Displaying Your Blue Notice
After submitting your application, do not advertise immediately. Wait for the council to confirm your consultation period end date — typically sent via email within 24 hours. If you do not include the consultation period end date, that makes your notice incomplete.
⚠️ Important: You can’t publish the public notice until this date is confirmed, because the 28-day consultation period starts from the date the council accepts your application, not the date you submit it.
Some councils are slower due to workload or staff shortages. If you don’t hear back promptly, it’s perfectly acceptable to send a polite follow-up email.
Advertising Your Blue Notice
Only after the blue notice is displayed on the premises and it is visible from outside, you can proceed to advertise your notice in a newspaper. The typical cost of a notice publication is £350 + VAT, but the ultimate price will depend on the length of the text included in the blue notice, as well as the area you are located in.
The notice must appear in the newspaper within the 10 working day period starting from the date the council accepted your application. Please note that some newspapers publish once a week, which means that you should promptly book your ad, once you receive the consultation period end date. Otherwise you risk slipping out of the 10 working day period.
Failure to publish the blue notice in a newspaper will result in your application being invalid, and the consultation period will have to be restarted, which ultimately means more waiting for the licence grant!
Responding to Feedback from Responsible Authorities
You are now in the 28 day consultation period - during this time, public authorities, like the police, the fire department or the council, might make comments or inquiries about your licence application. If you receive an email that sounds like your application has been rejected, don’t panic.
Councils or responsible authorities may request minor adjustments — like rewording your operating schedule or clarifying your floor plan — to ensure your application meets local policy requirements.
Respond quickly and professionally. Remember it is up to you to agree to a suggested condition. That means you are able to negotiate what the condition will ultimately look like. If you have a good business justification for modifying a condition, the authorities will take that into consideration. Most applications are approved once these revisions are made.
Preventing Objections from the Public
Community objections can derail your application timeline, even if they’re based on misunderstandings.
To reduce the risk:
Talk to neighbours in advance to explain your plans
Be transparent and approachable
But remember: once someone is aware of your application, they have the right to object — even if their reasons are subjective.
A single objection can trigger a formal hearing, so handle communications with care.
Displaying Your Blue Notice
Advertising Your Blue Notice
Responding to Feedback
Preventing Objections
