The Orchard Theatre's operator has applied for a new licence: alcohol 10am to 1am daily, the same hours as now. Comments to the council close 23 November.

The company that runs Dartford’s Orchard Theatre has applied for a new premises licence for the building, a month before the theatre reopens with Cinderella on 12 December.

Trafalgar UK Theatres Dartford Limited lodged the application with Dartford Borough Council on 26 October. The council’s register lists it as reference 26/00534/LAPLN, a new premises licence, trading as Orchard Theatre.

What it asks for

The public notice and the council register give the same hours, every day of the week:

  • sale of alcohol for drinking on the premises: 10am to 1am
  • regulated entertainment, such as plays, live music and films: 9am to 1.30am
  • late night refreshment, meaning hot food or drink after 11pm: 11pm to 1.30am

No change in hours

These are the hours the theatre already has. The existing licence, DH/PREM/020/2016, was issued on 5 December 2005. The register shows it allows the same three activities at the same times. It is held in the name of HQ Theatres Limited.

The application does not say why a new licence is wanted. The same Trafalgar company made a minor change to the existing licence in 2019 (reference 19/00346/LAMINV), and it applied for the licence at Orchard West, the temporary venue on Orchard Street, in 2023 (reference 23/00471/LAPLN).

No conditions are yet attached to the new application, and no hearing date is set.

Why the theatre has been shut

The council owns the Orchard. It closed for the removal of RAAC concrete from its roof, and the council approved a budget of up to £11.6m for the work in January. We covered the reopening date and the works in August. Cinderella runs from 12 December to 3 January; our Dartford pantomime page has the cast and prices.

What it means for you

Anyone can comment on the application. Representations must be made in writing by Monday 23 November 2026:

  • by email to licensing@dartford.gov.uk
  • by post to The Licensing Section, Dartford Borough Council, Civic Centre, Home Gardens, Dartford, Kent, DA1 1DR

Comments must relate to the four licensing objectives: preventing crime and disorder, public safety, preventing public nuisance and protecting children from harm. If no relevant objections are made, the Licensing Act 2003 says the council must grant the licence as applied for.

The application details, dates and the existing licence come from Dartford Borough Council’s licensing register, checked on 13 November 2026.