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
Further information
- Guidance notes on premises licences, club premises certificates and Temporary Event Notices are available on our website.
