Serving a chilled glass of wine or a refreshing beer is a great way of enhancing your client’s salon experience. Create a more relaxed mood in the evenings when your clients have left work behind them and are looking forward to a little pampering. The perfect after work sanctuary – dim the lights a touch, have scented candles by the back wash, offer a selection of drinks and play some mood music.
Licensing rules for salons
We’re often asked what the regulations are for serving alcohol in your salon. The answer is clear: even if the drink is not being charged for and is included as part of the hair service you still need a Licence under the Licensing Act.
Don’t let this put you off. It is relatively inexpensive and simple to get a Licence. As probably the only hair salon in town with one you can then use it to get some useful publicity with a press release to your local newspaper.
It’s a wonderful opportunity to market your salon – why not approach your local wine merchant and feature a wine of the month for example in return for a discount from them.
If you just want to serve a complimentary glass of bubbly for a one-off occasion, such as a salon open evening or a party, then you won’t need a Licence if the people attending aren’t there for a haircut. If it’s a regular occurrence, you might need a temporary event notice.
How to get started in your salon
You need two licences to sell alcohol:
The salon owner or manager
You will need a Personal Licence as you are authorised to sell the alcohol. Cost: £37.
You will also need a National Certificate. A number of organisations run one day courses around the country which take you through what is required. Their prices range from £125 to £175 for the day. There are also online courses which will rapidly take you through what you need to know.
The premises
You will also need a Premises Licence for the salon itself. Cost: from £100 depending on your salon’s rateable value.
Application forms for both Licences are available from your local authority and they should be able to advise you on the simple steps needed.