CAA website was promising 17 working days last time I looked. I,ve just converted a JAR ppl to an Easa ppl. Application went in on 22nd April, money was cashed onn 17th May and licence arrived on 23rd May.
In terms of taking passengers, my advice would be to spend 5-10 hours on your own first. Work out where you are going to take them (I have a specific 'trip around the bay route'). When everything is familiar, it keeps the cockpit workload low, which I found essential just after I qualified.
oh and remember the addage 'if it's exciting for you, it's probably terrrifying for them'