Applying For Entertainment Licences

A licence is required if you are planning on providing any kind of 'regulated entertainment' in your establishment. This comes in the form of a 'premises licence' and must be applied and paid for via your local council. The system of entertainment licences being provided as a stand-alone licence were revamped in 2003 in a bid to remove bureaucratic red tape and replaced by the current system.

You can download the premises licence application form from the Home Office website, but you must then ensure that you return it to the relevant licensing authority - your local council - not to the Home Office themselves. Within this form you will have to provide detailed information about the regulated entertainment you will be providing. This will consist of a description of the entertainment, such as questions about whether it will be indoors or outdoors, and the hours of the day for each day of the week that it will be provided. You will also need to outline the dates you wish it to be valid from and until. The premises licence will also cover the provision of alcohol and late night refreshments should you require it to.

What is regulated entertainment?

'Regulated Entertainment' is outlined as such by the government's department of culture, media and sport and includes the following:

- Movies

- Dancing

- Plays

- Indoor sports

- Playing of recorded or live music

Also places which provide the facilities for any of the above are counted as 'regulated entertainment facilities'. E.g. church halls for hire and so on. So if you are planning on hiring out a venue for these purposes or you are looking into hiring a venue in which you are going to provide any of the above to your guests you must ensure that the relevant licence is present to allow you to do so.

However, the Live Music Act 2012 updated the list of regulated entertainment, and if you are the holder of a premises licence for the provision of alcohol you do not have to have any further licences to provide amplified entertainment to audiences of less than 200 people between 8am and 11pm. No licence is now required for the performance of unamplified music between 8am and 11pm in any location.

If you are unsure as to your licensing responsibilities as a business owner, you feel your licence has been unfairly revoked, or you are experiencing difficulties being granted a licence you should contact a specialist licensing solicitor today.

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