Club premises certificates

Apply for a club premises certificate.

Introduction

A club premises certificates can be applied for by a qualifying club to permit the following licensable activities:

  • Supply of alcohol by or on behalf of a club to, or to the order of, a member of the club - for qualifying clubs there is technically no sale by retail of alcohol (with the exception of guests) this is because members own the alcohol stock. Therefore the money which is paid across the bar is a way to preserve equity between members, as one member may consume more alcohol than another member.
  • Provision of late night refreshment - this is the supply of hot food or drinks between the hours of 11pm and 5am.
  • Regulated entertainment - this may include plays, films, indoor sporting events, boxing or wrestling entertainment, live music, recorded music, performance of dancing, anything of a similar description to live music, recorded music or performance of dance, provision of entertainment facilities for making music, dancing or anything of a similar description to making music or dancing.

Eligibility criteria

In order to be recognised as a qualifying clubs you must satisfy the following conditions:

  • persons shall not be given membership or as a candidate for memberships without an period of at least two days from their membership or nomination and their membership being granted
  • the club rules must state that persons shall not be given membership or as a candidate for memberships without an period of at least two days from their membership or nomination and their membership being granted 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

If you are granted a club premises certificate and it permits the supply of alcohol you are required to comply with the following conditions:

  • 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

Club premises certificates are regulated by Licensing Act 2003 (external link).

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 submitted to the local authority where the premises is situated.

The following documentation should accompany your application for grants and variations

    • a plan of the premises - please note that the regulations state the requirements of plans. Please see guidance notes attached in related documents.
    • a copy of the rules of the club
    • a club operating schedule - this must details the activities of the club, the times the activities are to take place, opening times, whether 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.
    • if you are applying for a variation the current club premises certificate
    • pdf prescribed fee (121 KB)

Applicants can now make applications for minor variations to their club premises certificate which may include:

  • Small changes to the layout or structure of the premises
  • Small adjustments to the licensing hours
  • Removal of a licensable activity
  • Removal of out of date or irrelevant or unenforceable conditions
  • Additional volunteered conditions
  • Additional licensable activities other than alcohol

For applications where the only variation sought is the inclusion of an alternative condition the fee required to be submitted with the application is £23. The fee required for all other minor variations is £89. Further information is available from the Department for Media Culture and Sport.

In the event that the rules of the club are altered the club secretary is required to service a notice, the club premises certificate (if granted) and a fee of £10.50 on the licensing authority.

In the event of the registered address of the club changing the club must submit a notice, their certificate (if granted) to licensing authority and a fee of £10.50.

The licensing authority may inspect the premises prior to an application being considered.

Will tacit consent apply?

Minor Variations - 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 Council within a reasonable period please contact us. You can contact us online if you have applied through the UK Welcomes service.

Grants and variations - Yes. This means that you will be able to act as though your application is granted if you have not heard from the Council by the end of the target application period. Please note that the target completion period of 60 days will not commence until a complete application is submitted.

Apply online

Application forms

Postal applications should be submitted to the Licensing Team (Temple Street), Bristol City Council, PO Box 3399 Bristol BS1 9NE

If you want someone else to discuss your application or licence with us on your behalf, youll need to give us written permission.

Grant of a club premises certificate

Minor variations to a club premises certificate

Vary a club premises certificate

Failed application redress

If you application is refused the licensing authority will serve a notice which will outline the appeal rights.

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

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). 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 persons 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. Any persons who made representations will receive notice of a failed application.

Any persons 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.

Any persons 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)

Customer satisfaction survey

Enforcement and Regulatory Services are undertaking the following Customer Satisfaction survey to evaluate the level of service that you have received and to consider how we can improve our service.

We would appreciate your comments on our satisfaction survey (Snap website)

Guidance notes

Please note that guidance notes have been produced to assist applicants when submitting applications. The information has been made as comprehensive as possible.

pdf Guidance on applying for a club premises certificate (448 KB)

However, in attempting to simplify the law, certain requirements have been omitted. Full details of what you must do are in the legislation itself.

The information in this guidance was accurate when produced but you are always advised to seek your own legal advice should you have any queries and you should note that the council cannot be liable in any way for the contents of this guidance.

You must also check:

  • if you need any other permissions, such as permission from the landowner to use the site
  • if there are any restrictions, such as restrictions on planning permission or restrictions on your lease

The licence you get will not override these permissions and you must make sure you are complying with all restrictions.

EUGO (European Union Go) gives service providers and entrepreneurs from the EU (European Union) and EEA (European Economic Area) the information and support they need to set up or do business in other EU or EEA markets. Central EUGO website portal.

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