Club licences

Have any new club applications been received?

If you want to find out whether any new applications for a club premises certificate have been applied near you, you can check our Licensing Applications page.

What is a club premises certificate?

A club premises certificate is a licence that covers the sale or supply of alcohol and the provision of regulated entertainment to members and guests of a bonafide club.

For a premise to qualify as a club under The Licensing Act 2003 it must meet the following criteria:

• have at least 25 members
• not permit a person to be allowed entry to the club, for a minimum of 48 hours after they have requested membership
• be conducted in good faith and for the benefit of the members.

The sale or supply of alcohol is when a club or society purchase alcohol on behalf of their members and supplies the alcohol to their members and sells the alcohol to the member's guests. The stock is then replenished by membership fees.

A club does not need to have a designated premises supervisor.

How do I apply for a club premises certificate?

An application for a club premises certificate should be submitted to the licensing authority along with a plan of the premises and the required fee. The fee is determined by the rateable value of the premises.

The Valuation Office Agency website can provide you with the rateable value of the premises.

Valuation Office Agency (external website)

You can apply for a club premises certificate by completing the application form:

Apply online for a club premise certificate

If you do not use the online form, then the applicant for a club premises certificate must give a copy of the application form with a plan to each of the responsible authorities:

• police
• licensing authority compliance team
• fire authority
• public health body
• heath and safety
• local planning
• environmental health
• child protection
• weights and measures
• British Waterways Board (ships and vessels only).

The application goes through a 28 day consultation period. The applicant must advertise the application on the premises for a period of 28 consecutive days and once in a local newspaper within the first 10 days of the application being made.

It is recommended that applicants do not submit their advertisement to a newspaper until they have received notification that their application has been accepted as valid.

During the 28 day consultation period responsible authorities and relevant persons have the right to object to the application.

In order to be accepted as valid objections under the terms of The Licensing Act 2003 objections must be relevant one or more of the four licensing objectives:

• the prevention of crime and disorder
• public safety
• the prevention of public nuisance
• the protection of children from harm.

If relevant objections are received the applicant will be informed and invited to either a mediation session or a committee hearing to determine whether the club premises certificate may be granted.

If no relevant objections are received after 28 days the club premises certificate will be granted.

A tacit consent applies to this application and comes into effect 28 days after submission, subject to no valid representations being received. 

The applicant will receive the club premises certificate and summary in the post with a covering letter stating that it has been granted. The applicant may also be contacted by a licensing officer to arrange a meeting at the club to go through the certificate and conditions in order to insure that they understand their responsibilities under the Licensing Act 2003.

If you already hold a club premises certificate and want to change the licence in any way, you will need to apply to the licensing authority see below for further details. 

Licensing Act 2003 Policy (pdf 394kb)

Plan requirements (pdf 98kb)

Public Notice premises licence on premises (pdf 66kb)

Public notice premises licence - newspaper (pdf 73kb)

Responsible Authorities contact details (pdf 19kb)

For help with completing the application form, you can contact the licensing team by:

Email: licensing@eastriding.gov.uk

How can I pay for a club premises certificate?

Every application made must be accompanied by the correct fee, the fee is dependent on the rateable value of the premises. Our five banding groups are shown below:

An application fee can be paid at our customer service centre finder to locate a centre.

What other permissions may I need?

When applying for a club premises certificate you may wish to speak with other departments of the council to check you have all the correct permissions or our external partners as below:

Planning

Business Rates

Trading Standards

Fire Authority (external website)

Humberside Police (external website)

Food Services

How do I change my club premises certificate?

Change of name or address, of any party listed on a licence

In order to change your name or address listed on a licence, you will need to put your request in writing to The Licensing Authority at

by email to licensing@eastriding.gov.uk

A change of name or address will cost an administration fee of £10.50.

You will also be required to send the licensing authority your existing licence along with either a summary or personal licence card, for a replacement licence to be issued.

A tacit consent does not apply to this application.

Change of clubs rules

Request online to change club rules. 

A tacit consent does not apply to this application.

Section 84 variation – additions/changes to existing permissions

Under a section 84 variation you can apply to change any of the below permissions on an existing club premises certificate:

• hours of trade
• add/remove/extend or reduce alcohol supply or sale
• add/remove/extend or reduce the Provision of regulated entertainment and facilities for regulated entertainment
• add/remove/extend or limit late night refreshment
• change to the premises plan or layout
• add, remove or alter licence condition.

Apply for a Section 84 variation by completing the below form:

Apply online for a club variation  

The Valuation Office Agency website can provide you with the rateable value of the premises.

Valuation Office Agency (external website)

Applications can be submitted direct to the Licensing Authority by post to County Hall, Cross Street, Beverley, East Riding of Yorkshire, HU17 9BA. Or you can submit your application at a customer service centre, where a member of staff can check your application and take copies of your original documents.

Please use our customer service centre finder to locate your nearest centre.

For a Section 84 variation, an applicant must also give a copy of the application form and if applicable a copy of the plan and details of the designated premises supervisor to each of the responsible authorities:

• Police
• licensing authority
• fire authority
• public health body
• heath and safety
• local planning
• environmental health
• child protection
• weights and measures
• British Waterways Board (ships and vessels only).

The application goes through a 28-day consultation period. The applicant must advertise the application on the premises for a consecutive period of 28 days and once in a local newspaper within the first 10 days of the application.

We recommend that advertisements are not placed in the newspaper until the licensing authority has notified you that they have accepted the application as valid.

During the 28 day consultation period responsible authorities and relevant persons  have the right to object to the application.

In order to be accepted as a valid objection under the terms of The Licensing Act 2003 objections must be relevant to one or more of the four licensing objectives:

• the prevention of crime and disorder
• public safety
• the prevention of public nuisance
• the protection of children from harm.

If relevant objections are received the applicant will be informed and a committee hearing will be set to determine whether the Section 34 variation application may be granted.

If no relevant objections are received after 28 days the licence will be granted with the amendments.

A tacit consent applies to this application and comes into effect 28 days following submission subject to no valid representations being received.

The licence holder will receive the amended premises licence and summary in the post with a covering letter stating the Section 34 variation has been granted. The applicant and designated premises supervisor may also be contacted by a licensing officer to arrange a meeting at the premises to go through the amended premises licence and conditions in order to ensure responsibilities under the Licensing Act 2003 are understood.

Licensing Act 2003 Policy (pdf 394kb)

Plan requirements (pdf 98kb)

Advertising Document S34 (Premises) (pdf 67kb)

Advertising Document S34 (Local Newspaper) (pdf 74kb)

Responsible Authorities contact details (pdf 19kb)

For help with the application form you can contact the licensing team by:

Email: licensing@eastriding.gov.uk

Before applying to vary your club premises certificate you may wish to speak to other departments within the council to check you have all the required permissions or our external partners as below:

• Planning
• Business rates
• Trading standards
• Food services
• Fire Authority (external website)
• Humberside Police (external website)

Sections 86 (a) – minor variation

A section 86(a) application may be used to alter some of permissions on a premises licence or club premises certificate. Any proposed alterations to the licence must not have any adverse effect on promotion of the four licensing objectives:

• the prevention of crime and disorder
• public safety
• the prevention of public nuisance
• the protection of children from harm.

Under a section 86(a) application the premises licence holder can apply to:

• add, remove, extend or reduce the provision of regulated entertainment and facilities for regulated entertainment
• add, remove, extend or reduce the provision of late night refreshment
• make a minor alteration to the plan or layout of the premises
• add, remove or alter conditions
• reduce the hours for the sale or supply of alcohol.

Under a section 86(a) application you cannot apply to alter the following:

• add or extend the hours of the supply/sale of alcohol
• alter the plan to increase the overall size of the premises
• alter the plan of the premises for large structural changes.

Apply for a minor variation by completing the below application form:

Application for a minor variation (word 59kb)

The premises licence holder must advertise the application by posting a white notice on the premises for a period of 10 consecutive days starting on the day after the day when the application is given to the licensing authority.

If your application is accepted as valid you will receive confirmation in writing. The licensing authority must grant the application after 14 days if no relevant representations have been received. The premises licence holder will then receive an amended premises licence and summary in the post.

If the application for a section 86(a) minor variation is not determined within 14 days by the licensing authority it is deemed not granted.

A tacit consent does not apply to this application.

If relevant objections are received, your application will not be granted and you may be asked to submit a section 34 variation.

Objections must be relevant to one or more of the four licensing objectives:

• the prevention of public nuisance
• public safety
• prevention of public nuisance
• the protection of children from harm.

Minor variation-public notice (pdf 70kb)

Who regulates club premises?

The licensing authority regulates and enforces all licences issued under The Licensing Act 2003.

The Licensing Act 2003 is all based on the promotion of four licensing objectives

• the prevention of public nuisance
• the protection of children from harm
• public safety
• the prevention of crime and disorder.

All 4 of the licensing objectives have equal importance and all licensed premises must seek to promote these at all times.

All premises that offer sale/supply of alcohol, regulated entertainment and late night refreshment must have the relevant permission under the terms of The Licensing Act 2003, either a premises licence, club premises certificate or a temporary events notice.

If you have any complaints or concerns about a premise

If you believe premises are unlicensed, operating outside their permitted hours or failing to promote the licensing objectives, you can contact us by email: licensing@eastriding.gov.uk

Once concerns have been raised, the licensing authority will investigate the matter and deal with the issue in line with East Riding of Yorkshire Council's licensing policy enforcement protocols.

Licensing Act Policy (pdf 394kb)

The licensing authority is not able to investigate anonymous complaints, and will always ask for complainants details to enable a full investigation and feedback to you.

All complaints detail will always be kept confidential, unless the investigation leads to a full prosecution in which the complainants details may have to be released.

Some complaints about licensed premises can be dealt with by other departments within the council or external partners as below:

Environmental Control

Planning

Trading Standards

Fire Authority (external website)

Humberside Police (external website)

The licensing authority takes out regular programmed and un-programmed inspections on licensed premises. Where possible they will do joint inspections with other responsible authorities to limit the burden on the trade.

The licensing officers regularly work evenings and weekends to ensure that they can deliver a service that meets the requirements of the licensed trade.

Licensing officers have a right of entry onto licensed premises at any reasonable time; it would be an offence to obstruct an officer in their duty.

The licensing authority will investigate all breaches in licence condition or unlicensed activity all enforcement is carried out in line with the East Riding of Yorkshire Council's licensing policy. 

Licensing Act Policy (pdf 394kb)

Making an objection or representation against a licence application 

Relevant persons and the relevant authorities can make objections to Licensing Act 2003 applications.

An relevant person is anyone.

In order to be accepted as valid, objections must be relevant to one or more of the four licensing objectives;

• the prevention of crime and disorder
• public safety
• the prevention of public nuisance
• the protection of children from harm

For more information on the 4 licensing objectives please refer to the licensing policy below:

Licensing Act Policy (pdf 394kb)

Objections will not be accepted as valid by the licensing authority if they are:

• irrelevant – not applicable to the application or any of the four licensing objectives
  
• vexatious - considered to be based on business rivalry
  
• frivolous - lacking in seriousness.

To view a public summary of a licence  application received. 

If you want to make an objection to the licensing authority you must put it in writing and send to:

East Riding Of Yorkshire Council
Cross Street
Beverley
East Riding Of Yorkshire
HU17 9BA

or by email to licensing@eastriding.gov.uk.

You must include your name and address and the reasons for the objection.

Objections can only be accepted during the representation period which always lasts 28 days for an application.

The date for the deadline for objections will be published in an advertisement on the premises and once in a local newspaper. They will also be listed on The Licensing Act 2003 public register.

If you are an interested party and would like to view an application for a licence please contact the licensing authority by on of the following ways:

Using the Contact the council page.

Email: licensing@eastriding.gov.uk

Reviews

An application can be made for a review of a premise licence or club premises certificate by any of the responsible authorities or relevant person.

The applicant for a review must give a copy of the application to the licence holder or club premises certificate holder as well as all the responsible authorities.

The licensing authority must hold a hearing unless the application for a review is considered to be frivolous, vexatious or repetitious.

The decision made by the licensing committee in respect of a review does not come into place until the appeal period has ended this is 21 days after the decision is given to all interested parties.

Application to review a premises licence (word 87kb)

Appeals

An appeal can be made against any decision made by the licensing committee by the applicant for a licence, the applicant for a review, the holder of a premises licence or any person that made an objection to an application.

Appeals must be made in writing to the magistrates' court for the area where the premises is located no longer than 21 days starting on the day the applicant was informed of the committee's decision.

Inspections/enforcement

The licensing authority takes out regular programmed and un-programmed inspections on licensed premises. Where possible they will do joint inspections with other responsible authorities to limit the burden on the trade.

The licensing officers regularly work evenings and weekends to ensure that they can deliver a service that meets the requirements of the licensed trade.

All enforcement is carried out in line with the East Riding of Yorkshire Council's licensing policy:

Licensing Act Policy (pdf 394kb)

What happens if I do not apply?

If you were to provide a licensable activity without any permissions in place, for example, a premises licence, club premises certificate or temporary event notice then you would be committing an offence under section 136 of The Licensing Act 2003 the maximum penalty for such an offence is an unlimited fine and/or a six month imprisonment term.