditions are the baseline, but some dates bring bigger crowds and higher risks – think Mad Friday or the big Christmas lights switch-on. Each event should be assessed on its own so security measures match the mood and the numbers.

7. Have more than one personal licence holder
If your designated premises supervisor suddenly resigns, alcohol sales must stop, and it happens more often than you might think. Having a second licence holder on your team keeps the doors open, the drinks flowing and the festivities alive.

8. Provide safeguarding training
The festive season brings a wide mix of guests, from seasoned regulars to those whose only night out all year might be the office Christmas party. Extra cheer can sometimes lead to extra challenges, so make sure your team feels confident spotting when someone may be vulnerable and knows how to offer help discreetly and appropriately. A little awareness goes a long way in keeping everyone safe and ensuring the night ends on a positive note.

9. Maintain your CCTV system
Your CCTV should always be in good working order, recording clearly and checked on a regular basis. Well-maintained systems not only reassure customers and staff but can also be vital evidence if an incident occurs. Even if your licence doesn’t require maintenance logs, keeping them is good practice demonstrates that you take safety and compliance seriously. It’s one of those things you hope you’ll never need, but you’ll be grateful for it if you do.

10. Attend local meetings
Show your face at local meetings such as Pubwatch and your local BID, town centre team or council sessions. Staying in the loop means you can align your plans with larger events, hear about enforcement activity early and make sure your venue stays firmly on everyone’s nice list.

11. Manage noise before it becomes a problem
The festive season often means more live music, DJ nights and larger, livelier crowds. Now is the perfect time to review your noise management plan and make sure it’s up to date. Simple steps like regular perimeter checks, monitoring noise levels and keeping good communication with neighbours can make all the difference. Being proactive helps prevent complaints and avoids enforcement action.

12. Consistency, consistency, consistency
Training logs, refusal records, security staff logs, incident reports and complaints logs should all be up to date and tell the same story. Consistency shows that your venue is well run, well managed and serious about compliance. It’s one of the clearest signs to enforcement officers that you have robust systems in place. This helps protect your reputation as well as your licence.

If you need guidance on any of the above, we recommend seeking legal advice. With the right preparation, your venue can enjoy a safe, successful and compliant festive season and steer well clear of the naughty list. The team at John Gaunt & Partners wishes you a very early and very successful Christmas trading period.

Michelle Hazlewood is a partner at John Gaunt & Partners