Club premises certificate

Licence summary

The Club Premises Certificate allows a qualifying club to carry out the following licensable activities:

• The supply of alcohol to members
• The sale of alcohol to bona fide guests
• The provision of regulated entertainment

Eligibility Criteria

There are a number of conditions in order to become a qualifying club:

• The club must have at least 25 members
• The club must be established in good faith
• Membership will not become active before 2 days from the persons nomination or acceptance into the club.
• Alcohol must not be provided or intended to be provided on the premises other than by or on behalf of the club.

Additional conditions in relation to the supply of alcohol must be complied with:

• that alcohol purchased for and supplied by the club is done by members of 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 a gain from running the club

Supply Of Alcohol To Members Of A Club

The supply of alcohol to members of a club differs from sale by retail in that it is deemed that the assets of a club (including alcohol) are owned jointly by the members.  When a member or their guest is supplied with alcohol, the money that is exchanged is not actually a sale - it is to allow an equitable replenishment of the jointly owned stock.

As member's clubs have a management committee responsible for the day to day running of the club a DPS is not required.  Such clubs often have a discipline committee to ensure that members behave in accordance with the club rules.

Registered industrial and provident societies and friendly societies will qualify if the alcohol is purchased for and supplied by the club is done under the control of the members or a committee of members.

Miners' welfare institutes

These are managed by a committee or board that consists of at least two thirds of people appointed or elevated by one or more licensed operators under the Coal Industry Act 1994 and by one or more organisations who represent coal mine employees. The institute can be managed by the committee or board where the board cannot be made up as detailed above but is made up of at least two thirds of members who were employed or are employed in or around coal mines and also by people who were appointed by the Coal Industry Welfare Organisation or by a body who had similar functions under the Miners' Welfare Act 1952. In any case the premises of the institute must be held on a trust as required under the Recreational Charities Act 1958.

Regulation Summary

• A summary of the eligibility criteria for this licence

Application Evaluation Process

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

Applications should be submitted with a plan of the premises which must be in a specific format, a copy of the rules of the club and a club operating schedule.

A club operating schedule is a document which must be in a specific format and which includes information on:

• the activities of the club
• the times the activities are to take place
• other opening times
• if alcohol supplies are for consumption on or off the premises or both
• the steps that the club propose to take to encourage the licensing objectives
• any other information that is required

If there any alterations to the rules or name of the club before an application is determined or after a certificate is issued, the club secretary must let us know. If a certificate is in place this must be sent to us with the notification.

If a certificate is in place and the registered address of the club changes the club must give notice to us of the change and provide the certificate with the notice. A club may apply to vary a certificate. The certificate should accompany the application.

We may inspect the premises before an application is considered. 

Will Tacit Consent Apply?

No. It is in the public interest that we must process your application before it can be granted. If you have not heard from us within a reasonable period, please contact us.

Apply

We are currently working on a new online system.

• Application for a club premises certificate

Fees 

fees

Non-domestic rateable value	Band A £0  to £4,300	Band B £4,300   to £33,000	Band C £33,001  to £87,000	Band D £87,001  to £125,000	Band E £125,001 and over
New Application and variation	£100	£190	£315	£450	£635
Annual Fee	£70	£180	£295	£320	£350

 

• Minor Variations £89
• Disapplication of DPS Requirement  Community Premises £23

Failed Applications

• Please contact us in the first instance
• A failed applicant will receive notice of the refusal of an application for a certificate or variation of a certificate from  us.
• If an application is rejected, the applicant may appeal the decision
• Appeals must be made to the local Magistrates' court within 21 days of the decision appealed

Licence Holder Redress

• Please contact us in the first instance
• If we refuse an application for a variation the licence holder may appeal the decision. A licence holder can appeal against a decision to put conditions on a certificate or to exclude any club activity. Appeals may also be made against the variation of any condition.
• Appeals against the decision of a review can be made
• A club may appeal against the withdrawing of a certificate
• Appeals must be made to the local Magistrates' court within 21 days of the decision appealed

Consumer Complaint

We would always advise that in the event of a complaint the first contact is made with the trader by you - preferably in the form a letter (with proof of delivery). If that has not worked, if you are located in the UK, gov.uk will give you advice. From outside the UK contact the UK European Consumer Centre.

A club member may request a review of the certificate. 

• Application for a review for a club premises certificate

Appeals against the decision of a review can be made.

Appeals must be made to the local Magistrates' court within 21 days of the decision appealed.

Other Redress

Any interested party may make representations before the certificate is granted or before amendments to a certificate are granted. If representations are made a hearing will be held to consider the application and the representations.

An interested party is:

• a person living near the premises or a body representing such a person
• a person involved in a business near the premises or a body representing such a person

An interested party may request a review of the club premises certificate. 

An interested party may appeal if they argue that a certificate should not have been granted or that different or additional conditions or limitations on activities should have been made. They may also appeal against any variation of a condition.

Appeals against the decision of a review can be made.

Appeals must be made to the local Magistrates' court within 21 days of the decision appealed.

Trade Association

• Federation of Licensed Victuallers Associations (FLVA)

 

Contact the Licensing Section

Telephone: 01304 872295
E-mail: licensing@dover.gov.uk