Club Premises Certificate - Print version

The Licensing Act 2003 recognises that voluntary and social clubs give rise to different issues for Licensing Law than that of commercially run premises selling direct to the public. These clubs carry on activities from premises to which public access is restricted and alcohol is supplied other than for profit. A club premises certificate permits qualifying clubs to provide qualifying club activities for the life of the club.

Eligibility criteria

A Club Premises Certificate permits licensable activities to take place on or from a defined area, a building, part of building that forms a members club. 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 various requirements set out in the Licensing Act 2003.

Additional conditions in relation to the supply of alcohol must be complied with. These conditions are:

• That alcohol purchased for and supplied by the club is done by members of 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.
• Relevant miners' welfare institutes can also be considered. A relevant institute is one that is managed by a committee or board that consists of at least two thirds of people appointed or elevated by one or more licensed operators under the Coal Industry Act 1994 and by one or more organisations that represent coal mine employees. The institute can be managed by the committee or board where the board cannot be made up as detailed above but is made up of at least two thirds of members who were employed or are employed in or around coal mines and also by people who were appointed by the Coal Industry Welfare Organisation or by a body who had similar functions under the Miners' Welfare Act 1952. In any case, the premises of the institute must be held on a trust as required under the Recreational Charities Act 1958.

Apply for a Club Premises Certificate

Apply online

Apply for a Club Premises Certificate online [http://www.gov.uk/apply-for-a-licence/club-licensing/coventry/apply-1] via the GOV.UK website.

Annual payment

You can make an annual payment for a club licence online [https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-a-licence/club-licensing/coventry/renew-1] via the GOV.UK website.

Variations

You can make an application for a variation [https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-a-licence/club-licensing/coventry/change-1] or a minor variation [https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-a-licence/club-licensing/coventry/change-3] to a private club licence online via the GOV.UK  website.

Declaration for a club premises certification

You can make a declaration for a club premises certificate online [https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-a-licence/club-licensing/coventry/apply-2] via the GOV.UK website.

Application process

Application forms must be made using GOV.UK and once the application is received by the Licensing Team, they will electronically serve a copy to the responsible authorities.  After which follows a 28 day period during which representations can be made. Applicants must display a notice on their premises detailing the particulars of the application, a copy of which must also be advertised in a local newspaper on at least one occasion within 10 working days from the date of submission.

Will tacit consent apply?

Tacit consent will apply, this means that you will be able to act as though your application is granted if you have not heard from the Council by the end of the target period.

Please note tacit consent will only apply once a full application has been submitted and you have received an acknowledgment

Charges

Fees for club premises certificates depend on the non domestic rateable value of the premises. Please see the business rates valuations fee table [http://www.2010.voa.gov.uk/rli/].

Supplementary information

All applications require a plan of the premises, and information within the application about how you are going to run the premises in a safe responsible manner to uphold and promote the licensing objectives.

Right of appeal

If you feel your application was determined unfairly by a Sub Committee you can appeal their decision, within 21 days, to the Magistrates. Another hearing may then be held to consider the facts of the Sub Committee's decision.

Length of licence

Club premises certificates, once granted, last for the life of the club or until they are surrendered or, in certain circumstances, revoked.

Change of circumstances

Minor changes (for example the name of the premises) can be dealt with by letter and a small fee. Minor changes to the terms of the licence can be dealt with by way of minor variation. Anything else can be dealt with by way of minor or full variation.

You can make a change to your licence online [https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-a-licence/club-licensing/coventry/change-2] by visiting the GOV.UK.

Public registers

The public registers of all applications made to the council under the Licensing Act 2003 [http://licensing.coventry.gov.uk/MVM/Online/EGov/License_Registers/Registers_Criteria.aspx].