Hotel Licences
Hotel Licence
The Intoxicating Liquor 1902 Act and later legislation capping the number of licences, allowed for the possibility of a hotel licence. It does not a require the extinguishment of another licence.
Trading as a hotel will usually require registration under the Tourist Traffic Act with Failte Ireland. Failte Ireland contract out the registration and regulation of hotels to appointed contractors.
A hotel licence is often combined with a dancing singing or other licence.
In the case of a hotel which has had a continuous licence since prior to 1902 Act, it has in effect a full publicans on licence and may have a bar.
However, a post-1902 Act hotel licence does not permit a public bar. In order to have a public bar, a publicans on- licence must be extinguished. A public bar is a barrier or counter from which alcohol drinks or food is served to customers.
Hotel
A licence may be granted for a hotel being a premises with 10 bedrooms or apartments or 20 in a county borough or Dublin metropolitan district. This type of hotel did not have a bar. However later provisions of the Intoxicating Act 1960 allowed the acquisition of a bar and the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2000 allowing for conversion to a bar.
A licensed hotel must have at least twenty bedrooms in the Dublin Metropolitan District and 10 bedrooms in other areas. Different requirements apply in respect of certain older premises which predate the Tourist Traffic legislation, and which have not been altered since that time.
The sale of intoxicating liquor in a licensed hotel  may be undertaken to members of the public regardless of whether or not they are staying in the hotel.
Residents on the premises may be served intoxicating liquor outside of standard hours. The licence holder  may not supply intoxicating liquor to a person staying at the hotel for consumption by his guests, outside of the permitted hours.
Substantial Meal
Where a substantial meal is served intoxicating liquor may be sold with that meal for one hour after normal closing time. In this context, a restaurant certificate is required
For the purpose of the Licensing Acts, a meal is not a substantial meal, unless it is such as might be expected to be served as a main midday or main evening meal or as a main course at either such meal and the meal is of a kind, having regard to the prices charged for meals in the premises at other times or if meals are normally served in the premises having regard to the circumstances, it would be reasonable to charge as um that not less than a sum fixed by ministerial order. A
Public Bar
A person who holds a hotel licence may apply to the District Court, on the basis of one licence either acquired or consented to be extinguished in order to obtain a public bar permission. Where such an order is made, it is lawful to have a public bar in a hotel selling intoxicating liquor. The ordinary seven-day licence is extinguished.
This provision was more important prior to 2000 as it allowed the grant of a bar licence in a hotel on the extinguishment of one licence. Prior to 2000, the law  required extinguishment of two licences and compliance with  more complex conditions in urban areas to obtain an intoxicating liquor licence.
Under this older legislation it was possible to apply for an order permitting a bar under different conditions to that which now applies. A hotel licence (granted under the 1902 Act) and not having a public bar is subject to special legislation similar to that for on licences. A former licence may have been replaced due to reconstruction requiring a new post 1902 Act licence.
Bar Procedure
A post-1960 Act licence holder may obtain a bar and operate with a publicans licence by extinguishment of an existing licence.
A new licence may be granted for a hotel meeting the requisite requirements without extinguishment of another licence. The required number of bedrooms available for sleeping accommodation must be in place.
The grounds for  objection applicable are similar to those generally in respect of on licence applications they include in particular
- the character and fitness of the premises
- character of the proposed licensee
- number of licensed premises in the neighbourhood.
Special Bar Procedure
The 2000 Act provided the possibility that certain categories of pre-1960 Act hotels which operated during a five-year period at any time before the 2000 Act could apply for a public bar. This was in effect the conversion of the hotel licence into a publicans on licence.
Certain additional conditions apply to the licence. Where the premises were conducted as if they were public house during that five-year period then it once off payment to the Revenue Commissioners was required (£2500 (/€3175
Where the District Court is satisfied that at any  time within the previous five years, the person or persons carried on business as if it were a fully licensed premises and the court declares that it is so satisfied, the court may declare the licence to be a full licence.
In the latter case, there are conditions of payment of a fee of €3,170 to the Revenue and undertakings not to dispose of the premises, transfer the licence or consent to its extinguishment as if it were a full licence, for five years. A statement shall be entered in the District Court register to this effect.
Renewal Transfer etc.
Hotel licences are subject to the standard automatic renewal procedure that applies to on-licences. They will usually also require registration under the Tourist Traffic act. An objector may object by prior notice and bring the matter before the annual licensing court.
The standard procedures for transfer of the licence and confirmation of transfer apply. See the section in respect of on licences.
Duty to Receive
The Hotel Proprietors Act requires hotels to receive guests unless there are reasonable grounds for refusal. Reasonable grounds would include lack of accommodation, the guest being intoxicated or under the influence of drugs or inability to pay.
Tourist Traffic Registration
Failte Ireland is the tourist promotion and regulation body pursuant to the Tourist Traffic Acts. In accordance with legislation passed in the 1990s certain of its  key functions including in relation to regulation inspection classification is contracted out under a long-term contract.
There are requirements for registration and renewal of registration of various regulated premises including hotels. Premises require be registered with certain limited exceptions
The well-known five star classification applies. The range of classifications and  stars require designates levels of service and facilities. Failte Ireland prescribe the classification criteria.
There are maximum scale of charges. The charges must be displayed at certain places including rooms and other parts of the premises pursuant to regulations made.
The certificate is to be displayed prominently. Breach of legislation is subject on summary conviction to a fine.
Tourist Traffic Registration
Registration may be cancelled, if after  following procedures with notices and warnings, the hotel operator fails to meet the requisite standards applicable or exceeds the statutory maximum charges.  Warnings are given with the opportunity to make representations. In the event of persistent failure there is the possibility of deregistration. There are restrictions on applying for reregistration within a certain period of deregistration.
The registration officers may at all reasonable times enter to inspect premises. They may make requirements for information and persons employed must furnish the same. To fail to cooperate, to impede or instruct an officer is an offence.
It is an offence to describe a hotel or hold it out as being in a category for which is not duly registered. Breach is an offence subject on summary conviction to a class E fine.
There are statutory power for the Circuit Court to prohibit the use of unauthorised titles or descriptions.
Holiday Camps
The Tourist Traffic act allows for registration of holiday camps with accommodation for at least   250 people and certain minimum facilities. A licence under the Tourist Traffic Act allows for consumption of alcohol on and off the premises in the holiday camp premises. Intoxicating liquor may be supplied with meals as if the premises were a hotel or hostel.
This licence is granted by Revenue Commissioners on foot of a certificate issued by the Circuit Court. The application to the Circuit Court is broadly similar and determined on similar criteria to that in respect of a publicans on licence. The licence is renewed annually in the same manner as an ordinary licence.