Check if you need a licence for alcohol, entertainment, food

Contents

  1. Overivew
  2. Regulated entertainment
  3. Premises that need a licence

Overview

You need a licence if you:

  • sell or supply alcohol
  • provide regulated entertainment
  • supply hot food or drinks between 11pm and 5am

Regulated entertainment

Regulated entertainment is entertainment provided for the public, club members and their guests or for profit, which takes place in front of an audience.

It includes:

  • the performance of a play
  • the exhibition of a film
  • an indoor sporting event
  • boxing or wrestling
  • a performance of live music
  • any playing of recorded music
  • a performance of dance
  • entertainment of a similar description

Regulated entertainment also includes providing entertainment facilities, such as facilities for people to take part in entertainment.

It includes:

  • making music (karaoke machine for example)
  • dancing (a dance floor)
  • any entertainment of a similar description

Premises that need a licence

  • Pubs and night clubs
  • Indoor sporting events
  • Off-licences
  • Restaurants that serve alcohol
  • Hotels and guesthouses or other places that sell alcohol
  • Private members' clubs and social clubs
  • Theatres and amateur dramatic groups
  • Cinemas
  • Other premises used for occasional events such as church halls
  • Temporary structures such as a marquee
  • Land
  • Businesses serving hot food or hot drinks to the public between 11pm and 5am such as shops, restaurants and takeaways