Club licence

Summary of requirements

If you are a volunteer or social club (i.e. a not for profit club) such as the Royal British Legion, other ex-services clubs, social, sport and political clubs, and wish to supply alcohol or provide regulated entertainment you need a club premises certificate. In this type of club (known as a qualifying club) there is technically no sale by retail of alcohol (except to guests) as the members own 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.

Regulated entertainment means:

• a performance of a play
• an exhibition of a film
• an indoor sporting event
• boxing or wrestling entertainment (indoor)
• a performance of live music
• any playing of recorded music
• a performance of dance
• entertainment similar to music and performance of dance
• facilities for making music, dancing and anything similar where that provision is by or on behalf of a club for members of the club and their guests.

If your premises are situated in the London Borough of Wandsworth you must apply to us for your certificate. Before making your application, please read our licensing policy.

Once granted, a club premises certificate will last for the life of the club. However, where premises create problems which impact on any or all of the four licensing objectives anyone can ask for a certificate to be reviewed by the Licensing Authority. In addition, the certificate may be revoked if your club is being operated in such a way that it no longer satisfies the conditions for being a qualifying club.

You may apply to vary the terms and conditions of the certificate. If the change is minor, e.g. small changes to the internal layout of the premises or the removal of outmoded conditions then you may follow the minor variation application route. For all other applications you must apply for a major variation.

The grant of a club premises certificate means that a qualifying club is entitled to certain benefits including:

• the authority to supply alcohol to members and guests without the need for any member or employee to hold a personal licence
• the absence of a requirement to specify a designated premises supervisor
• more limited rights of entry for the police and licensing officers
• exemption from police powers of instant closure on grounds of disorder and noise
• exemption from orders of a Magistrates' Court for closure of all licensed premises in an area when disorder is happening or expected.

If you wish to commercially hire your club premises out for events that will be attended by people who are not members of the club on a regular basis it may be better for you to apply for a premises licence.

Eligibility criteria

A club can apply for a club premises certificate for any premises which are occupied and used regularly for club purposes.

Only a qualifying club may hold a club premises certificate. A qualifying club has general conditions it must satisfy. These are:

• a person may not be admitted to membership or be admitted, 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 as a club
• 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 the 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 rise or contributing to a general gain from the carrying on of the club

Alternative definitions of the above conditions apply to registered industrial and provident societies and friendly societies.

Making an application

Applications must be in a specific format and be accompanied by the required fee. For new or major variation applications, the fee is based on the rateable value of the premises. See Fees .

In the case of a new application, in addition to the completing the application form, you must include a copy of the plan of the premises and a copy of the rules of the club.

In the case of new or major variation applications, the application form requires you to complete an operating schedule which includes details of:

• the proposed activities of the club
• the times when the activities will take place
• any other times when the premises will be open 
• whether any alcohol that is to be sold is for consumption on or on and off the premises
• the steps proposed to be taken to promote the licensing objectives

For new or major variations you must advertise your application on the premises and in a local newspaper circulating in the area where the premises are situated, and give notice of the application to the responsible authorities unless you are applying online.

After your application is received

If no representations are received, the application must be granted and the steps identified in the operating schedule to promote the licensing objectives will become conditions of the certificate.

A hearing must be held if any representations are made in respect of your application. If a hearing is held:

• the certificate can be granted
• the certificate can be granted subject to additional conditions
• licensable activities listed in the application can be excluded or
• the application can be rejected.

In all cases where a hearing is held, we must send a notice of the decision to you and to any person who has made relevant representations, and also to the chief of police.

If there any alterations to the rules or name of your club before an application is determined or after a certificate is issued, your club secretary must give details of this to us. If a certificate is in place, you must send it to us along with the notification.

If a certificate is in place and the registered address of your club changes you must let us know in writing, to be accompanied by the existing certificate.

How long will it take to hear about my application?

The time periods for determination of applications are laid down in  legislation. For example, for new applications and  major variation the application must be publicly advertised for 28 days. If no representations are received the application will be granted. If representations are made, the application must go before Committee within 20 working days of the last date for representations (unless agreement is reached for this period to be extended). 

Will tacit consent apply?

Yes. This means that you will be able to act as though your application is granted if you have not heard from us by the end of the target completion period except in the case of a minor variation, where the application will be deemed refused if you have not heard from us within the statutory period.

What can I do if my application is refused?

If your application has failed you will receive written notice of the refusal from us. You may appeal this decision to:

within 21 days of receipt of notification of the decisions.

What if I am unhappy with a condition imposed?

If you are unhappy about any condition attached to your certificate by the Licensing Sub Committee, or following a hearing you wish to contest the decision to withdraw your certificate, you can appeal to the Magistrates Court (contact details above) within 21 days of the notification of the decision.

What if I have a query about my licence

If you have a query about a licence issued by us, please contact Wandsworth Council's Licensing Section:

Email: licensing@wandsworth.gov.uk

European services directive

If you think that the Council has not complied with the European services directive by imposing requirements or conditions in respect of your application that are discriminatory, unfair or disproportionate, please contact:

Email: solvit@bis.gsi.gov.uk

Complaints about licensed premises