Club premises certificate

Club premises licence

    You may 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).

    You need a certificate to:

    • sell or supply alcohol to members or guests
    • provide regulated entertainment, like musical performances or film screenings to members or guests

    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

    Check with your council for the exact conditions.

    You might have to register to pay machine game duty on any gaming machines you have on your premises.

    How to apply

    Apply to the local council for a club premises certificate.

    You may need to provide other information, including:

    • a plan of the premises
    • a copy of the rules of the club
    • a club operating schedule

    You may need to pay an annual fee.

    Displaying your certificate

    You must prominently display the club premises certificate in your club.

    You may need to display notice of your application before you get your club premises certificate. Check with your council.

    Fines and penalties

    You can be jailed for up to 6 months and/or fined £20,000 if you provide alcohol or entertainment without the necessary certificate or without following its conditions.

    Certificate that allows members clubs to carry on licensable activities, provided they meet certain conditions.

    England, Wales

    1. If a child dies

    2. If one or both parents die