Sex establishment licence

A sex establishment can be any of the below:

  • a sex shop
  • an adult cinema
  • a sexual entertainment venue such as a lap dancing club

You must follow the restrictions that apply to sex establishments.

You must:

  • be over 18
  • ensure that no one under 18 works or visits your premises
  • not be disqualified from holding a licence
  • have been a resident in the UK for the last 6 months or be an incorporated UK body
  • not have been refused a licence or renewal in the last 12 months, unless the decision was later reversed
  • follow the conditions of your licence, for example regulating your opening hours, shop displays, advertisements and how visible the interior of your shop is from the outside

The licence is for a period of one year.

Application process

As part of the application we will ask you for details of:

  • all company directors and the company secretary if you are applying as a company
  • all partners if applying as a partnership
  • all office bearers if applying as a club or association
  • all owners of the business premises
  • all managers of the business including all managers of the premises
  • the proposed opening times for each day of the week
  • any convicted crimes for every named person in the application

You’ll need to complete the notice application form [doc] 29KB. You need to affix this to the premises where the public can see it.

Our officers may check the premises to check that you have affixed the notice as required.

You must:

  • display your white A3 application notice at or on the premises for 21 continuous days from the day after you sent the application
  • advertise the application in the local paper within 7 days of the submission of the application and you must pay any costs
  • send a copy of the advertisement 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).

If we refuse the application you have the right of appeal to a magistrate’s court within 21 days of us telling you our decision.

Apply for a sex establishment licence

Before you apply you’ll need to:

  • have a debit or credit card for payment
  • supply a floor plan drawn to scale showing all entrances and exits and any parts which you share with any other building
  • supply a plan showing
    • the existing and front elevation
    • all signage
  • supply a copy of an area street plan (scale 1:500) showing the premises in relation to other premises within 100 metres
  • supply an internal layout of the premises (scale 1:50)

There is a fee for this service.

Apply for a sex establishment licence

Renew a sex establishment licence

Renewing a sex establishment licence is similar to applying for one and you’ll need to complete the notice application form [doc] 29KB application form. You will need to affix this to the premises where the public can see it.

Our officers may check the premises to check that you have affixed the notice.

You must:

  • display your white A3 application notice at or on the premises for 21 continuous days from the day after you sent the application to us
  • advertise the application in the local paper within 7 days of the submission of the application and you must pay any costs
  • send a copy of the advertisement 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 representations our licensing committee will meet to decide on the application (unless all parties agree that a hearing is not necessary).

    If we refuse the application you have the right of appeal to a magistrate’s court within 21 days of us telling you our decision.

    You will need to:

    • make the renewal application prior to the existing licence expiring
    • post a notice on site using our notice template
    • advertise in the local paper

Vary a sex establishment licence

Variations can cover change to the:

  • opening times of the premises
  • external appearance of the premises
  • layout of the premises
  • licensable activities
  • conditions of a licence

You need to include the following information:

  • copies of plans if the changes relate to any changes to the layout or exterior
  • photos or drawings if there are changes to signage

You’ll need to complete the notice application form [doc] 29KB. You need to affix this to the premises where the public can see it.

Our officers may check the premises to check that you have affixed the notice.

You must:

  • display your white A3 application notice at or on the premises for 21 continuous days from the day after you sent us the application
  • advertise the application in the local paper within 7 days of the submission of the application and you must pay any costs
  • send a copy of the advertisement 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 representations our licensing committee will meet to decide on the application (unless all parties agree that a hearing is not necessary).

    If we refuse the application you have the right of appeal to a magistrate’s court within 21 days of us telling you our decision.

    Vary a sex establishment licence

Transfer a sex establishment licence

If you take over a business and wish to continue conducting licensable activities then you must apply to transfer the sex establishment licence.

You’ll need to:

  • post a notice on site

  • advertise in the local paper

  • provide a letter of consent from the original licensee

You’ll need to complete the notice application form [doc] 29KB. You need to affix this to the premises where the public can see it.

Our officers may check the premises to check that you have affixed the notice as required.

You must:

  • display your white A3 application notice at or on the premises for 21 continuous days from the day after you sent the application to us

  • advertise the application in the local paper within 7 days of the submission of the application and you must pay any costs

  • send a copy of the advertisement 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).

If we refuse the application you have the right of appeal to a magistrate’s court within 21 days of us telling you our decision.

Transfer a sex establishment licence

Make a representation on a sex establishment application

If you have any concerns about an application that has been made you can comment or make an objection within the 28 day consultation period.

Your objections cannot be on moral grounds but should relate to the licence being inappropriate as the premises are in areas containing any of the following:

  • schools, nurseries, creches, youth hostels and other facilities attended by children
  • parks and children’s play areas
  • residential and community buildings
  • alcohol or entertainment licensed premises
  • places and or buildings of a historical/cultural interest or tourist attractions
  • other retail units

Make an objection about a sex establishment licence