Club Premises Certificate
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.
Eligibility Criteria
Clubs must be qualifying clubs. A qualifying club has general
conditions it must satisfy. These are:
- A person may not be given memberships or as a candidate
for membership to any membership privileges without an interval of
at least two days from their membership application or nomination
and their membership being granted
- That club rules state that those becoming member without
nomination or application cannot have membership privileges for at
least two days between them becoming members and being admitted to
the club
- That the club is established and conducted in good faith
- That the club has at least 25 members
- That alcohol is only supplied to members on the premises on
behalf or by the club
Additional conditions in relation to the supply of alcohol must
be complied with. These conditions are:
- That alcohol purchased for and supplied by the club is done by
members of club who are over 18 years of age and are elected to do
so by the members
- That no person at the expense of the club receives any
commission, percentage or other similar payment in regard to the
purchase of alcohol by the club
- That there are no arrangements for anyone to receive a
financial benefit from supplying alcohol, apart from any benefit to
the club or to any person indirectly from the supply giving a gain
from running the club
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
-A summary of the
regulation relating to this licence
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 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:
- The activities of the club
- The times the activities are to take place
- Other opening times
- If alcohol supplies are for consumption on or off the premises
or both
- The steps that the club propose to take to promote the
licensing objectives
- Any other information that is required
If there 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.
Will Tacit Consent Apply?
Yes. This means that you will be able to act as though your
application is granted if you have not heard from the local
authority by the end of the target completion period
Apply online
-Apply
for a new club premises certificate
-Apply
for a declaration for a club premises certificate
-Tell
us about a minor change to your existing premises or club
-Tell
us about a change to your existing details or club rules
-Tell
us about a change to your existing club premises
-Renew
your existing club premises certficate
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:
- A person living near the premises or a body representing
such a person
- A person involved in a business near the premises or a
body representing such a person
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
-Federation of Licensed
Victuallers Associations (FLVA)
-Noctis
