Establishments licensed under the Malta Travel and Tourism Services Act,
Cap. 409, as a catering establishment or as a night-club, discotheque or other premises where dancing is held, may apply to remain open for business beyond the limits established by the
Business Hours Regulations, SL441.08. This regulation limits the opening time to 1.00 am, with an exception of longer hours afforded to specific days - up to 4.00 am on Carnival days, Easter Sunday, Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.
To obtain this licence, an application has to be submitted in writing, as per
standard template provided, to the Trade-related Services and Projects Directorate. This application must be accompanied with the last paid MTA licence and together sent by email to tradelicenceapplications@gov.mt.
In assessing the application, the Directorate will consult with the Malta Tourism Authority and the Commissioner of Police, who has sixty days respectively to provide a reaction. If the Police object or if the Malta Tourism Authority indicates that the licence fees in respect of the premises to which the application is related, is not paid, the application will be declined. Should no negative feedback be received, the licence for an extension of business hours will be issued against a fee.
The
Business Hours Regulations, SL441.08 sets a number of conditions against which the licence would be issued, as listed below. This does not preclude other conditions from being laid at the discretion of the Directorate.
i. Commercial premises which are not licensed to play amplified music must stop playing of music, by whatever means, by 11.00 p.m. at night and between 1.00 p.m. and 4.00 p.m. in the afternoon.
ii. Only commercial premises covered by a licence to play amplified music may do so after 11.00 p.m. and between 1.00 p.m. and 4.00 p.m.
iii. Moreover, in such premises licensed to play amplified music, it is prohibited for such music to be heard outdoors after 11.00 p.m. and between 1.00 p.m. and 4.00 p.m. In the localities of Bugibba, Qawra and St. Paul’s Bay the time limit is set longer, up to midnight. The regulation sets some further exceptions with regards to this by listing specific areas within the same localities where music may be heard outdoors till 1.00 a.m..
iv. No nuisance or inconvenience is to be caused to neighbours by any sound that can be heard from outside.
v. No amplified music by live bands or by whatever means can be played between 4.00 a.m. and 9.00 a.m.
Appeal:
Should an application be refused and the applicant feels aggrieved by the decision, he may file an appeal in writing to the Licensing Appeals Board within ten working days from the date of notification, in accordance with the provisions of Part VI of the Trading Licences Regulations SL 117.14. The appeal can be sent to
tradelicenceapplications@gov.mt or to Commerce Department, Trade services and Projects Directorate, Lascaris Bastions, Daħlet Ġnien is-Sultan, Valletta, VLT1933, Malta. To file an appeal there is a fee of fifty-eight euro (€58).
Licence Fee:
€116.47 payable by cheque to the Director General Commerce and addressed to Trade-related Services and Projects Directorate, Lascaris Bastions, Daħlet Ġnien is-Sultan, Valletta – VLT 1933.