Club premises certificate

A club premises certificate authorises the supply of alcohol and regulated entertainment in member’s clubs, such as working men’s clubs and sports clubs.

To qualify for a certificate, your club must make sure that:

  • it has occupied premises that are used regularly for club purposes
  • alcohol and entertainment is only provided to members and their guests
  • only someone 18 or older who is nominated by the club can serve alcohol or buy it for the club
  • there is no arrangement for anyone to benefit financially from buying or selling alcohol
  • new members wait 2 days from their application before getting membership privileges
  • it is established and conducted in good faith
  • it has at least 25 members

You can find further information about club premises certificates at gov.uk.

For advice about applying for a licence please email licensing@arun.gov.uk

Apply for a new club premises certificate

To apply you’ll need to provide the following information with your application:

  • copy of the club rules
  • copy of the premises plans

These plans should:

  • be 1:100 scale unless we have agreed otherwise
  • show the boundary of the building with any internal or external walls
  • show the perimeter of the premises
  • show entrances and exits to the building
  • show escape routes from the building
  • show the bar or alcohol storage area
  • show locations of different licensable activities in the building, if relevant
  • show where people will consume alcohol
  • show fixed or temporary structures (including furniture) which may block entrances or exits to the building
  • show the location and height of any stages, steps, stairs or lifts in the building
  • show the location of any public toilets in the building
  • show the location of the kitchen if relevant
  • show the location of any fire safety equipment including:
    • fire blankets
    • fire doors
    • fire extinguishers and their type
    • illuminated signs
    • emergency lighting
    • the fire alarm

The information in the plan must be clear and legible and you can include a key of symbols to illustrate the above.

The club premises certificate fees are based on the rateable value of the premises and is charged annually.

After selecting the button below you’ll need to:

  1. Have a credit or debit card for payment.
  2. Create an account if you do not already have one.
  3. Select licensing.
  4. Select apply for a licence.
  5. Select Licensing Act 2003.
  6. Select club premises certificate.
  7. Answer yes to the question on applying for a new club premises certificate.
  8. Select A1 - new L42 club premises certificate.
  9. Follow the onscreen instructions.

There is a fee for this service.

Apply for a new club premises certificate

Once we have received and verified your application we will send you a public notice.

You must display this notice on or at the premises for 28 continuous days from the day the notice is sent to you.
You must send us a photo of the public notice being displayed in its original place to licensing@arun.gov.uk
You must advertise the application in the local paper and pay any costs. A copy of the advertisement must be sent to licensing@arun.gov.uk

If we receive no representations within the 28 days, we will grant your application as applied for, subject to the conditions offered in your operating schedule.

If we receive any representations our licensing committee will meet to decide on the application (unless all parties agree that a hearing is not necessary).

Apply for a minor variation to your club premises certificate

If you need to make a small change to your club premises certificate, like removing a licensable activity, reducing the hours you sell alcohol or making a small change to the layout of your premises, you’ll need to complete the minor variation application.

You’ll need to include:

  • a copy of your current licence
  • original plans of the premises plans which should:
    • be 1:100 scale unless we have agreed otherwise
    • show the boundary of the building with any internal or external walls
    • show the perimeter of the premises
    • show entrances and exits to the building
    • show escape routes from the building
    • show the locations of different licensable activities in the building, if relevant
    • show the bar or alcohol storage area
    • show where people will consume alcohol
    • show fixed or temporary structures (including furniture) which may block entrances or exits to the building
    • show the location and height of any stages, steps, stairs or lifts in the building
    • show the location of any public toilets in the building
    • show the location of the kitchen if relevant
    • show the location of any fire safety equipment including
      • the fire alarm
      • emergency lighting
      • illuminated signs
      • fire extinguishers and their type
      • fire doors
      • fire blankets
  • new plans of the premises if the minor variation includes a change to the layout that affects less than 10% of the business and which should:
    • be 1:100 scale unless we have agreed otherwise
    • show the boundary of the building with any internal or external walls
    • show the perimeter of the premises
    • show entrances and exits to the building
    • show escape routes from the building
    • show locations of different licensable activities in the building, if relevant
    • show where people will consume alcohol
    • show fixed or temporary structures (including furniture) which may block entrances or exits to the building
    • show the location and height of any stages, steps, stairs or lifts in the building
    • show the location of any public toilets in the building
    • show the location of the kitchen if relevant
    • show the location of any fire safety equipment including
      • the fire alarm
      • emergency lighting
      • illuminated signs
      • fire extinguishers and their type
      • fire doors
      • fire blankets

The information in the plan must be clear and legible and you can include a key of symbols to illustrate the above.

After selecting the button below you’ll need to:

  1. Have a credit or debit card for payment.
  2. Create an account if you do not already have one.
  3. Select licensing.
  4. Select apply for a licence.
  5. Select Licensing Act 2003.
  6. Select club premises certificate.
  7. Answer no to the question on applying for a new club premises certificate.
  8. Choose minor variation.
  9. Follow the onscreen instructions.

There is a fee for this service.

Apply for a minor variation

Please be aware:

We have set timescales for deciding a minor variation. If we receive a comment from any of the responsible authorities we will have to decide if your application is a minor variation. If we decide it is not, we will reject the application and you can apply under the full variation process.

If we decide that it is a minor variation, we will accept your application within 15 days.

Apply for a variation to your club premises certificate

If you would like to make a change to your premises licence which will affect more than 10% of the business you must apply for a full variation.

This is similar in process to a new premises licence application and is used when you want to increase the number of hours you sell alcohol or there are major changes to the premises layout.

You’ll need to include:

  • a copy of your current licence
  • original plans of the premises plans which should:
    • be 1:100 scale unless we have agreed otherwise
    • show the boundary of the building with any internal or external walls
    • show the perimeter of the premises
    • show entrances and exits to the building
    • show escape routes from the building
    • show locations of different licensable activities in the building, if relevant
    • show the bar or alcohol storage area
    • show where people will consume alcohol
    • show fixed or temporary structures (including furniture) which may block entrances or exits to the building
    • show the location and height of any stages, steps, stairs or lifts in the building
    • show the location of any public toilets in the building
    • show the location of the kitchen if relevant
    • show the location of any fire safety equipment including
      • the fire alarm
      • emergency lighting
      • illuminated signs
      • fire extinguishers and their type
      • fire doors
      • fire blankets
  • new plans of the premises if the variation includes a change to the layout which should:
    • be 1:100 scale unless we have agreed otherwise
    • show the boundary of the building with any internal or external walls
    • show the perimeter of the premises
    • show entrances and exits to the building
    • show escape routes from the building
    • show locations of different licensable activities in the building, if relevant
    • show where people will consume alcohol
    • show fixed or temporary structures (including furniture) which may block entrances or exits to the building
    • show the location and height of any stages, steps, stairs or lifts in the building
    • show the location of any public toilets in the building
    • show the location of the kitchen if relevant
    • show the location of any fire safety equipment including
      • the fire alarm
      • emergency lighting
      • illuminated signs
      • fire extinguishers and their type
      • fire doors
      • fire blankets

The information in the plan must be clear and legible and you can include a key of symbols to illustrate the above.

The club premises certificate fees are based on the rateable value of the premises.

After selecting the button below you’ll need to:

  1. Have a credit or debit card for payment.
  2. Create an account if you do not already have one.
  3. Select licensing.
  4. Select apply for a licence.
  5. Select Licensing Act 2003.
  6. Select club premises certificate.
  7. Answer no to the question on applying for a new club premises certificate.
  8. Choose full variation.
  9. Follow the onscreen instructions.

There is a fee for this service.

Apply for a variation to a club premises certificate

After submitting your application, you must:

If we receive any representations our licensing committee will meet to decide on the application (unless all parties agree that a hearing is not necessary).

Change of details

You must tell us if you need to change the:

  • registered address of a club premises certificate
  • club name
  • club rules

There is a fee for this service.

You’ll need to have:

  • a credit or debit card for payment
  • your club premises certificate details to hand

Change of club premises details

 

Interim authority notice

You may need to apply for an interim authority notice if you need to take over a licence for someone else.

A premises licence will lapse if the licence holder:

  • dies
  • is incapacitated
  • becomes insolvent
  • loses entitlement to work in the UK

You must apply within 28 days to have the licence reinstated.

After selecting the button below you’ll need to:

  1. Have a credit or debit card for payment.
  2. Create an account if you do not already have one.
  3. Select licensing.
  4. Select apply for a licence.
  5. Select Licensing Act 2003.
  6. Select club premises certificate.
  7. Answer no to the question on applying for a new club premises certificate.
  8. Choose interim authority notice.
  9. Follow the onscreen instructions.

There is a fee for this service.

Apply for an interim authority notice

 

Request a review of a club certificate

You can ask for a review of a premises if you believe that any of the 4 licensing objectives are not being met.

The 4 licensing objectives are:

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

If you are making the application and you are not a responsible authority, we must check that the complaint is valid. We will not review applications which we believe are frivolous, vexatious or repetitious.

Frivolous – these lack seriousness, a complaint must be serious and must relate to one or more of the licensing objectives.

Vexatious – arising because of a dispute between businesses.

Repetitious – if a review application is identical or substantially similar in grounds to an earlier review or representation on an application for the same premises and a reasonable amount of time has not passed since the earlier consideration.

In this case a reasonable amount of time is 12 months.

If we feel an application is frivolous, vexatious or repetitious we will reject the application we will inform you of the reasons for the decision.

There are no rights of appeal against the decision other than an application for judicial review to the High Court.

If we believe the application to be valid, we will display a notice of the application for review on or near the premises for 28 days.
During this time, any responsible authority or other person can make a representation about the application.

If we receive any representations our licensing committee will meet to decide on the application.

After selecting the button below you’ll need to:

  1. Create an account if you do not already have one.
  2. Select licensing.
  3. Select Licensing Act 2003.
  4. Select Club Premises certificate
  5. Select Application for the Review of a Club Premises Certificate under the Licensing Act
  6. Follow the onscreen instructions

Apply for a review of a Club Certificate

Complaints relating to a club premises

If you want to make a complaint about a club premises you’ll need to register on our online portal.

You’ll need to include your contact details, the address of the club and a brief description of the complaint.

After selecting the button below you’ll need to:

  1. Create an account if you do not already have one.
  2. Select requests.
  3. Select apply for a licence.
  4. Select submit a request complaint.
  5. Choose club premises certificate – alcohol and entertainment in the request subject.
  6. Follow the onscreen instructions

Make a complaint

Responsible authorities

The licensing team / licensing officer

Environmental Health Department
Arun District Council
Arun Civic Centre
Maltravers Road
Littlehampton
West Sussex
BN17 5LF
Tel: 01903 737755
licensing@arun.gov.uk

Contact details for Sussex Police

Police Neighbourhood Licensing Team
Centenary House
Durrington Lane
Worthing
BN13 2PQ
email: ws_licensing_wor@sussex.pnn.police.uk
Tel: 0845 60 70 999 or 101 and ask for neighbourhood licensing team

Contact details for Fire and Rescue Service

Fire Safety Officer - Licence Applications
West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service
Centenary House,
1st Floor, West Wing, Rm 236 & 245
Durrington Lane
Worthing
West Sussex
BN13 2QB
Email: businessfiresafety@westsussex.gov.uk

Contact details for Trading Standards

West Sussex County Council
Trading Standards Service
County Hall North
Chart Way
Horsham
West Sussex
RH12 1XH
Consumer Advice: (01903) 839749
Business Enquiries: (01903) 839700
Email: trading.standards@westsussex.gov.uk

Ethnic Minority Helpline: (08457) 581649

Contact details for Planning Department

Planning and Building Control Department
Arun District Council
Arun Civic Centre
Maltravers Road
Littlehampton
West Sussex
BN17 5LF
email: planning@arun.gov.uk

Contact details for Health and Safety

Health and Safety Team
Arun District Council
Arun Civic Centre
Maltravers Road
Littlehampton
West Sussex
BN17 5LF
email: health.safety@arun.gov.uk

Contact details for Environmental Health

Pollution Team
Arun District Council
Arun Civic Centre
Maltravers Road
Littlehampton
West Sussex
BN17 5LF
email: pollution@arun.gov.uk

Contact details for West Sussex Safeguarding Children Partnership

Head of Safeguarding
West Sussex Safeguarding Children Partnership (Licensing)
West Sussex County Council
Room 24
Durban House
Durban Road
Bognor Regis
West Sussex
PO22 9RE
Phone: 03302 223337
Email: cputeam@westsussex.gov.uk

Contact details for Public Health

Director of Public Health
c/o Public Health Licensing
West Sussex County Council
1st Floor, The Grange,
County Hall Campus,
Chichester
West Sussex
PO19 1QT
email: publichealth.licensing@westsussex.gov.uk
Phone: 0330 2228683

Contact details for Immigration Enforcement

Home Office,
Alcohol Licensing Team,
Lunar House,
40 Wellesley Road,
Croydon,
CR9 2BY
Alcohol@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk