Alcohol & entertainment licences

The Licensing Act 2003 creates a framework of licences, certificates and notices to regulate the sale and supply of alcohol, the provision of regulated entertainment and the supply of late night refreshment.  There are four licensable activities under the Licensing Act 2003:

• Sale by retail of alcohol
• Supply of alcohol by or on behalf of a club or to the order of a member of the club
• Provision of late night refreshment
• Provision of regulated entertainment

Regulated entertainment is broadly defined as any entertainment that takes place in the presence of an audience (whether members of the public or a club), or otherwise for profit, and the premises have the purpose of providing the entertaining concerned. It may include a performance of a play, an exhibition of a film, an indoor sporting event, a boxing or wrestling entertainment, a performance of live music, playing of recorded music, a performance of dance. The complete definitions of regulated entertainment are set out in schedule one of the Act. Certain performances of live music are exempt from licensing under the provisions of the Live Music Act.