The annual licensing court deals with a number of applications as set out below. These licences are attached to the main pub, club, or hotel licence. Early preparation for your annual licensing court application is strongly recommended.
Where to make your application
Where the premises or business is based will determine which district the licensing application will need to be made.
For applications submitted in CSOL, the legal practitioner will select the correct district. For manual applications, you will need to identify the correct district using the map of District Court areas.
When does it take place
The annual licensing court takes place every year in September. The licensing year runs from the 1st of October at 12:00am (midnight) each year to 11:59pm on the 30th of September of the following year.
The annual licensing court for each District Court area is held at the last court sitting in September each year. For Dublin Metropolitan District (DMD), the annual licensing court is held over a number of dates at the end of September due to the volume of applications.
If your application is not granted on the day of the annual licensing court, it will be adjourned to the return sitting of the annual licensing court. The return sitting date will be decided by the judge.
It is important to know that you cannot submit new applications to the adjourned annual licensing court if they were not included in the September list.
How to prepare for the annual licensing court
Every application has different requirements and the documents you need may vary. However, a judge or district may have their own additional requirements, therefore, it is advisable to check first with your local court office.
There are a number of supporting documents or "proofs" to be submitted to the court office where possible in advance of the annual licencing court. You are required to notify certain people or organisations when you make a licensing application. They are known as notice parties.
You or your solicitor are responsible for ensuring all "proofs" are in order. Therefore, you or your solicitor should start preparing for the renewal application months before the licence is due to be renewed.
What happens in the annual licensing court
If your application is not granted at the annual licensing court the judge may adjourn the application to the adjourned (return sitting) annual licensing court. This is to allow any extra time required to lodge remaining "proofs" or to deal with any outstanding matters in relation to your application.
Any person may attend the annual licensing court to object to the granting of a licence for dancing or music and singing. However, to object to the renewal of an intoxicating liquor (alcohol) licence, an application must be completed in advance. Please see our objecting to a renewal of an intoxicating liquor licence page for more information on the steps involved.
Annual licensing court applications
Below you will find information on the most common applications that can be made in the annual licensing court as well as the forms for download.
- Club renewal
This application allows a club to renew their annual club licence.
- Annual public dance licence
This application allows for dancing on a licensed premises.
- Music and singing licence
This application allows for music and singing on a licensed premises.
- Restaurant certificate
This application allows food and alcohol (full on-licence or wine and bottled beer only) to be served on a premises which is currently a restaurant only.
- Certificate of transfer of on-licence
This application allows an on-licence to be fully transferred to another person who wishes to renew the licence as the new licence holder.
- Objections to renewal of intoxicating liquor licence
This application allows a person or a member of An Garda Síochána to object to the renewal of a pub licence or to attached licences for specific grounds allowed by law.
