Apply for an alcohol, entertainment or late-night refreshment licence

A premises licence authorises a premises to carry out licensable activities. A club premises certificate authorises a members' club to carry out licensable activities. Both the licence and certificate have no time limit and are valid until they’re revoked, suspended or surrendered. 

Where a premises licence holder's permission to work in the UK is time-limited, the licence may still be granted for an indefinite period, but it will become invalid when the immigration permission expires. If a licence holder's immigration permission is curtailed or revoked by the Home Office, any premises licence that authorises the sale of alcohol or provision of late-night refreshment will automatically lapse.

If a members’ club wants to provide licensable activities to the general public rather than just members, you must apply for a premises licence.

Conditions to qualify as a club 

To apply for a club premises certificate, your members’ club must:

• have at least 25 members
• admit new members, or candidates for membership, with a gap of at least 2 days between their nomination for membership and their admission
• be established and conducted in good faith as a club

To qualify as a club authorised to supply alcohol to its members and guests your club must also:

• have a committee made up of elected members of the club all aged over 18 years to manage the purchase and supply of alcohol by and for the club
• make sure there are no arrangements for anyone to get any commission, percentage or similar payment at the expense of the club with reference to purchases of alcohol by the club
• make sure there are no arrangements for anyone to get directly or indirectly any monetary benefit from the supply of alcohol to members or guests apart from to benefit the club as a whole