Club premises

A Club Premises Certificate is required by any qualifying club that undertakes "qualifying club activities", as defined in part 4 of the Licensing Act 2003. A qualifying club will be one where the club and its assets are held for the mutual benefit of its members. The law on such clubs can be complex and appropriate independent legal advice should always be obtained prior to an application being made.

If a club is not a qualifying club under the 2003 Act or also undertakes "licensable activities" (defined in part 3 of the 2003 Act), an application for a new premises licence will be required.

All qualifying clubs wishing to serve alcohol or provide regulated entertainment of late night refreshment have been required to have a new Club Premises Certificate. Please note that the law has changed significantly and entertainment and the provision of hot food or hot drink after 23:00 on any day in clubs are now regulated activities under the legislation and all applications should include them if they are to take place. All Club Registration Certificates previously issued by the Magistrates' Court under the Licensing Act 1964 expired on 24th November 2005. Any extensions of hours or temporary events at the club premises, or other premises being used by the club for regulated activities should be the subject of temporary event notices - please follow the temporary events link to the left

What activities does a certificate permit?

A club premises certificate is required for any premises where any of the following take place:

• supply of alcohol to members and bona fide guests
• regulated entertainment
• the provision of hot food or hot drink between 23:00 and 05:00 on any day

Regulated entertainment is defined as:

• a performance of a play
• an exhibition of a film
• an indoor sporting event
• a boxing or wrestling entertainment
• a performance of live music
• any playing of recorded music
• a performance of dance
• facilities for making music
• facilities for dancing
• anything similar to music or dancing

A Club Premises Certificate will not authorise the sale of alcohol, provision of regulated entertainment or late night refreshment to anyone who is not a member of the club or who is a bona fide guest under the rules of the club. If such sales or provision are anticipated, either premises licence should be obtained or a temporary event notice given.

Mandatory Conditions

All club premises certificates are potentially subject to one or more of the Mandatory Conditions, specified under sections 73, 73A, 73B and 74 of the Licensing Act 2003. These relate to the sale and supply of alcohol and the exhibition of films, and appear on individual certificates. Section 32 and schedule 4 of the Policing and Crime Act 2009 gives the Secretary of State power to specify additional Mandatory Conditions.

From 6th April and 1st October 2010, further Mandatory Conditions were imposed on premises selling alcohol by the Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport, as follows:

1. Irresponsible promotions - effective from 6th April 2010 (on sales/supply only)
2. Alcohol dispensed directly into the mouth - effective from 6th April 2010 (on sales/supply only)
3. Free tap water for customers - effective from 6th April 2010 (on sales/supply only)
4. Age verification policy - effective from 1st October 2010 (on and off sales/supply)
5. Choice of small measures - effective from 1st October 2010 (on sales/supply only

A note of advising of the new conditions, together with links to the updated Statutory Guidance issued by the Secretary of State under section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003, guidance on selling alcohol responsibly and good practice examples from the Home Office appear below. Further guidance on the last two mandatory conditions appears on the Home Office web site. Please note that the new conditions on club premises supplying alcohol are effective whether or not they physically appear on your certificate. An example of an age verification policy appears below.

More information

Detailed information on making applications is available in the guidance notes. They are not a substitute for prospective applicants obtained their own specialist legal advice. The city council's staff cannot provide legal advice about your application.

Application forms, as prescribed by the legislation, are also available, as is a list of the fees and the responsible authorities who should be consulted prior to applications being made, particularly those for variation or new licences, and who will need to be served with copies of applications.

Links to forms, guidance and specimen notices appear below. Premises licence application forms appear in both Adobe Acrobat and Microsoft Word® formats. Please select the relevant application form, save to your PC, complete, print and return to the Licensing Team together with all required accompanying documents.

You may also apply electronically - please see the Online Licensing Application link above.

The Licensing Act 2003 (Diamond Jubilee Licensing Hours) Order 2012 extends licensed premises' opening hours (so far as this is not already the case) for the following periods:

• from 23:00 on Friday 1st June until 01:00 on Saturday 2nd June 2012; and

• from 23:00 on Saturday 2nd June until 01:00 on Sunday 3rd June 2012;

for the sale of alcohol for consumption on the premises and the provision of regulated entertainment and late night refreshment by licensed premises in England and Wales.

Please note that Order only applies to Premises Licences and Club Premises Certificates which currently authorise licensable activities to be carried on up to or after 23:00 on each of those days and only the licensable activities already authorised by the licence or certificate may be extended.

The Order does not add any regulated entertainment where this is not permitted at 23:00 by the licence or certificate. These provisions are similar to those made for the Royal wedding in 2011, and are restricted to premises making 'on sales' of alcohol. The provision of late night refreshment at the specified times is only if the premises may also be used for the sale or supply of alcohol for consumption on the premises. Takeaways etc. and off licences are therefore excluded.

If you need to contact us by email, 'phone or post, please do so using the details below.

Please note that the Police Licensing Unit moved to the new Southampton Central Police Station, Southern Road, Southampton SO15 1AN on Monday 7th March 2011.

Opening hours

Members of the Licensing Team will normally be available at Southbrook Rise, 4-8 Millbrook Road East, Southampton SO15 1YG, to assist personal callers on weekdays between 09:00 and 12:00 and between 14:00 and 16:00. We may be available at other times by prior appointment.

Please note that the addresses and numbers given below should only be used for communication with the Licensing Team.