Regulated entertainment must be authorised by the Council. This maybe by either a Premises Licence, Club Premises Certificate or a Temporary Event Notice. 

Entertainment that is Regulated

 Activities that are regulated are: 

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


When do the above require a licence?

Whilst all of the above are "regulated" they are not all regulated all of the time and in all circumstances. It depends on the audience, whether there is an intention to make profit, the time the entertainment is provided, the premises it is provided on and the number of people in the audience. 

The information on this page is provided as a guide  but organisers of events or those providing entertainment should always check if they are unsure if a licence is needed. As a general rule entertainment is licensable if it is:

  • provided to a public audience, provided by a club to its members, or in any other circumstances to an audience with a view to profit, AND 
  • it occurs before 8am or after 10pm or it is provided to 500 or more people. 

Exempt and Deregulated Entertainment

  • activities which involve participation as acts of worship in a religious context or which take place in places of public religious worship;
  • education – teaching students to perform music or to dance;
  • the demonstration of a product such as a guitar in a music shop;
  • the rehearsal of a play or performance of music for a private audience where no charge is made with a view to making a profit;
  • Morris dancing (or similar);
  • Incidental music – the performance of live music or the playing of recorded music if it is incidental to some other activity which is not regulated entertainment;
  • incidental film – an exhibition of moving pictures if it is incidental to some other activity which is not regulated entertainment;;
  • a spontaneous performance of music, singing or dancing;
  • garden fetes – or similar if not being promoted or held for purposes of private gain;
  • films for the purposes of advertisement, information or education or in museums or art galleries;
  • television or radio broadcasts – as long as the programme is live and simultaneous;
  • vehicles in motion – at a time when the vehicle is not permanently or temporarily parked.
  • stand-up comedy. 

No licence is required for these activities at any time. 

Private Events

Events that are held in private are not licensable unless those attending are charged for the entertainment with a view to making a profit (including raising money for charity). If you are in doubt as to whether your event is exempt you should check with the Council first.

Deregulation 

As a result of deregulatory amendments to the Licensing Act 2003, no licence is required for the following activities if provided between 08:00am and 11:00pm to audiences of 500 people or less. 

  • Plays 
  • Performances of dance 
  • Films 

Live and Recorded music

No licence permission is required for a performance of unamplified live music between 8.00am and 11.00pm;

A performance of amplified live music between 8.00am and 11.00pm to an audience that does not exceed 500 people does not require a licence if it occurs at:

  • Premises authorised by a premises licence to sell alcohol for consumption on those premises;
  • A workplace
  • A church hall, village hall, community hall or other similar community premises that is not licensed by a premises licence to sell alcohol 
  • The non-residential premises of a local authority, school or hospital provided that the audience does not exceed 500 and the organiser obtains consent.

 

A licence is not required for the playing of recorded music  on any day between 8.00am and 11.00pm to audiences of 500 people or less at:

  • premises authorised to sell alcohol for consumption on those premises provided that the audience does not exceed 500;
  • A church hall, village hall, community hall or other similar community premises that is not licensed by a premises licence to sell alcohol;
  • The non-residential premises of a local authority, school or hospital provided that the audience does not exceed 500 and the organiser obtains consent.

Protection of the Public

Despite many of the exemptions, those providing entertainment are still required to comply with other legislative requirements to prevent nuisance or harm.  Licensed premises provided "deregulated" entertainment can have conditions imposed on their licence following a review to control their activities. 

How do i obtain a licence to provide regulated entertainment? 

Unless entertainment is being provided under a Temporary Event Notice or the entertainment or location is exempt under the Licensing Act, it will be necessary to apply for a premises licence or club premises certificate to the licensing authority in whose area the premises are located.