SOUTH Wiltshire's pub and club licence-holders have six months to apply for new-style licences, says David Ridley, of Salisbury solicitors Whitehead Vizard.

"A lot of local licensees are changing or tweaking their current licences," said Mr Ridley, who deals regularly with liquor and entertainment licences in the area.

"If a licensee wants and is able to make changes to their existing licence within the parameters of the Licensing Act 1964, they need to seek proper advice and do it before November.

"This means they need to act quickly as from February 7, the 2003 Licensing Act began to take effect.

"It paves the way for bringing local entertainment, liquor licensing and late night food licences under the control of Salisbury district council."

All licence applications which take effect after November 2005 will be dealt with by Salisbury district council and current licences for liquor, food and entertainment will cease in November 2005.

The new licences are divided into premises licences and personal licences.

The premises licence will last for the life of the business, whereas a personal licence will be valid for ten years and will be portable between licensed premises.