Brighton & Hove City Council
Licensing Committee Agenda Item
(Licensing Act 2003 Functions)
Subject: Licensing Annual Report 2025-2026
Date of meeting: 08 October 2026
Report of: Corporate Director of City Operations
Contact Officer: Name: David CurtisTel: 01273 294429
Email: david.curtis@brighton-hove.gov.uk Ward(s) affected: All
For general release
1. Purpose of the report and policy context
1.1 This report provides a comprehensive overview of the work undertaken by the Licensing Team during the period 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026. It summarises the scale of licensing activity undertaken by the service, including applications received, licences granted, hearings conducted, compliance and enforcement activity undertaken, and key projects delivered during the year. The report also includes three years of comparative information across licensing, compliance, and enforcement activity, enabling Members to consider trends in demand, regulatory activity, and service performance over time. It further provides Members with an overview of how the service has supported the Council's strategic priorities through the effective regulation of licensed activities.
1.2 The Licensing Service contributes directly to the Council Plan 2023 to 2027 vision of creating "a better Brighton & Hove for all" by supporting the delivery of a city that is safe, inclusive, fair, and welcoming, while helping to ensure well-run regulatory services. Through the administration and enforcement of licensing legislation, the service promotes public safety, prevents crime and disorder, protects children and vulnerable adults from harm, supports public health objectives, and helps create environments in which residents, businesses and visitors can thrive. The work of the service also supports the Council's wider corporate priorities relating to community safety, equality and inclusion, economic growth, and public protection.
1.3 The Licensing Team delivers the Council's responsibilities under a range of licensing legislation and operates in accordance with the Council's Statement of Licensing Policy and other relevant regulatory and public protection policies. In doing so, the Licensing Team seeks to strike an appropriate balance between supporting a vibrant and diverse economy, including the city's hospitality, leisure, cultural and visitor sectors, and ensuring that licensed activities are conducted responsibly and in a manner that protects local communities from nuisance, harm and disorder.
1.4 As the first annual report bringing together the full range of licensing functions administered by the Licensing Team, this report presents information on licences and permits in force, compliance outcomes and regulatory activity delivered during 2025/26.The report structure provides members with a single consolidated overview of licensing functions that have historically been reported separately.
1.5 Comparative information has been included for 2023/24, 2024/25, and 2025/2026 where reliable historical data is available. This enables Members to consider longer-term changes across the full range of licensing functions administered by the Council, including licences and permits in force, application volumes, compliance activity, and enforcement outcomes. Detailed information is provided in Appendices 1 to 4.
2.1 That Members note the contents of this report.
3.1 The Licensing Team delivers a broad range of statutory licensing functions on behalf of the Council. These include responsibility for the licensing of alcohol sales, regulated entertainment and late-night refreshment under the Licensing Act 2003, and the regulation of premises-based gambling activities under the Gambling Act 2005. The service also administers legislation relating to street trading, charitable collections, special treatments, scrap metal dealers, sex establishments, campsites and caravan sites, hypnotism, and film classification. Through these functions, the service supports public safety, protects consumers and vulnerable people, promotes responsible business activity, and provides a proportionate regulatory framework that supports both public protection and the city's economy.
3.2 Licensing Team resources: During 2025-26, the Licensing Team consisted of 1 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) Senior Licensing Officer, 3.02 FTE Licensing Officers and 4 FTE Technical Support Officers. These resources were responsible for administering the Council's licensing functions, processing applications, undertaking compliance, and enforcement activity, supporting Licensing Panels, and contributing to policy development and partnership working across a wide range of licensing regimes.
|
Staffing Resource |
FTE |
|
Senior Licensing Officer |
1.0 |
|
Licensing Officers |
3.02 |
|
Technical Support Officers |
4.0 |
|
Total Establishment |
8.02 |
3.3 The establishment outlined above reflects the position during the 2025-26 reporting period. Following the Regulatory Services restructure implemented in April 2026, technical support for Licensing is now provided through a shared Regulatory Services Technical Support Team, supporting Licensing, Food & Safety and Environmental Protection functions.
3.4 The revised structure is intended to improve organisational resilience and provide greater flexibility in responding to service demand and operational priorities. Future annual reports will assess the impact of these arrangements on service delivery and performance.
3.5 Service overview: The team administers a broad range of licensing regimes, processes applications, undertakes compliance and enforcement activity, supports Licensing Panels and policy development, and works with partner agencies to promote public safety and the licensing objectives.
3.6 In addition to its core licensing and enforcement functions, the Licensing Team delivered a number of significant policy, partnership, and regulatory initiatives during 2025/26. These included implementation of the revised Statement of Licensing Policy, participation in under-age sales test purchasing programmes, continued promotion of Challenge 25 and the Sensible on Strength initiative, preparation for the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026, and licensing support for major city events including Brighton Festival, Brighton Pride, Boundary Festival, On the Beach events and Fan Zones.
3.7 The service continued to work closely with Sussex Police, Responsible Authorities, and neighbouring licensing authorities through established partnership forums, including the Safety Advisory Group, Joint Intelligence Meetings and the East and West Sussex Licensing Group. This collaborative approach supports information sharing, coordinated enforcement activity and the promotion of consistent regulatory standards across the region.
3.8 The scope of these responsibilities demonstrates the Licensing Team’s role as a public protection service, combining regulatory oversight, compliance monitoring, partnership working, community safety and support for the city's economy, hospitality sector, and major events programme.
3.9 Licensing plays a significant role in supporting the city's visitor economy, hospitality sector, and cultural offer by providing a proportionate regulatory framework that enables businesses and event organisers to operate whilst promoting public safety and the licensing objectives.
3.10 As this is the first annual Licensing Report covering the full range of licensing functions administered by the Council, information has been drawn from a range of licensing systems, records, and management information sources. Comparative information has been included where reliable historical data is available.
3.11 The report provides Members with a clear overview of licensing activity during 2025-26 together with comparative information covering the previous two financial years. This enables trends in service demand, licensing activity, compliance outcomes, and regulatory workload to be identified and considered in the context of future service priorities.
3.12 The figures below provide a snapshot of licences, permits, and registrations in force at the year-end together with comparative information within Appendix 1.
|
Licence Type |
2025-2026 |
|
Premises licences |
1,616 |
|
Club Premises Certificates |
34 |
|
Personal licences (alcohol) |
7,028 |
|
Gambling premises licences |
44 |
|
Gambling permits |
238 |
|
Small Society Lotteries |
64 |
|
Street trading consents |
117 |
|
Special treatment premises licences |
293 |
|
Special treatment practitioner |
2184 |
|
Scrap metal licences |
7 |
|
Sex establishments |
4 |
|
Charitable collections |
37 |
|
Hypnotism |
1 |
|
Total |
11,774 |
3.13 The figures demonstrate the scale and diversity of licensed activities operating within Brighton & Hove and the breadth of the Council's licensing responsibilities. In addition, licensing functions recover a significant proportion of their costs through fees and charges prescribed by legislation or set locally where permitted.
3.14 Licensed activity during 2025-2026: During 2025-26, the Licensing Team received 1,044 applications across its various licensing functions. In addition, the service processed 780 Temporary Event Notices and supported 41 Licensing Panel hearings.
|
Activity |
2025-2026 |
|
Applications received |
1044 |
|
Licensing Panel hearings |
41 |
|
Temporary Event Notices |
780 |
|
Total |
1990 |
3.15 The volume of activity demonstrates the significant workload undertaken by the Licensing Team in administering and regulating licensed activities across the city. A detailed breakdown of licensing activity and demand data, including comparative information , is provided in Appendix 2.
3.16 Whilst overall licensing demand remains high, the comparative data indicates a gradual reduction in application volumes over the last three years. However, increases in certain application types, including new premises licences and full variations, suggest continued investment and change within the licensed sector.
3.17 Compliance and Enforcement Activity: The Licensing Team undertakes a programme of compliance, advisory and enforcement activity to promote the licensing objectives and ensure licence holders comply with legislation and licence conditions.
3.18 During 2025-26 officers carried out 102 inspections and 27 enforcement visits. A significant proportion of issues were resolved through advice and early intervention, resulting in 31 written advice notices and 38 written warnings. Where necessary, formal enforcement action was taken, resulting in 21 suspensions and two revocations. The service also undertook one licence review and one expedited review during the year.
3.19 Three licensing appeals were determined during the year. In each case the Council's original decision was upheld by the court, with costs awarded in the Council's favour. Comparative data also shows an increase in suspensions and revocations during the reporting period, indicating that formal enforcement powers continue to be used where advice, engagement and voluntary compliance are not sufficient to address non-compliance.
|
Enforcement Activity |
2025-2026 |
|
Inspections |
102 |
|
Enforcement Visits |
27 |
|
Written Advice Notices |
31 |
|
Written Warnings |
38 |
|
Suspensions |
21 |
|
Revocations |
2 |
|
Licence Reviews |
1 |
|
Expedited Reviews |
1 |
|
Appeals |
3 |
|
Total |
226 |
3.20 The compliance and enforcement figures presented for 2025-26 demonstrate the Licensing Team's proportionate and intelligence-led approach to regulation. Whilst many issues were resolved through advice, engagement, and early intervention, whilst formal enforcement action is taken where necessary to address more serious or persistent non-compliance.
3.21 The compliance and enforcement activity information presented establishes a baseline for future performance reporting and will support more detailed analysis as annual reporting arrangements develop. A detailed breakdown of compliance and enforcement activity, including comparative information where available and reliable, is provided in Appendix 3
3.22 Partnership Working: Partnership working remains an important aspect of licensing regulation and public protection. During the year, officers continued to work closely with Sussex Police, Responsible Authorities and neighbouring licensing authorities through the Safety Advisory Group, Joint Intelligence Meetings and the East and West Sussex Licensing Group.
3.23 These arrangements support intelligence sharing, coordinated enforcement activity and the development of consistent regulatory approaches.
4. Analysis and consideration of alternative options
4.1 The information presented demonstrates the scale of licensing activity undertaken during 2025/26 and the Licensing Team's contribution to public protection, community safety, and the local economy.
4.2 The level of licensing activity reflects the significance of Brighton & Hove's hospitality, leisure, cultural and visitor economy sectors, and corresponding regulatory responsibilities placed upon the Licensing Team.
4.3 The comparative information contained within the appendices enables Members to assess trends in licences and permits in force, application volumes, compliance activity, and enforcement outcomes over a three-year period. The data demonstrates growth in the overall number of licences, permits and registrations administered by the Council, alongside a reduction in application volumes and increased levels of proactive compliance and enforcement activity.
4.4 Licensing Decisions and Outcomes: Of the 1,044 applications received during the year, 955 were granted, 26 were refused and 63 were withdrawn. Approximately 91% of all applications resulted in a licence being granted.
4.5 The relatively low number of refusals indicates that most applications were either capable of being granted as submitted or progressed following engagement between applicants and the Licensing Team during the application process.
4.6 The service supported 41 Licensing Panel hearings during the year, demonstrating continued demand for Member involvement in contested licensing matters.
4.7 Comparative information relating to licensing decisions and outcomes is included within Appendix 2 where available.
4.8 Compliance and Enforcement Analysis: The Licensing Team applies a proportionate, risk-based approach to regulation, targeting available resources towards those activities, premises and issues that present the greatest risk to the licensing objectives. The balance of advisory interventions and formal enforcement action demonstrates the continued emphasis on achieving compliance through engagement wherever appropriate, whilst taking robust action where necessary. Comparative information contained within Appendix 3 indicates increasing levels of proactive compliance and enforcement activity over the reporting period. However, Members should note that reliable historic compliance and enforcement data is not available for all activity types. This reflects differences in how activity was recorded and monitored in previous years, resulting in some categories being reported as a new baseline for 2025/26.
4.9 Service Impact and Priorities: Through the regulation of licensed activities, the Licensing Team supports public safety, responsible business activity, and the city's economy. Key priorities for 2026/27 include maintaining compliance standards, responding to legislative change, supporting major events, delivering policy reviews, and continuing to work closely with partner agencies.
4.10 Whilst levels of licensing activity remain high, resource pressures continue to impact the service's ability to undertake proactive compliance and advisory visits across all licensing regimes. The service therefore continues to prioritise activity on a risk and intelligence-led basis, focusing resources on those activities and premises presenting the greatest risk to the licensing objectives.
4.11 The comparative information contained within the appendices provides an improved understanding of licensing activity, compliance outcomes and regulatory demand across the Council's licensing functions. Alongside operational delivery, work will continue during 2026/27 to review and improve performance recording arrangements, data quality, and reporting processes to ensure that a broader range of service activity can be consistently measured and compared over time. This will support future annual reporting and provide Members with a more complete picture of service demand, compliance activity, and regulatory outcomes.
4.12 Alternative Options. This report is presented for information only and no alternative options have therefore been considered.
4.13 Achievements and Priorities. In addition to its statutory licensing functions, the Licensing Team has continued to support major city events, lead policy development, deliver partnership initiatives and contribute to a range of multi-agency forums during 2025/26.
4.14 The team played a key role in the planning and delivery of several significant events, including Brighton Festival 2025, Brighton & Hove Pride 2025, Boundary Festival, On The Beach events, and Fan Zones established at St Peter's Church for the Women’s Rugby World Cup.
4.15 A major review of the Council's Statement of Licensing Policy was completed during the year. The review included a Licensing Summit, public consultation, and Equality Impact Assessment, resulting in the adoption and implementation of a revised Statement of Licensing Policy in January 2026.
4.16 Partnership working remains a central component of the team's approach to promoting the licensing objectives. During the year, officers undertook 16 test purchasing operations with Trading Standards and Sussex Police, together with follow-up interventions where required. The team also delivered a Challenge 25 compliance project with Sussex Police involving approximately 20 off-licensed premises, supported by follow-up advisory and enforcement activity.
4.17 Prior to Brighton & Hove Pride, officers participated in approximately 140 multi-agency inspections and compliance visits alongside Sussex Police, East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service and Environmental Protection colleagues to support event safety, preparedness, and regulatory compliance.
4.18 The Sensible on Strength (SoS) scheme continues to be promoted through licensing inspections and partnership engagement. Approximately 204 premises are currently accredited, and work is underway to review membership records and support further growth of the initiative.
4.19 The comparative information contained within the appendices suggests that many aspects of the service's work remain relatively stable year-on-year. This includes partnership meetings, Safety Advisory Group attendance and Joint Intelligence Meetings, demonstrating the continued importance of partnership working in supporting the licensing objectives.
4.20 During 2026/27 the team will continue to support major city events, strengthen partnership working, maintain high levels of compliance activity and build upon initiatives that contribute to the reduction of alcohol-related harm and the promotion of the licensing objectives. The service also continues to receive a significant number of complaints and enquiries relating to licensed activities, reflecting ongoing public expectations around compliance, public nuisance, community safety, and regulatory intervention where appropriate.
4.21 Challenges and Emerging Pressures: Whilst the Licensing Team continues to deliver a high volume of licensing, compliance and enforcement activity, several challenges remain. Demand for licensing services continues to be influenced by the scale and diversity of Brighton & Hove's hospitality, leisure, cultural and visitor economy, alongside increasing expectations around public protection, safeguarding, and regulatory compliance. The service must balance support for a thriving night-time economy and major events programme with the need to protect residents from crime, disorder, nuisance, and other adverse impacts. In addition, forthcoming legislative changes, including those arising from the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026, will create new regulatory responsibilities and training requirements. Within the context of finite resources, the service will continue to adopt a proportionate, risk-based, and intelligence-led approach, prioritising activities that present the greatest risk to the licensing objectives whilst seeking to maintain effective engagement with businesses, residents, and partner agencies.
4.22 Looking Ahead: Risks, Emerging Issues and Priorities: While levels of licensing activity remain high, maintaining a programme of proactive compliance and enforcement visits continues to present a challenge. Such visits play an important role in promoting the licensing objectives, identifying non-compliance at an early stage, and supporting businesses to meet their legal responsibilities.
4.23 Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) remains a key priority across community safety, policing, and public protection services. The Licensing Team will continue to work with partner agencies, licensed premises, and event organisers to consider how licensing policy, licence conditions, training, and compliance activity can contribute to wider efforts to improve safety and reduce violence, harassment, and intimidation within the night-time economy.
4.24 A key priority for 2026/27 will be preparing for the implementation of provisions contained within the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026. The legislation introduces a smoke-free generation and new regulatory controls relating to vaping products, with implementation being introduced in phases from 2027. The Council will continue to monitor national guidance and prepare for any local regulatory and enforcement implications.
4.25 During 2026/27 the Council will also undertake a review of its Statement of Gambling Policy to ensure it remains up to date, reflects current legislation and guidance, and continues to support the licensing objectives under the Gambling Act 2005.
4.26 Further information regarding the Licensing Team's projects, partnership activity, policy development, key achievements during 2025/26, and looking ahead is provided in Appendix 4.
5. Community engagement and consultation
5.1 The Licensing Team routinely engages with licence holders, trade representatives, Sussex Police, neighbouring licensing authorities, and other stakeholders in the exercise of its statutory functions.
5.2 Engagement also takes place through public consultation processes, licensing applications, policy reviews, partnership meetings and regular liaison with businesses and stakeholders.
5.3 No formal consultation has been undertaken in relation to this report as it is presented for information only.
6. Financial implications
6.1 This report is for information purposes only and has no direct financial implications.
Name of finance officer consulted: David Wilder
Date consulted (09/09/2026)
7. Legal implications
7.1 The Council has statutory responsibilities for the administration and enforcement of licensing functions under a range of legislation, including the Licensing Act 2003, the Gambling Act 2005, and the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982. The activities outlined in this report have been undertaken in accordance with those statutory powers and duties.
7.2 This report is for information only and does not require Members to make a regulatory decision.
Name of lawyer consulted:
Date consulted (16/09/2026):
8. Equalities implications
8.1 Licensing functions contribute to the creation of safe and accessible environments for residents and visitors. Through its regulatory activities, the Council seeks to protect vulnerable people, promote public safety and ensure licensed activities are carried out responsibly.
8.2 The Licensing Team works closely with Responsible Authorities and partner agencies to ensure licensing decisions carefully consider potential impacts on protected groups and support the Council's wider equality objectives.
9. Sustainability implications
9.1 The licensing framework supports the city's economic, social, and environmental sustainability by enabling businesses and events to operate within an appropriate regulatory framework while protecting local communities and public spaces.
9.2 Licensing also supports the vitality of Brighton & Hove's hospitality, leisure, tourism, and cultural sectors, which make an important contribution to the city's economy.
10. Other Implications [delete any or all that are not applicable]
10.1 There are no direct social value or procurement implications arising from this report.
10.2 Licensing plays an important role in supporting the prevention of crime and disorder through the regulation of licensed activities, partnership working and enforcement activity where necessary.
10.3 The Licensing Team supports public health objectives through the regulation of licensed premises and activities, participation in initiatives such as Challenge 25 and Sensible on Strength, and by promoting safe and responsible operating practices across the licensed sector and through its contribution to wider public health and safeguarding objectives.
11. Conclusion
11.1 The Licensing Team continues to deliver an extensive programme of regulatory, compliance and enforcement activity across a diverse range of licensing regimes. During 2025/26 the service supported over 11,800 licences, permits and registrations, processed more than 1,000 applications and administered a significant programme of compliance and enforcement activity.
11.2 The report demonstrates the important contribution licensing makes to public protection, community safety, the visitor economy, and the effective management of major events. It also establishes a baseline for future annual reporting and performance monitoring, enabling Members to track trends, service demand, and regulatory outcomes over time.
Appendix 1: Current Licensing and Permits Comparative Data.
Appendix 2: Licensing Activity and Demand Data.
Appendix 3: Compliance and Enforcement Activity Data.
Appendix 4: Projects, Partnerships, and Key Initiatives 2025-2026.