Alcohol & Entertainment
Boutique Licensing Consultancy
Bill Donne, MIoL, is a leading expert Licensing Consultant and Paralegal, with over thirty years of experience of providing specialist support to small independent groups and sole traders of Late Night Bars, Venues, Restaurants, Festivals, Kebab Shops and Convenience Stores & Off-Licences in all Towns and Cities across England and Wales.
We consult on, draft and submit applications under the Licensing Act 2003 for Premises Licences and Club Premises Certificates to authorise the sale of alcohol, entertainment and late Night refreshment in both the retail and hospitality sectors.
Bill Donne's specialism is advocacy representing Clients at contested applications at Licensing Sub Committee Hearings (LSC), and for review hearings, with a remarkable success rate based on his exceptional knowledge of the Licensing Act 2003 and its practical impact on retail and hospitality operations. We have had commendable success in obtaining premises licences located in Cumulative Impact Policy areas particularly where the Police and Environmental Protection Responsible Authorities have objected.
Your case will be researched and prepared with forensic precision in order to give you the best chance of success that includes a pre-submission licensing audit, witness statements, and the drafting and submission of a skeleton argument. We work collaboratively with Officers from the Responsible Authorities to obtain mutually acceptable conditions that are proportionate to your style of business and achieve the best results for you.
Sliver Fox Licensing Consultants are based in Reading, Berkshire, but have a Nationwide Client base located from Bournemouth to Bristol, and from London to Leeds and Liverpool.
We are regularly instructed by other Licensing Agents to represent their Clients interests in contested applications at Licensing Sub Committee hearings.
Dependent on the complexity of your case we can usually offer to work on your case on a Fixed Fee basis.
We have appeared before Licensing Sub Committees in Reading, Wokingham, Basingstoke, Newbury, Bournemouth, Bath, Bristol, Sheffield, Stoke, Ashton, Tameside, Leeds, Liverpool, Bolton, Maidstone, Southend, Westminster, Haringey and others.
Need a Premises Licence? Has your Licence been taken to review? Have you passed your APLH examination and now need a Personal Licence? Call us now for a FREE telephone consultation.
The Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026
Has now received Royal Assent, and requires retailers to obtain a Premises Licence and a Personal Licence issued by the Council to authorise the sale of tobacco, vapes and tobacco related products. The Act is likely to go 'live' on the 1st January 2027 and it is anticipated, but not confirmed, that applications will need to be submitted in 2026. We also believe that the application process will be based on a similar process to that of the current licensing regime for entertainment and alcohol licences. This again, is subject to confirmation.
Full details are yet to be published by central Government. The Act will be enforced by the Licensing and the Trading Standards departments of the Council.
Silver Fox Consultants are monitoring Government briefings and preparing systems to assist Clients in obtaining both Premises and Personal Licences in a timely manner.
Please see our 'Services' page for the full range of licensing application services we can provide.
We generally work on a Fixed Fee basis so you can know what your costs will be in advance.
To discover more email billdonne107@hotmail.com or call : 0773 873 4586
© 2023 William Donne
Bill Donne t/a Silver Fox Licensing Consultants is not a firm of solicitors and is therefore not regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. We do not conduct reserved legal activities or litigation. Where regulated legal advice, litigation conduct or rights of audience are required, clients should instruct an authorised solicitor, barrister or other regulated legal professional