Club Premises Certificates

Applicants are strongly urged to complete online applications as the default position. Post is not being opened as frequently, therefore applications posted to us may not be received or considered promptly. Should you be making a representation to an application please email this to us. The licensing team can be contacted at licensing@spelthorne.gov.uk or 01784 444213 option 3.

A club certificate authorises qualifying members' club to sell or supply alcohol to members and their guests and to provide regulated entertainment such as live or recorded music.

Examples of club premises are British Legion, Conservative clubs, sports or social clubs.

What do we mean by qualifying club?

To be a qualifying club a club must satisfy number of general conditions. These may include:

1. that individuals cannot be made members without an interval of at least two days between their nomination or application for membership and their admission
2. the club must be established and 'conducted in good faith' as a club
3. the club must have at least 25 members
4. alcohol can only be supplied to members and bonafide guests
5. the supply of alcohol has to be managed by a committee whose members are members of the club, who must also be over 18, and elected by members of the club
6. a club is not to be profit making

What do we mean by 'established and conducted in good faith'?

The following matters must be taken into account in order to determine whether a club is established and conducted in good faith.

1. any arrangements restricting the club's freedom of purchase of alcohol
2. there must be no private gain, all profits must go to the benefit of the club or society
3. there must be club rules and records of accounts

Who can apply for a club premises certificate?

The club secretary or chairman would normally complete application forms and provide supporting documentation.

Apply for a club premises certificate

Complete the

to be granted under the Licensing Act 2003

Apply online

Apply for a new Club Premises Certificate

Apply by post

Your application, which you send to the licensing unit, must consist of:

• completed application form
• club declaration to prove that your club meets the qualifying criteria
• plan of the premises to the prescribed format
• a copy of the club rules
• the application fee based on the non-domestic rateable value
• a copy of the application form, rules and plan must be sent to each of the 

  Responsible Authorities and Newspaper Contacts (pdf, 20.53 KB)

   unless you have applied online

You also need to advertise the application during the representation period.

The

must be displayed on the outside of the property on light blue A4 (or larger) paper for 28 consecutive days starting the day after the application is submitted to the licensing unit. The notice should be visible from the boundary of the premises' property.

The

needs to appear at least once in a local newspaper circulating in the vicinity of the premises within ten working days of the application being submitted to the licensing unit. A copy of this advertisement needs to be sent to the licensing unit during the representation period.

Apply to vary a club premises certificate

Complete the

to be granted under the Licensing Act 2003

Apply online

You can apply online to vary your club premises licence (opens new window).

Apply by post

Your application, which you send to the licensing unit, must consist of:

• the completed application form for varying your club premises certificate
• a copy of the plans of the premises to the prescribed format
• a copy of the club rules
• the licence fee based on the non-domestic rateable value

A copy of the application form, rules and plan must be sent to each of the responsible authorities unless you have made the application online.

You also need to advertise the application during the representation period.

The window advertisement must be displayed on the outside of the property on light blue A4 (or larger) paper for 28 consecutive days starting the day after the application is submitted to the licensing unit. The notice should be visible from the boundary of the premises property.

The newspaper advertisement needs to appear at least once in a local newspaper circulating in the vicinity of the premises within ten working days of the application being submitted to the licensing unit. A copy of this advertisement needs to be sent to the licensing unit during the representation period.

Minor variations to premises licences and club premises certificates

The holder of a club premises certificate can apply to make minor variations to their licence/certificate.

You can apply online to vary your club premises licence (opens new window) or you can download, complete and return the

 to the Licensing Team with the £89 fee.

You need to advertise the application by

 on the premises for a period of 10 working days, beginning on the day after the application is made. The notice should be on white paper and placed where it can be seen by people without the need for them to enter the premises.

Will tacit consent apply?

Yes, except for the application for a minor variation. This means that you will be able to act as though your application is granted if you have not heard from the local authority by the end of the target completion period, provided the application was correctly made.

For the minor variation application, it is in the public interest that the authority must process your application before it can be granted. If you have not heard from the local authority within a reasonable period, please contact it. You can do this online if you applied through the UK Welcomes service or use the contact details below.