Club premises certificate
How to obtain a licence for running a club premises
The Licensing Act 2003 transferred the responsibility of a wide range of licensing functions to local authorities, this included the licensing of liquor, entertainment, late night refreshment and club certificates.
If your business carries on any of the following activities you must apply to the Council for a licence:
- The sale by retail of alcohol
- The supply of alcohol by a club
- The provision of regulated entertainment in the presence of an audience i.e.
- a performance of a play
- an exhibition of a film
- an indoor sporting event, boxing or wrestling entertainment
- performance of live music
- playing of recorded music, performance of a dance
- entertainment of a similar description to the performance of live music, the playing of recorded sound and the performance of dance
- The provision of late night refreshment i.e. the provision of hot food or drink to members of the public between 11pm and 5am.
The forms required for the application of the above licenses can be obtained from the licensing office or by following the links below.
| Licence summary | To authorise the supply of alcohol and regulated entertainment in a qualifying club you need a club premises certificate from your local authority. In a qualifying club there is technically no sale by retail of alcohol (except to guests) as the member owns part of the alcohol stock and the money passing across the bar is merely a mechanism to preserve equity between members where one may consume more than another. In order to constitute a qualifying club you must also satisfy the various requirements set out in the Licensing Act 2003. |
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| Eligibility Criteria | Clubs must be qualifying clubs. A qualifying club has general conditions it must satisfy. These are:
Additional conditions in relation to the supply of alcohol must be complied with. These conditions are:
Registered industrial and provident societies and friendly societies will qualify if the alcohol is purchased for and supplied by the club is done under the control of the members or a committee of members. Relevant miners' welfare institutes can also be considered. A relevant institute is one that is managed by a committee or board that consists of at least two thirds of people appointed or elevated by one or more licensed operators under the Coal Industry Act 1994 and by one or more organisations who represent coal mine employees. The institute can be managed by the committee or board where the board cannot be made up as detailed above but is made up of at least two thirds of members who were employed or are employed in or around coal mines and also by people who were appointed by the Coal Industry Welfare Organisation or by a body who had similar functions under the Miners' Welfare Act 1952. In any case the premises of the institute must be held on a trust as required under the Recreational Charities Act 1958. |
| Regulation Summary | |
| Application Evaluation Process | A club can apply for a club premises certificate for any premises which are occupied and used regularly for club purposes. Applications should be made to the local licensing authority, which will be the local authority where the premises are situated. Applications should be submitted with a plan of the premises which must be in a specific format, a copy of the rules of the club and a club operating schedule. A club operating schedule is a document which must be in a specific format and which includes information on:
Applicants are required to advertise their application and to give notice of the application to other responsible authorities. Contact details of theses authorities can be obtained from the downloads section of this page. If there are any alterations to the rules or name of the club before an application is determined or after a certificate is issued, the club secretary must give details to the local licensing authority. If a certificate is in place this must be sent to the licensing authority when they are notified. If a certificate is in place and the registered address of the club changes the club must give notice to the local licensing authority of the change and provide the certificate with the notice. A club may apply to a local licensing authority to vary a certificate. The certificate should accompany the application. The local licensing authority may inspect the premises before an application is considered. Fees may be payable for any type of application relating to a club premises certificate. Current fees can be obtained from this website by following the links in the downloads section. The licensing authority must grant the application if no representations are received following the statutory consultation period. A hearing must be held within 28 days after the statutory consultation period if any representations are made in respect of the application. If a hearing is held the certificate can be granted or granted subject to conditions, licensable activities listed in the application can be excluded or the application can be rejected. |
| Will Tacit Consent Apply? | No. It is in the public interest that the authority must process your application before it can be granted. If you have not heard from the local authority within 28 days, please contact it. You can do this online if you applied through the UK Welcomes service or use the contact details below. |
| Failed Application Redress | Please contact your Local Authority in the first instance. A failed applicant will receive notice of the refusal of an application for a certificate or variation of a certificate from the local licensing authority. If an application is rejected, the applicant may appeal the decision. Appeals must be made to the local Magistrates' court within 21 days of the decision appealed. |
| Licence Holder Redress | Please contact your Local Authority in the first instance. If a local licensing authority refuses an application for a variation the licence holder may appeal the decision. A licence holder can appeal against a decision to put conditions on a certificate or to exclude any club activity. Appeals may also be made against the variation of any condition. Appeals against the decision of a review can be made. A club may appeal against the withdrawing of a certificate. Appeals must be made to the local Magistrates' court within 21 days of the decision appealed. |
| Consumer Complaint | We would always advise that in the event of a complaint the first contact is made with the trader by you - preferably in the form a letter (with proof of delivery). If that has not worked, if you are located in the UK, Consumer Direct will give you advice. From outside the UK contact the UK European Consumer Centre. A club member may request a review of the certificate. The local licensing authority will give reasons for their response to the application in a notice. Appeals against the decision of a review can be made. Appeals must be made to the local Magistrates' court within 21 days of the decision appealed. |
| Other Redress | Any interested party may make representations to the local licensing authority before the certificate is granted or before amendments to a certificate are granted. If representations are made a hearing will be held to consider the application and the representations. Notices will be made by the local licensing authority detailing the reasons for any outcome. Interested parties who made representations will receive notice of a failed application. An interested party is:
An interested party may request a review of the club premises certificate. The local licensing authority will give reasons for their response to the application in a notice. An interested party may appeal if they argue that a certificate should not have been granted or that different or additional conditions or limitations on activities should have been made. They may also appeal against any variation of a condition. Appeals against the decision of a review can be made. Appeals must be made to the local Magistrates' court within 21 days of the decision appealed. |
| Trade Associations | |
To download the forms follow the correct link below. Once the form is open, select file --> save as, and then give the form a memorable name, and save onto your computer. You can then open the file, or print it out and fill it in.
