PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENTS LICENCES

Public entertainment licensing is now covered by the requirements of the Licensing Act 2003.

Premises providing regulated entertainment will now require a premises licence.

What is regulated entertainment?

The following kinds of entertainment are subject to regulation:

1. Plays
2. Film exhibitions
3. Indoor sporting events
4. Boxing or wrestling exhibitions
5. Live music (karaoke included)
6. Recorded music
7. Dancing by the public or performers
8. Any entertainment similar to that described in 5, 6 or 7 above.

But only where –

• The entertainment is provided in front of an audience or spectators and is for the purpose of entertaining those persons AND
• The entertainment is:

- To any extent to members of the public OR

- Exclusively to members of a qualifying club and their guests; OR

- For consideration and with a view to profit. The charge must be made by or on behalf of the organisers or management of the entertainment or the premises, and must be paid for by or on behalf of some or all of the persons for whom the entertainment or facility is provided. This would include, for example, letting out a room in your premises for people to use for wedding receptions.

What about providing entertainment facilities?

You still need a licence for regulated entertainment, even if you are just providing facilities for making music, dancing, or entertainment of a similar description.

This means, for example, that you require a licence for:

• Having a piano on the premises for the use of customers or performers;
• Having a dance floor on the premises

When do I not require a licence for regulated entertainment?

• Films which are solely or mainly to demonstrate a product, advertise goods or services, or provide information, education or instruction;
• Films as part of an exhibition in a museum or gallery;
• TV and radio broadcasts, providing they are shown “live” and not recorded;
• Religious meetings or services;
• Entertainment in places of public religious worship;
• Garden fetes (unless held for private gain);
• Entertainment provided in a moving vehicle;
• Morris dancing;
• Incidental music.

What does “incidental music” mean?

Consent for regulated entertainment is not needed when the music is provided for background entertainment. This is sometimes a difficult area and if you are unsure you should contact us for advice. Examples of “incidental” music are:

• a supermarket playing background music (people go there to shop - the music is not an influencing factor);
• a pub jukebox playing in the background (people are there to drink, the music is not an influencing factor

Please follow this link for information regarding the Licensing Act 2003.