14 October 2008


Public Entertainment Licences

South Bucks District council currently issues Public Entertainment Licences (PELs) to premises that hold music, Singing, dancing or similar entertainment to which the public have access.

As of November 2005, when the new Licensing regime comes into force, the need for premises to hold a separate Public Entertainment Licence will disappear.

Under the New Licensing regime, only a single authorisation will be needed to conduct licensable activities on the premises. This includes not only the sale or supply of alcohol and the provision of late night refreshment, but also the provision of regulated entertainment.

Application procedure:

From the second appointed day in November 2005, all entertainment activities that fall under the definition of regulated entertainment must be covered by either a premises licence, club premises certificate or a temporary events notice (TEN). Any premises wishing to provide facilities for, or hold regulated entertainment after the second appointed day must apply for either a premises licence, club premises certificate or a temporary events notice during the transition period, which concludes on August 6th.

For premises that currently hold a public entertainment licence, you will need to apply to convert or convert and vary your licence to a premises licence. If your public entertainment licence covers activities that take place at a sport’s, social or youth club, you should apply to convert or convert and vary  your licence to a club premises certificate. Please refer to the club premises certificate information page or the FAQs link below if you are unsure of whether your entertainment activities take place at a qualifying club.

For premises users that do not currently hold a public entertainment licence and wish to hold regulated entertainment before November, you should apply to the council for a PEL. In addition, if you wish to provide facilities for, or hold regulated entertainment after November, you must also apply for a new premises licence, or club premises certificate.

Varying your licensable activities:
 
When you apply to convert your public entertainment licence to the new regime, you will be free to apply simultaneously for the authorisation to vary the conditions of your licence. If you therefore wish to hold other regulated entertainment (not currently covered by your current licence) or to start supplying alcohol on the premises, you may do so by applying to vary the conditions of your new premises licence or club certificate.
It is important to remember any variations to your licence will not begin until the Second appointed day (November 2005)

Conditions of the licence:

If you currently hold a public entertainment licence that was in force before the 7TH February 2005 with the council, you will be entitled to ‘grandfathering rights’. Any conditions currently on your public entertainment licence will be valid and added as conditions on your new licence – either a premises licence or club premises certificate.

Fees:

The fees for the new licences, which will be valid when the new licensing regime comes into force in November, are based on the rateable value of the premises, therefore the fee payable will be no different if the applicant wishes to use the premises to supply alcohol, as well as provide facilities for regulated entertainment.

Temporary or occasional events:

If you wish to provide facilities for, or hold regulated entertainment at a temporary event, you will need to obtain a licence. If the event is due to take place before November, you will need to apply to the council for an occasional PEL licence. For events that are due to take place after November, you will need to apply for a temporary events notice.

Please note that temporary events are bound by certain conditions, including a restriction of the number of notices that can be granted in a calendar year, and the number of people that can attend a temporary event. Please refer to the information on Temporary Event Notices if you are unsure of whether your event can be covered by a temporary notice, or whether it needs to be covered by either a premises licence or club premises certificate.