Apply for a new pavement licence to put tables and chairs on the public highway
You need a pavement licence if your business wants to place furniture on the highway to:
- sell food and drink
- serve food or drink
- allow it to be used to eat food or drink supplied from, or in connection with your premises
Fees
The fee for a new pavement application is £500 for new applications.
This must be paid as part of your application.
How long licences last for
Licences will be issued for a duration of 2 years. After 2 years, you will need to renew the pavement licence.
Before you apply
Before you apply, you should review our standard conditions of licence PDF,181KB.
You will need to have the following documents ready to upload with your application:
- photo or brochures showing the proposed type of furniture
- a public liability insurance certificate to a minimum value of £5 million
- a site plan to a suitable scale or with clear measurements showing:
- the property boundary and proposed new boundary
- building and kerb lines
- furniture layout
- points of access and exit
- position of any lighting columns, litter bins, road signs and any existing street furniture
- areas to be designated as non-smoking (recommended)
- details of a premises licence if you will be selling alcohol
You will also need to tell us the times you plan for the pavement to be in use and the details of the person you want to be named on and responsible for the licence.
If you do not provide this information at the time you submit your application, we may reject it as invalid.
We will issue you a refund and ask you to submit a new application with the correct documents.
How to apply
You can apply for a licence if you:
- do not operate later than 10pm Sunday to Thursday and 11pm Friday and Saturday
- ensure that clear access routes on the highway are maintained
We will tell you whether your application is successful within 28 days of applying.
Once we receive your application we'll:
- send you a public notice to display at your premises for 14 days, for which you'll be asked to provide photographic evidence
- send a copy of your application to the:
- Highways Service
- Thames Valley Police
- Planning
- Environmental Health
- any other party we consider is appropriate
- use any feedback we receive after 14 days to consider your application, and notify you of our final decision within the following 14 days
We may grant or reject your application, but if granted, we may make changes or add conditions to the permitted purposes or area to be used.
We'll issue granted licences electronically and these will be subject to the council’s standard conditions.
You do not have a statutory right of appeal against a decision of the council under this act. You can challenge the decision through a legal route in the courts which is called a judicial review.
We also operate a compliments, feedback and complaints policy.
If you want to put tables and chairs out in a parking bay, as well as a pavement licence you'll also need to apply for a parking bay suspension. This is an additional process with separate fees.
You can read further guidance provided by the government:
Help with your application
If you need any help or support with your application, email [email protected].