Club Premises Certificate
The Licensing Act 2003 recognises that volunteer and social clubs give rise to different issues for licensing law than commercially run premises selling direct to the public.
These clubs (such as the Royal British Legion, working men's or cricket or rugby clubs) are generally organisations where members join together for a particular social, sporting or political purpose and then combine to purchase alcohol in bulk for members.
The clubs carry on activities from premises to which public access is restricted and alcohol is supplied other than for profit. For these reasons, the 2003 Act preserves aspects of earlier alcohol licensing law which applied to 'registered members clubs' and affords clubs special treatment outside the normal premises licence arrangements.
Clubs which meet specified criteria set out in the 2003 Act are known as 'qualifying clubs' and the authority under which they may supply alcohol and conduct other 'qualifying club activities' from their premises is a club premises certificate issued by the licensing authority. The grant of a club premises certificate means that a club is entitled to certain benefits, which include
- the authority to supply alcohol to its members and;
- sell it to guests without the need for any member or employee to hold a personal licence, and;
- the absence of a requirement to specify a designated premises supervisor.
There are also more limited rights of entry for the police and other authorised persons, as the premises are considered private and not generally open to the public.
The arrangements for applying for club premises certificates are extremely similar to those in respect of premises licences. For example, similar provisions apply regarding the requirement for advertisement of applications and the making of representations to the licensing authority as apply in the case of applications for premises licences.
To be classified as a qualifying club in relation to a qualifying club activity, a number of general conditions must be met. These are:
- That under the rules of the club, persons may not be admitted to membership, or be admitted, as candidates for membership, to any of the privileges of membership without an interval of at least two days between their nomination for membership and their admission
- That under the rules of the club, those becoming members without prior nomination or application may not be admitted to the privileges of membership without an interval of at least two days between their becoming members and their admission
- That the club is established and conducted in good faith as a club
- That the club has at least 25 members
That alcohol is not supplied to members on the premises otherwise than by or on behalf of the club
To qualify as a club authorised to supply alcohol to its members and guests, additional conditions must be met. These are:
The purchase and supply of alcohol by and for the club is managed by a committee made up of elected members of the club all aged over 18 years
No arrangements may be made for any person to receive any commission, percentage or similar payment at the expense of the club with reference to purchases of alcohol by the club
No arrangements may be made for any person to derive directly or indirectly any monetary benefit from the supply of alcohol to members or guests, apart from to benefit the club as a whole, or any indirect benefit a person derives by reason of the supply contributing to a general gain for the club as a whole
A club premises certificate may authorise the conduct of any of the qualifying club activities, namely:
the supply of alcohol by or on behalf of the club to, or to the order of, members of the club
the sale by retail of alcohol by or on behalf of the club to a guest of a member of the club for consumption on the premises where the sale takes place
the provision of regulated entertainment (where that provision is by or on behalf of a club for members of the club or members of the club and their guests)
However, you will have to specify in the club operating schedule the qualifying club activities to which the application relates.
If a club prefers they could apply for a premises licence instead of a club premises certificate. It is for the club to determine whether the activities it wishes to undertake would be better served by a premises licence. In some circumstances a qualifying club may decide that it wishes to have both types of authorisation.
Before applying please use the 
ward list (application/pdf; 533kB) to find out where to send your application.
Download Licensing Act 2003 - New Club Premises Certificate Pack (application/pdf; 121kB)
Download Guidance for Application for Club Premises Certificate. (application/pdf; 44kB)
Download Licensing Act 2003 - Vary Club Premises Certificate Pack. (application/pdf; 117kB)