You need to apply for a club premises certificate through your council if you’re a social, sporting or political members club (like a working men’s club or British Legion).
When you will need a certificate
You will need a club premises certificate to:
- sell or supply alcohol to members or guests
- provide some forms of regulated entertainment, like musical performances or film screenings to members or guests.
Any regulated entertainment to more than 500 people or between 11 pm and 5 am must be authorised by the certificate.
Check with our licensing team for clarification. Certificates are not needed to provide late night refreshments to members of a recognised club.
What the certificate allows
If your club holds a club premises certificate:
- it may be able to supply alcohol to members and sell it to guests without the need for any member or employee to hold a personal licence - depending on what the certificate allows
- it doesn’t need to specify a Designated Premises Supervisor
- police and licensing officers have more limited rights of entry because the premises are private.
Conditions
To qualify for a certificate, your club must make sure that:
- it has premises that are occupied and used regularly for club purposes
- alcohol and entertainment is only provided to members and their guests
- only someone 18 or older who is nominated by the club can serve alcohol or buy it for the club
- there is no arrangement for anyone to benefit financially from buying or selling alcohol
- new members wait two days from their application before getting membership privileges
- it is established and conducted in good faith
- it has at least 25 members
You may have to pay Machine Games Duty on any gaming machines you have on your premises.
Displaying your certificate
You must prominently display the club premises certificate in your club.
Fines and penalties
You can be jailed for up to 6 months and/or fined if you provide alcohol or entertainment without the necessary certificate or without following its conditions.