Opening a venue
What do you need to do?
Not sure? Tell us where you're up to and we'll tell you what comes next.Talk to JacobOpening a venue
The approvals for a new venue.
Most new venues need several of these. We tell you which ones yours needs. Building permits and food business registration sit with your builder, building surveyor and council, and we coordinate them with everything else.
Fees and timing
What it costs and how long it takes.
Our fees are fixed and agreed before we start. Council's and LCV's own fees are separate. The timeframes below are typical, not promises; objections and workload change them.
- Site check
- Fixed fee, quoted before we start
- New liquor licence
- From $1,199 + GST (restaurant or café) or $1,599 + GST (other licences), red line plan included
- Lodging the licence
- Within 10 business days of receiving your documents
- Planning permit
- Council has 60 statutory days for a standard application; real times are often longer
- Liquor licence decision
- Allow around 12 weeks from lodgement if there are no objections
Why Plan2Pour
- We've run venuesWe know what a licence means on the floor.
- Permit and council checked firstBefore anything is lodged.
- Fixed feeAgreed before we start.
Questions
Common questions.
Something else? Call (03) 7064 8477 or send us a note. We reply within 24 hours.
Further reading: Do I need a planning permit for a liquor licence? · Why November and December are a smart time to apply for a liquor licence
What approvals do I need to open a restaurant in Victoria?
Most restaurants that serve alcohol need a liquor licence from LCV, a red line plan, and a planning permit if the zone requires one for the use or for building works. Add a footpath trading permit for outdoor tables, plus a building permit and food business registration, which your builder, surveyor and council handle. Our page on approvals to open a venue explains each one and the order they go in.
Should I get the permit or the licence first?
Sort out planning first, because the planning permit sets the ceiling on what the liquor licence can ever be: hours, patrons, licensed area and music. Since VC286 you no longer need a permit just to sell liquor, but the use or the works may still need one. We check that early and prepare the licence to match, so the two don't conflict.
How long does it take to open a new venue?
It depends on the approvals and the build, so plan in months, not weeks. Council has 60 statutory days for a standard permit and often takes longer, and a straightforward liquor licence usually takes around 12 weeks from lodgement if no one objects. Approvals can run alongside the fit-out. Objections, further information requests and building delays are what usually push dates out.
What should I check before signing a lease?
Check the zone, any existing permit and licence for the site, and whether the hours, patron numbers and outdoor area you need can be approved. As a guide, LCV allows about one person per 0.75 m² of licensed floor area, so measure before you plan your numbers. Make the lease conditional on approvals, and talk to your solicitor about the clause. Our site check covers this before you sign.
Can you manage the whole opening?
Yes. We can coordinate the architect, builder, approvals, venue management plan, training and launch as one program, so everyone works to the same dates. James Curby, our Senior Consultant, leads implementation and project management; he has 17 years in venue and kitchen operations, including venue ownership. See venue opening, managed for how it works.
Speak with a principal
Tell us what the venue needs.
Every enquiry is read by a principal, not a call centre. The first conversation is free, and we reply within 24 hours.