Club Premises Certificate

Clubs are organisations where members have joined together for particular social, sporting or political purposes and then combined to buy alcohol in bulk as members of the organisation to supply in the club. They commonly include Labour, Conservative and Liberal Clubs, the Royal British Legion, other ex-services clubs, working men's clubs, social and sports clubs.

What is a club premises certificate for?
A club premises certificate (CPC) authorises a qualifying club to carry out activities such as the supply of alcohol and provision of regulated entertainment.

Technically the club only sells alcohol by retail at such premises to guests. Where members purchase alcohol, there is no sale (as the member owns part of the alcohol stock) and the money passing across the bar is merely a mechanism to preserve equity between members where one may consume more than another. This explains why the 2003 Act often refers to the supply of alcohol in the context of clubs and not just to the sale by retail. The Act does not prevent visitors to a qualifying club being supplied with alcohol as long as they are genuine guests of a member of the club or the club collectively.

What is regulated entertainment?
Regulated entertainment is entertainment provided in the presence of an audience, for the purpose of entertaining that audience. For example:

• performance of a play
• exhibition of a film
• indoor sporting event
• boxing or wrestling
• performance of live music
• playing of recorded music
• performance of dance
• entertainment of a similar description (such as a karaoke).
   

It also includes the provision of entertainment facilities, that is facilities used for:

• playing music (for example a piano)
• dancing (for example a dance floor)
• entertainment of a similar description (karaoke machine).
   

What eligibility criteria apply?
Clubs must be qualifying clubs. A qualifying club has general conditions it must satisfy. These are:

• a person may not be given memberships or as a candidate for membership to any membership privileges without an interval of at least two days from their membership application or nomination and their membership being granted
• that club rules state that those becoming member without nomination or application cannot have membership privileges for at least two days between them becoming members and being admitted to the club
• that the club is established and conducted in good faith
• that the club has at least 25 members
• that alcohol is only supplied to members on the premises on behalf or by the club.

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

• 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.

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.

The Licensing Act 2003 (Premises licences and club premises certificates) Regulations 2005.

What is the application process?
Applications for premises in Aylesbury Vale should be made to AVDC. Forms are available to download below.

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

• 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 promote the licensing objectives.

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 give details to AVDC. If a certificate is in place this must be sent to AVDC when they are notified.

If a certificate is in place and the registered address of the club changes the club must give notice to AVDC of the change and provide the certificate with the notice.

A club may apply to AVDC to vary a certificate. The certificate should accompany the application.

We may inspect the premises before an application is considered.

How long does it take to get a Club Premises Certificate?
The time taken depends on each individual application, however the time period normally ranges from a minimum of 1 to 3 months, however this could be longer.

When an application is submitted, a 28 day statutory consultation period will follow. This allows time for responsible authorities and local residents/businesses (interested parties) to consider the application and make representation (ie in support of/in objection to) the licence application in line with the four licensing objectives:

• the prevention of crime & disorder
• public safety
• the prevention of public nuisance
• the protection of children from harm.

The application must be advertised during the consultation period by way of a notice on the premises and a notice to be published in the local press.

If representations are made against an application which cannot be resolved through mediation, then the application will be heard by our licensing committee. The hearing must be carried out within 20 working days from the end of the consultation period.

The committee will consider the application before them and the representations and evidence it hears. The committee can decide to grant the certificate as applied for, modify the conditions applied for, exclude a qualifying club activity from the scope of the certificate, suspend the certificate for a period not exceeding three months or withdraw the certificate.

Interested parties
Any interested party may make representations to AVDC 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. Notices will be made by AVDC detailing the reasons for any outcome. Interested parties who made representations will receive notice of a failed application.

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. AVDC will give reasons for their response to the application in a notice.

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.

How long is a Club Premises Certificate valid?
A Club Premises Certificate has effect until such time as it is suspended, withdrawn or surrendered. This means it is not time-limited.

How much does a Club Premises Certificate cost?
An application fee is payable on submission and if the Club Premises Certificate is granted an annual fee is charged. Fees are based on the rateable value of the premises to be licensed. See the download below to view the fees.

Is there an appeal process?
Yes, an appeal process is available to the applicant and those who made representation to the application, if they are not satisfied with the decision of the licensing committee. Any appeal must be lodged at the local Magistrates' Court within 21 days of the date the applicant was informed of the Committee's decision.

Consumer complaint
If you have a complaint in relation to a business operating under this registration please contact us on the number or email address shown below.

A club member may request a review of the certificate. We will give reasons for their response to the application in a notice.

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.