Sex Cinema

You must have a licence to run a sex shop or adult cinema.

To apply

You must:

• be over 18
• ensure that no one under 18 works at 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, eg regulating your opening hours, shop displays, advertisements and how visible the interior of your shop is from outside

Licence Conditions

We are able to limit the number of establishments permitted in any area.

If granted we can prescribe conditions which may include:

• regulating opening hours
• regulating displays or advertisements on or in sex establishments
• regulating the visibility of the interior of the establishments to passers by
• any change of a sex cinema to a sex shop or vice versa.

In addition to the model conditions special conditions may also apply to an individual licence.

Licence Refusal

We may refuse to grant a licence if we believe:

• the applicant is unsuitable bye reason of conviction or any other reason
• the business, if the licence was granted, would be for the benefit os a person who would be refused such a licence if they made application themselves
• that the number of sex establishments in the area exceeds the number that we consider appropriate

Apply for a Sex Cinema Licence

Cost

• Grant of new licence: £3,250
  £2,167 is payable on application and non-refundable. The remaining £1,083 will be payable when your application is approved
• Renewal, transfer or variation £2,225
  £1,484 is payable on application and non-refundable. The remaining £741 will be payable when your application is approved

 

• Sex Entertainment Establishment application form 
  To be used where a new sex entertainment venue is applied for or an existing premises renews the licence
• Transfer a Sex Entertainment Establishment application form
  To be used where it is intended to transfer an existing sex entertainment venue licence to another operator
• Consent to the transfer of an existing sex entertainment establishment licence 
  To be completed by the current licence holder who has agreed to the transfer
• Staff Declaration Form 
  To be completed annually by staff employed in a sex entertainment establishment

 

Contact the Licensing Section

Telephone: 01304 872295

Email: licensing@dover.gov.uk