Apply for a 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 or serve food and drink or allow it to be used to eat food or drink supplied from, or in connection with your premises.

A pavement licence costs £100, and must be paid when you submit your application.

Due to law changes announced on 31 March 2024, we are currently reviewing:

• the fee we charge
• requirements for renewal applications
• standard licence conditions
• licence duration
• expiry dates

We anticipate that we'll refer these matters to our Licensing Committee for a decision in June 2024.

You can view summaries of current applications online.

For information about specific applications, email your request to [email protected]

Representations concerning any application must be submitted within 7 days of the date of the application.

You can apply for a licence if you:

• do not operate later than 10pm Sunday to Thursday and 11pm Friday and Saturday
• have public liability insurance of £5 million
• have the necessary permission if you intend to sell alcohol
• ensure that clear access routes on the highway are maintained

You'll need to have the following items and information available to upload with your application (you will not be able to complete it without them):

• 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

The plan will need to show:

• the property boundary and proposed boundary of area to be covered by the pavement licence (with a red line to indicate the area to be licensed)
• building and kerb lines
• furniture layout
• points of access and egress
• position of any lighting columns, litter bins, road signs or other existing street furniture
• areas designated as non-smoking, this includes vaping and e-cigarettes. We would encourage businesses to promote the area as non-smoking

You should review our standard conditions of licence before applying.

We can only accept online applications.

We'll only grant applications until 30 September 2024 currently.

If you already hold a pavement licence and want to renew it, you should apply to renew at least 28 days before the expiry date.

You'll be asked to register or log in to your account to make your application.

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.

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
  • 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.

You can read further guidance provided by the government:

• pavement licences guidance
• reducing the spread of respiratory infections, including COVID-19, in the workplace
• information about licensing of outdoor drinking and dining

If you need any help or support with your application, email [email protected]