You need a licence to put tables and chairs on the public highway outside your business for customers to use to consume food and drink.
Further information on how to apply for a pavement licence can be found on the following pages.
You may not need a licence if the land you propose to use is your own property. However, planning permission may be required.
Apply for a pavement licence
Apply for a pavement licence [https://myaccount.coventry.gov.uk/service/Pavement_licence_application]
The fee for a pavement licence application is £100. Please note, this fee is currently under review.
The following information must be submitted with your application:
- Location plan - A plan showing the location of the premises outlined in red, the proposed seating area outlined in blue and the layout of the furniture and barriers.
- Furniture appearance - Details of the furniture and barriers to be used, including photographs and dimensions. Barriers must have solid cross rails at the top and bottom.
- Public Liability Insurance certificate - The applicant must have public liability insurance of at least £5,000,000
- Site notice - A copy of the site notice and a photograph of the notice affixed to the premises
- Premises licence - Where applicable, evidence that a premises licence is held by the applicant.
Application process
On receipt of a valid application, we will contact the relevant organisations. Members of the public may also make representations / objections.
The consultation period lasts 10 working days from the day after the application is made. We will make a decision within 10 working days of the end of the consultation period.
We may:
- grant the licence in respect of any or all of the purposes specified in the application, and impose conditions;
- grant the licence for some or all of the part of the highway specified in the application, and impose conditions; or
- refuse the application.
Please note, if your application is incomplete, we will notify you and you will have to re-apply.
How to object (make a representation) to a licence application
Applications are subject to a public consultation period of 10 working days, starting the day after a valid application is made.
During this time, responsible authorities and anyone else can make representations about the application.
We are not able to accept any representations received after the public consultation period has ended.
View applications open to representations. [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/directory/92/temporary-pavement-licence-applications]
Download our Pavement Licensing Policy [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/33966/temporary_pavement_licensing_policy_-_august_2020].
If you wish to make a representation / objection to an application, you must do so in writing, preferably by email to: pavementlicences@coventry.gov.uk [mailto:pavementlicences@coventry.gov.uk].
Written representations can also be hand-delivered to the Council House, Earl St. They must be clearly marked ‘FAO: Traffic Management’.
Site notice
On the day you submit your application, you must fix a notice of the application to the premises. The notice must be readily visible to, and easily read by, members of the public who are not on the premises. The notice must be constructed and secured so that it remains in place and legible until the end of the public consultation period (10 working days).
Download a copy of the site notice template. [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/33708/pavement_licence_application_site_notice_template]
A copy of the site notice must be submitted with the licence application, along with a photo of the notice affixed to the premises.
Site assessment
When considering the suitability of an application, issues we will take into account include:
- public health and safety – for example, any reasonable crowd management measures needed as a result of a licence being granted;
- public amenity – will the proposed use create nuisance to neighbouring occupiers including public events by generating anti-social behaviour and litter;
- accessibility – taking a proportionate approach to considering the nature of the site in relation to which the application for a licence is made, its surroundings and its users, taking account of:
- the required minimum footway width of 2 metres to provide adequate pedestrian access
- the cumulative impact of multiple pavement licences in close proximity, in particular considering the needs of disabled people;
- any other measures in place that may be relevant to the proposal, for example, the reallocation of road space; this could include pedestrianised streets and any subsequent reallocation of this space to vehicles;
- whether there are other permanent street furniture or structures in place on the footway that already reduce access;
- other users of the space, for example if there are high levels of pedestrian or cycle movements.
You are strongly encouraged to talk to neighbouring businesses and occupiers prior to submitting an application, and so take any issues around noise and nuisance into consideration as part of the proposal.
Standard conditions
All licences, whether granted, or deemed to have been granted, are subject to the following standard conditions.
In some cases, additional bespoke conditions may be required. This will be determined when assessing your application, on a case by case basis and at the Council’s discretion.
1A. Subject to the Licensees covenants contained in this Licence the Council pursuant to Sectionâ¯2(5) of the Business and Planning Act 2020 (as amended by the Business and Planning Act 2020 (Pavement Licence) (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2023) permits the Licensee (and its authorised employees, visitors and customers) to use the Site for the placement of the Licensees Equipment during the Licence Period
- The Licensee is permitted to use the Licensees Equipment placed on the Highway within the licensed area (hereinafter the Site) to sell or serve food or drink and/or allow it to be used by people for consumption of food or drink supplied from, or in connection with the use of the Premises and for no other purpose whatsoever. The permitted hours are 9am to 9pm, unless otherwise specified in the licence
- The Site must abut the Premises and cannot extend in front of other premises. The Site must have a hard surface and be fully accessible to disabled people, including wheelchair users. A Site can only be detached from the Premises and/or not have a hard surface if expressly permitted in the licence and supported by a management plan submitted as part of the application. In addition, the Licensee must provide details of the measures they will put in place to prevent damage to the surface of the Site (see also standard condition 10).
- No charge shall be made by the Licensee for the use of the Licensees Equipment or other objects placed on the Site
- No alcohol shall be sold on the Site unless a Premises Licence has been obtained by the Licensee (at the Licensees own expense) for the supply of alcohol on the Site pursuant to the Licensing Act 2003 or any modification or re-enactment thereof
- The Licensee of a premises licensed under the Licensing Act 2003 or any modification or re-enactment thereof, must not allow the consumption of alcohol on the Site outside the permitted hours
- All cold beverages for consumption on the Site must be served in plastic or polycarbonate glasses. No beverages are to be served in glass bottles
- The Licensees Equipment including any barriers and any other objects shall not be placed on the Site outside the permitted hours detailed in the licence. The Licensees Equipment shall be stored securely in the building and the Site left in a clean and tidy condition
- Where the Licensee fails to comply with condition 7, the Council may remove the Licensees Equipment and the reasonable and proper costs of doing so shall be a debt due from the Licensee to the Council. The Council will not be responsible for the safekeeping of the Licensees Equipment
- An unimpeded route must be maintained at all times for people wishing to use the Highway, as per the National Licence Condition. The width of the available footway must be at least 2 metres at all times.
- The Licensee shall not interfere with the surface of the Site and shall notify the Council as soon as reasonably practicable upon identification of any repair/maintenance work required to the surface of the site. Any costs incurred as a result of damage to the Highway, due to the positioning of the Licensees equipment, will be recovered in full from the Licensee by the Council
- The Licensees activities on the Site must not interfere with highway drainage arrangements
- The Licensee shall remove their equipment including any barriers and any other objects placed on the Site immediately if requested to do so by the Council, its contractors, statutory undertakers or the emergency services and shall not replace them until authorised to do so by the Council, its contractors, statutory undertakers or the emergency services. The Council has no liability to pay compensation to the Licensee for any resulting loss including for the avoidance of doubt loss of profit
- The Licensee shall not use or permit to be used the Site or any part or parts thereof for any purpose or activity which is or may be dangerous, offensive, noxious, noisome, illegal or immoral or which are or may become a nuisance to the Council, the general public or the owners occupiers or users of any adjoining or neighbouring property or the Highway
- The Licensee shall not use or permit to be used on the Site or within the immediate vicinity any equipment to produce generate or amplify sound
- At all times the Site shall be kept in a clean and tidy condition and free from all rubbish at the Licensees own expense to the satisfaction of the Council. All waste shall be contained at all times ensuring a minimal risk of it being dislodged by the general public or windblown from the Site. The Licensee shall also take reasonable steps to ensure that the area within 50 metres of the site is free from litter related to the Licensees business (howsoever generated)
- Waste from the Licensees operations must not be disposed of in the permanent litter bins provided by the Council
- No electrical cables shall be run along the ground of the Site in such a manner that would create a tripping hazard
- No advertising shall be permitted on the Licensees Equipment or any barrier or other equipment placed on the Site by the Licensee, save for the trading name of the business operating at the Premises
- The Licensees Equipment should be of an approved type and should be kept in a good state of repair and condition. Barriers must be provided and have solid cross rails at the top and bottom so that they can be easily detected by visually-impaired pedestrians
- The Licensee shall be responsible for the conduct of customers using the Site. Customers must not be a nuisance or annoy users of the highway or tenants of adjoining premises
- The Licensee must take out and maintain for the Licence Period a Public Liability insurance policy providing an indemnity of at least £5,000,000.00 for any one event and shall when reasonably requested by the Council produce evidence of such policy. The policy must indemnify and keep the Council indemnified against all losses claims demands actions proceedings damages costs expenses or other liability arising directly or indirectly from the Licensees use and occupation of the Site or taken made or incurred in consequence of the use or presence of the Licensees Equipment and other objects placed on the Site
- The Licensees Equipment must not, at any time, be allowed to obstruct the emergency access route from the host or neighbouring premises.
- No heating equipment of any kind (save for any specified in the Licence) shall be permitted on the Site
- The Licensee must obtain and comply with all Requisite Consents in connection with the use of the Site
- The Licensee must pay any rates taxes charges assessments duties and outgoings (if any) arising by reason of the use of the Site by the Licensee
- Notwithstanding any other provision(s) contained in the Licence the Council may at any time during the Licence Period and subject to a minimum of one (1) months prior written notice require the Licensee to refrain from placing the Licensees Equipment on the Site (or any part or parts of it) when an event is to take place near the Premises. In the event of the Council serving such a notice it will specify the following:
- the name and purpose of the event
- the date(s) and/or expected duration of the event
- confirmation as to whether the whole or part of the Site is required
- the date the Licensee may reasonably expect to resume use of the Site
- Where there is within the Site street furniture of any kind lamp columns existing structures within the highway including for the avoidance of doubt bollards the Licensee takes the Licence subject to their existence and agrees that the Council is in no way liable for any accidents or incidents caused by or involving them whilst the Site is in use pursuant to the Licence
- The Licence confers no tenancy upon the Licensee and does not give the Licensee exclusive possession of the Site or any part of it
- The Council is not to be liable for the death of or injury to the Licensee its employees visitors or customers or for any damage to any property of theirs or for any losses claims demands actions proceedings costs or expenses or other liability incurred by them in the exercise or purported exercise of the rights granted by the Licence (save in respect of death and personal injury only to the extent that the Council is found to be negligent)
- The Council does not undertake that the Site is or will become or remain fit for the purposes for which the Licence is granted, and the Licence does not authorise any unlawful interference with the convenience of persons using the Highway the rights of the owners occupiers or users of any adjoining or neighbouring property or the rights of any statutory undertaker
- The Licensee shall make no claim or charge against the Council in the event of the Licensees Equipment or other objects being lost stolen or damaged in any way from any cause whatsoever
- A copy of the Licence shall be kept on public display on the Premises and be available for inspection by when required
- In the event of breach by the Licensee of the terms of the Licence the Council may by written notice require the breach to be remedied within such reasonable time period as is specified in the notice
- If the Licensee does not comply with the terms of any written notice served by the Council on the Licensee pursuant to clause 33 the Council may take such reasonable steps as are reasonably necessary to remedy the breach and the reasonable proper costs of doing so shall be a debt due from the Licensee to the Council
- If a breach is in the opinion of the Council incapable of remedy or the Licensee has failed to comply with the terms of the aforementioned notice then the Council may terminate the Licence in accordance with condition 36
- The Council may by written notice served on the Licensee terminate the Licence absolutely as follows:
- With immediate effect if in the opinion of the Council any breach of the Licence is incapable of remedy
- On the expiration of such period as may be specified in the written notice served on the Licensee (being a period of not less than one (1) month) if the Council (in its capacity of Highways Authority) reasonably and properly considers termination of the Licence is necessary for the purpose of exercising its functions as Highways Authority
- Where it believes there is a risk to public health or safety – for example where it comes to light that there are significant security risks which have not been sufficiently considered, or addressed in a proportionate fashion the Licensee provided false or misleading statements in their application;
- or the Licensee did not comply with the requirement to affix the notice to notify the public for the relevant period
- The Licence shall cease and determine absolutely upon the termination or expiry of the Lease (however arising) (where applicable)
- Where the Licence expires is terminated or determines (however arising) the Licensee shall remove the Licensees Equipment including for the avoidance of doubt of all tables, chairs together with any barriers or other equipment installed as part of the Licence from the Site and leave the Site in a clean and tidy condition to the reasonable satisfaction of the Council
- The Licensee shall rectify within one (1) month of determination at its own cost any damage caused to the Site by the Licensee its employees visitors or customers or the Licensees Equipment within the Licence Period to the reasonable satisfaction of the Council
- Where the Licensee fails to comply with the terms of conditions 38 and 39 the Council may remove the Licensees Equipment and make any repairs to the Site deemed necessary by the Council and the reasonable and proper costs of doing so shall be a debt due from the Licensee to the Council
National Conditions
No-obstruction condition
Nothing done by the Licensee pursuant to the licence may have one of the specified statutory effects debarring grant of the licence, namely the effect of:
- preventing traffic, other than vehicular traffic, from—
- entering the relevant highway at a place where such traffic could otherwise enter it (ignoring any pedestrian planning order or traffic order made in relation to the highway),
- passing along the relevant highway, or
- having normal access to premises adjoining the relevant highway,
- preventing any use of vehicles which is permitted by a pedestrian planning order or which is not prohibited by a traffic order,
- preventing statutory undertakers having access to any apparatus of theirs under, in, on or over the highway, or
- preventing the operator of an electronic communications code network having access to any electronic communications apparatus kept installed for the purposes of that network under, in, on or over the highway
Smoke-free seating condition
Where the furniture to be put on the relevant highway consists of seating for use by persons for the purpose of consuming food or drink, the Licensee must make reasonable provision for seating where smoking is not permitted.
Action Counters Terrorism (ACT) training
Pavement licences now include a condition that the Licensee and appropriate members of staff shall complete ACT (Action Counters Terrorism) training. This online training is available free of charge and takes about 55 minutes to complete in one or multiple sessions. Once all units have been completed, the candidate can print a certificate or save it electronically for future reference. The Licensee shall also retain copies of completion certificates.
The units cover:
- Introduction to terrorism
- Identifying security vulnerabilities
- How to identify and respond to suspicious behaviour
- How to identify and deal with a suspicious item
- What to do in the event of a bomb threat
- How to respond to a firearms or weapons attack
- Summary and supporting materials.
An additional section is also available under the same registration: ACT Security e-learning with enhanced and useful content.
To find out more and register for the course, visit Protect UK e-learning [https://www.protectuk.police.uk/catalogue].
Charges
The charge for a pavement licence application is currently under review. The charge is payable online by credit or debit card as part of the application form.
The fee is non-refundable in the event of refusal of an application or surrender or revocation of a licence. You are advised not to submit an application unless you can satisfy all the requirements and have included all required documentation.
Length of licence
A pavement licence will usually be granted for 2 years.
To continue to place furniture on the public highway beyond the licence period, you must apply for a new licence [https://myaccount.coventry.gov.uk/service/Pavement_licence_application].
Right of appeal
If the site is deemed unsuitable for a pavement café, or if relevant representations are made which cannot be mitigated by conditions, then your application will be refused.
There is no statutory appeal process against a decision to refuse an application. However, if you can mitigate against the reasons for refusal, your representation will be considered by the Strategic Lead for Policy and Innovation or a delegated senior officer, and the Cabinet Member for City Services, whose decision will be final.
Changing a pavement licence
If you wish to change a pavement licence, you must apply for a new licence [https://myaccount.coventry.gov.uk/service/Pavement_licence_application].