Club premises certificate
To authorise the supply of alcohol and regulated entertainment
in a qualifying club you need a club premises certificate from us.
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.
Clubs must be qualifying clubs. A qualifying club has general
conditions it must satisfy. These are:
- a person may not be given memberships or as a candidate for
membership to any membership privileges without an interval of at
least two days from their membership application or nomination and
their membership being granted
- that club rules state that those becoming member without
nomination or application cannot have membership privileges for at
least two days between them becoming members and being admitted to
the club
- that the club is established and conducted in good faith
- that the club has at least 25 members
- that alcohol is only supplied to members on the premises on
behalf or by the club
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 is 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 who 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.
You can read a summary of the
regulation relating to this licence on OPSI's website.
Application and evaluation process
The procedure for a club premises licence is
the same as a new premises licence,
but the forms are different:
Don’t forget to complete and enclose the club declaration along
with the application form. Also enclose a copy of the club
rules.
Vary a club premises certificate
Holders of existing club premises certificates
may apply for a variation, for example, varying the hours during
which a licensable activity is permitted.
Application must be made on behalf of the club
and applicants must have the authority to bind the club.
Where you want to substantially vary the
physical premises, you must apply for a new club premises
certificate. For small changes to the licence you can apply for a
minor variation.
The procedure to vary the club premises licence is the same as a
new premises licence, but the
forms are different.
Download the application forms:
Notification of change of details; club rules
Where a club holds a club premises certificate (or has made an
application for a club premises certificate, which has not been
determined by the licensing authority) the secretary of the club
must give notice of any change in the name, or alteration made to
the rules, of the club.
Once we have been notified, we will amend the club premises
certificate accordingly. The above cannot include a change to the
premises to which the club premises certificate relates. The
premises must have an existing club premises certificate.
Read a summary of the
regulation relating to this licence.
The notification should include:
- details of change of name or alteration to
club rules;
- the club premises certificate or, if that is
not practicable, by a statement of the reasons for the failure to
produce the certificate
Charges
The fee for notification of change of name or
alteration to the club rules is £10.50.
Online payments can now be made on
http://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/content_pages/pay_it.aspx
Complaints and appeals
See the main page for information on how to appeal or complain and
our contact details.