About Complete Licensing

Complete Licensing is an independent licensing and regulatory consultancy helping businesses across England and Wales secure, protect and improve the licences they depend on. Complex licensing matters require more than just form filling. They need the right people, the right evidence and a plan that works.

Our core work is in alcohol and premises licensing under the Licensing Act 2003. We help our clients prepare applications, respond to licensing concerns and manage their ongoing responsibilities, drawing on experience in policing, environmental health, investigations and venue operations.

Our clients include venue operators, venue groups, landlords, event organisers, investors and professional advisers. We also support solicitors and barristers on complex licensing matters.

We bring together licensing, policing, environmental health, investigation, security, acoustics, health and safety, medical and practical operating experience, so we can look at the whole problem rather than just the paperwork in front of us.

Our approach

Whether you are applying for a new premises licence, seeking a variation or responding to licensing concerns, we consider both the licensing requirements and the practical demands of running your premises.

We review the available information, identify potential concerns and explain the options to you. If your case requires several areas of expertise, we coordinate the relevant specialists and work alongside your existing advisers.

Advice tailored to your premises

When working with you, we consider your business model, activities, operating hours and local environment before recommending the best course of action for your needs. The measures required for a local restaurant may differ from those of a nightclub, festival or group of venues.

Clear evidence and practical recommendations

We assess the records, procedures and other evidence relevant to your premises. We explain which elements need attention, why it matters and how it can be addressed. Before you agree to proposed conditions or operational changes, we help you understand what they would mean for your business and staff.

Support with putting changes into practice

If improvements to your operations or procedures are required, either following a review or to ensure you meet the conditions of your premises licence on an ongoing basis, we can help you implement them and review whether they are working. This may include clarifying responsibilities, updating procedures and checking that records accurately reflect the way in which the premises is run.

Experience across licensing and venue operations

Our team of experts brings together experience in licensing, policing, environmental health, investigation, security, acoustics, health and safety, medical and practical operating experience, so we can look at the whole problem rather than the paperwork in front of us.

Our breadth of experience helps us understand exactly how authorities assess licensing concerns and what proposed measures mean for the people running a venue. We draw on the expertise relevant to each instruction, so our advice and support reflect your business and the issues involved.

Meet the Complete Licensing team to find out more about our backgrounds, qualifications and areas of expertise.

Who we work with

Our clients include:

• owners and operators of pubs, bars, restaurants, hotels and entertainment venues
• hospitality groups and businesses operating across multiple sites
• commercial landlords, managing agents and investors
• festival and event organisers
• retailers and other businesses requiring licensed activities
• solicitors, barristers and other professional advisers

Some clients want us to work with them before their business opens or when changing how their existing premises operates. Others need support following a complaint, serious incident or licensing intervention. We tailor our service to your individual circumstances, whether it’s managing a specific application or providing ongoing support across a range of venues.

A specialist resource for law firms

Complete Licensing is not a law firm and we do not replace your solicitor or barrister; we help to strengthen the legal team. Your lawyer will remain responsible for all legal advice, case strategy, disclosure and advocacy. We focus on the facts, the operation and the specialist evidence.

This gives law firms access to a ready-made team of licensing and operational specialists, without needing to source separate crime, noise, CCTV, compliance and venue experts for every issue. The legal team retains control and the client receives a joined-up service.

Find out more about our expert witness reports and hearing evidence for contested licensing matters.

Our licensing services

We support our clients before, during and after a licence application. Our services include:

• Applications and changes: preparing new premises licence applications and managing premises licence variations.
• Reviews and urgent matters: supporting clients through premises licence reviews and providing licensing crisis management.
• Ongoing compliance: helping businesses understand their responsibilities, review procedures and maintain appropriate standards through licensing compliance services.
• Property and ownership matters: providing landlord licensing support and assistance with changes affecting licensed premises.

Our wider work covers temporary events, festivals, policies and procedures and other licensing requirements.

Explore our full range of services to find the right support for your business.

Professional standards and secure handling

Licensing work can involve sensitive information, including CCTV, witness accounts, allegations, staff records, medical information and police material. We take that responsibility seriously.

Complete Licensing is a corporate member of the Association of British Investigators, and individual members of our team hold full ABI membership. We are also accredited by the Good Business Charter, we are members of the Institute of Licensing, and we hold Cyber Essentials certification.

Our published policies cover privacy and data protection, anti-bribery, modern slavery, complaints and vulnerability reporting. We use secure systems and clear data-handling controls, and we maintain professional indemnity insurance. These standards matter to operators, and they matter even more to law firms that need reliable external specialists.

Why choose Complete Licensing?

Choose Complete Licensing when the work needs more than a form and a covering letter. When the licence is valuable. When several responsible authorities are involved. When a serious incident has changed the risk. When the evidence needs to be gathered, tested and explained. When a law firm needs a capable licensing consultancy behind the legal team. And when a business needs ongoing compliance that works in the real world.

We combine deep regulatory experience with practical delivery. We can act quickly in a crisis and stay involved long after the hearing, helping you secure a licence, protect it and build the evidence needed to keep it.

Read our licensing case studies to see how we have supported clients with applications, specialist evidence and contested licensing matters.

Speak to Complete Licensing

Contact us at the earliest stage. Early advice can prevent objections and reduce the risk of enforcement, and it gives a legal team more time to build the right case.

For law firm instructions, urgent licensing crisis management, a premises licence review, expert evidence or ongoing compliance, get in touch or call 0207 222 2345.

Questions and answers