Apply for a club premises certificate
A club premises certificate is needed to serve alcohol at private members clubs.
Private members clubs are not required to have a Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS), and sales of alcohol do not need to be authorised by a personal licence holder.
For more information, see the GOV.UK guide to alcohol licensing.
Qualifying clubs
To be classified as a club for the purpose of this certificate, the group must:
- be a real club with at least 25 members
- have a membership process that takes at least two days between application and acceptance
- be the only supplier of alcohol on the premises
- purchase alcohol by a committee made up of members all of whom are at least 18 years old
- purchase any alcohol provided legally
- have no arrangements for any individual to receive a financial benefit from supplying alcohol other than the supplier or the club itself
Other legal restrictions for clubs operating under a club premises certificate are in the Licensing Act 2003.
Fees
The fee for your application is based on the business rates charged for the premises.
There is also an annual fee paid for each year you hold the licence.
| Business rate band | Fee | Yearly fee (recurring) |
|---|---|---|
A: £0 to £4,300 |
£100 |
£70 |
B: £4,301 to £33,000 |
£190 |
£180 |
C: £33,001 to £87,000 |
£315 |
£295 |
D: £87,001 to £125,000 |
£450 |
£320 |
E: £125,001 or more |
£635 |
£350 |
For businesses in rates D and E, the fees will double if your premises is primarily used for the consumption of alcohol, such as a nightclub.
How to apply
Before you apply, you'll need:
- a credit or debit card
- a premises plan
- a copy of the club rules
Next steps
All applications will go through a 28 day consultation period.
During this period you must advertise your application.
If any objections are made that can’t be resolved through mediation, the application will be heard by our licensing committee within 20 working days of the end of the consultation period.
Failed applications
Applicants and other parties may appeal a decision of the licensing committee.
Appeals must be lodged within 21 days of the date the applicant was informed of the committee’s decision at the local Magistrates Court.
Making changes to club certificates
If you would like to make changes to your club premises certificate after your application, see minor or major variations to an alcohol licence.
Loss of certificate
An application for a copy of a club premise certificate (or summary on theft, loss, etc.) costs £10.50.
For more information, contact the alcohol and entertainment licensing team.