Licensing in Scotland
We combine sector knowledge and legal expertise to achieve successful outcomes for a wide range of licensed organisations across Scotland.

“Shepherd & Wedderburn deal with all aspects of licensing applications in Scotland and they are totally efficient.”

Shepherd & Wedderburn client (2023)

In Scotland, many different types of business activity are overseen by licensing boards. We advise clients in the hospitality, retail, education, transport and leisure sectors, among others. They include sports clubs, sole trader businesses, hotels, convenience stores, petrol stations, individuals and community organisations.

We advise on everything from licence applications to health and safety to civil appeals. For every client, we work with the relevant licensing board, applying both our legal expertise and our understanding of the sector to achieve a successful outcome. We are particularly strong in contentious matters: hearings for new applications, major and minor variation hearings, review hearings, personal licence hearings, appeals to the Sheriff Court and judicial reviews.

Our expertise includes:

Applications for premises (liquor) licences
All licences required to operate a taxi or private car hire business
Public entertainment licences, short-term lets licences and HMOs
Variations to licences
Transfers of licenses
Licensing board hearings, committee hearings and review hearings
Personal licence applications, including representation before the licensing board if required
Civil appeals when a licence is refused, suspended, or revoked
Judicial reviews
Criminal prosecutions arising from legislative offences
Health and safety advice

Meet our key contacts

Kevin Clancy

Partner

Meet our full team

Kevin Clancy

Partner

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Emma Summers

Paralegal/Coordinator

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Related articles and insights: Licensing in Scotland

27 September 2024

Licence to kill: The Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024

Contributor: Stephanie Hepburn

The new Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024 introduces a number of key changes to the law surrounding wildlife management and muirburn.

17 September 2024

Scottish Government Issue Update to Short-Term Lets Licensing Scheme (August 2024)

Contributor: Kevin Clancy

On 30 August 2024, The Scottish Government amended existing short-term lets legislation in Scotland, meaning a licence is required for what is known as home sharing, home letting and secondary letting – a summary of which can be found here.

10 April 2024

Don’t let alcohol licensing requirements catch you off guard while expanding your rural business

Contributors:
Kevin Clancy, Emma Summers

Rural landowners and businesses may be considering diversifying their offerings in order to grow – if this includes alcohol it is critical to understand the alcohol licensing requirements you may be subject to.Extended version of an article originally published in Scottish Land and Estates (p.42).

26 March 2024

Key licensing and health and safety considerations for insolvency practitioners

Contributor: Kevin Clancy

Against the backdrop of a challenging financial landscape for the licensed trade and the hospitality and leisure sector, Kevin Clancy unpacks pertinent matters for insolvency practitioners.

22 March 2024

Licence to kill: the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill

Contributor: Stephanie Hepburn

The Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill passed Stage 3 on 21 March 2024 and will be enacted into law. How will the licensing schemes work in practice and what are some key things to consider?

8 September 2023

Short-term lets licensing scheme in Scotland: What are temporary licences and temporary exemptions?

Contributor: Kevin Clancy

The third instalment in our series covering the new short-term letting regulations in Scotland looks at temporary licences and temporary exemptions within the licensing scheme, with additional information on possible lengths, conditions and application processes.

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