If you wish to place furniture on a public highway, for example outside a cafe or restaurant, you will need permission from the Council in the form of either a Pavement Licence or a Tables and Chairs Permit. 

Pavement Licences

The Business and Planning Act 2020 introduced a new, temporary application process for obtaining Pavement Licences to permit removeable furniture to be placed on the highway. This process provides a streamlined and cheaper route for businesses such as cafes, restaurants and bars to secure a licence to place furniture on the highway. This legislation was recently made permanent. 

A business which uses (or proposes to use) premises for the sale or consumption of food or drink can apply for a licence. Businesses that are eligible include: public houses, cafes, bars, restaurants, snack bars, coffee shops, and ice cream parlours including where such uses form an ancillary aspect of another use, for example supermarkets, or entertainment venues which sell food and drink.

Please note that a Pavement Licence only allows the citing of furniture and cannot be used alone to grant permission for an outdoor bar or similar for the sale of alcohol, or supply of hot food/drink between 11pm and 5am (this would require a Premises Licence, Variation of Premises Licence  or Temporary Event Notice).

Key points

  • 14 day consultation period, and 14 days for the Council to determine the application
  • Application must be advertised by the applicant
  • Furniture must be easily removeable from the highway (i.e., not bolted down) 
  • If granted,  the licence will be valid for two years unless there are circumstances that warrant a shorter duration
  • Licence holder must make provision for a non-smoking area, by law

Apply via post or email: 

Applications can be sent to either licensing@havant.gov.uk, or Licensing, Havant Borough Council, Public Service Plaza, Civic Centre Road, Havant, PO9 2AX. We recommend that you read the guidance document below prior to submitting your application. 

Tables and Chairs Permits

Applications for Tables and Chairs Permits can continue to be made under section 115E of the Highways Act 1980, where the pavement licensing regime cannot consider the proposals (i.e., the furniture is not easily removeable or is bolted down).

Please note that a Tables and Chairs Permit only allows the citing of furniture and cannot be used alone to grant permission for an outdoor bar or similar for the sale of alcohol, or supply of hot food/drink between 11pm and 5am (this would require a Premises Licence, Variation of Premises Licence  or Temporary Event Notice).

Key points

  • 28 day day consultation period, with application determined on the next working day 
  • Application must be advertised by the Council 
  • The applicant must contact and obtain consent to the proposals from 'frontagers'
  • If granted, the licence will be valid for 12 months unless there are circumstances that warrant a shorter duration

Apply via post or email: 

Applications can be sent to either licensing@havant.gov.uk, or Licensing, Havant Borough Council, Public Service Plaza, Civic Centre Road, Havant, PO9 2AX. We recommend that you read the guidance document below prior to submitting your application.