Club premises certificate

Guidance and forms for club premises. Includes appeals and complaints.

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To authorise the supply of alcohol and regulated entertainment in a qualifying club you need a club premises certificate from us.

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 requirements of 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 membership, 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 members 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 of or by the club.

Additional conditions for the supply of alcohol must be followed:

  • that alcohol purchased for and supplied by the club is done by members of the 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 purchased for and supplied by the club is done under the control of the members or a committee of members.

Please refer to the relevant guidance note for the procedure to be followed when submitting an application, and to the plans guidance at the bottom of the page. If you need any help with the forms please call us on 020 8753 1081.

Regulation summary

A club can apply for a club premises certificate for any premises which are occupied and used regularly for club purposes. See the regulations for club premises certificates for further information.

Application evaluation process

Applications must be in a specific format and be accompanied by the required fee, plans (if applicable) a copy of the club rules, 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 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 us the details. If a certificate is in place this must be sent to us when we are notified.

If a certificate is in place and the registered address of the club changes you must give us notice of the change and provide the certificate with the notice.

You can apply to us to vary a certificate. The certificate should accompany your application.

We may inspect the premises before considering your application.

Fees may be payable for any type of application relating to a club premises certificate. Application fees are non-refundable if an application is withdrawn or rejected.

You may be required to advertise your application and to give notice of the application to any other person or responsible body, for example the local authority, chief Police officer or Fire and Rescue Authority. Please see the guidance notes below for further details of the advertising and notification requirements for particular applications and templates for the public notices.

If no representations are received we must grant the application, which can be subject to conditions. A hearing must be held if any representations are made in respect of the application. If a hearing is held the certificate can be granted or granted subject to additional conditions, licensable activities listed in the application can be excluded, or the application can be rejected.

We will serve a notice of our decision on the applicant, any person who has made relevant representations (i.e. representations that were not deemed frivolous or vexatious) and the chief of police.

If you need any help to fill in the forms please call us on 020 8753 1081.

Yes – for applications made online and are unopposed at the end of the consultation period. 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. Our target completion period for Licensing Act 2003 Club Premises Certificate applications are listed below:

New and full variation applications* - 40 days

* Minor variation applications cannot be given tacit authorisation as by law they are automatically refused if the authority has not determined the application after 15 days from receipt.

Apply online

You are strongly advised to save a copy of your original application in case there are any amendments that need to be made on the form and it needs to be resubmitted. The online forms should only be used for applications which will be submitted via the online facility. In all other cases see apply via post for the relevant form.

Apply by post

At present we encourage all applicants to make electronic applications, please contact the Licensing Team on 020 87531081 or licensing@lbhf.gov.uk if you need assistance.

Guidance notes, fees and notices

Licensing and pre-application advice fees (PDF, 105.96KB)

Failed application redress

If an application for a club premises certificate is refused the club can appeal.

Appeals are made to Westminster Magistrates' Court, 181 Marylebone Road, London, NW1 5BR within 21 days of notice of the decision.

Permission holder redress

The club may also appeal against any conditions attached to a club premises certificate, a decision to reject a variation application, a decision to exclude an activity, or a decision to withdraw the certificate.

Appeals are made to Westminster Magistrates' Court, 181 Marylebone Road, London, NW1 5BR within 21 days of notice of the decision.

Consumer complaint

A responsible authority, club member or any other person who is affected by the club may apply to the Licensing Authority to review a club premises certificate. Following receipt of a review application a hearing will be held by the Licensing Authority.

Other redress

A responsible authority or any other person who is affected by the club may make representations in relation to an application for a club premises certificate, or for the variation or review of a club premises certificate.

A responsible authority or other person who has made relevant representations may appeal against the granting of a club premises certificate, or against any condition, variation or licensable activity decisions.

Appeals must be made to Westminster Magistrates' Court, 181 Marylebone Road, London, NW1 5BR within 21 days of notice of the decision.

The chief police officer for the police area where the premises are located may make representations against any application for a club premises certificate, or for the variation or review of a club premises certificate.

Trade associations

Federation of Licensed Victuallers Associations (FLVA)

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