Club Premises Certificate

Licensable Activities

• supplies alcohol by or on behalf of the club to a member of that club
• sells alcohol by or on behalf of the club to a guest of a member of the club for consumption on the club premises
• where the provision of 'regulated entertainment' is by or on behalf of a club for its members of the club and their guests

The main difference between a Club Premises Certificate and a Premises Licence is that clubs may not sell alcohol to members of the public. The club may only supply alcohol to members and their guests. 

What Clubs can apply

Several criteria must be met for a club to qualify for a 'club certificate'. This is set out in Section 62 of the Licensing Act 2003:

• Nobody can be admitted as a member without an interval of at least two days after their nomination or application for membership
• A person admitted as a member other than by prior nomination, or application, must wait at least two days before enjoying the privileges of membership
• The club is established and conducted in good faith as a club (as under Section 63). These matters include:
• The club's freedom to purchase alcohol
• How money or property belonging to the club is used
• Giving members information about club finances
• The clubs' accounts
• The nature of the premises
• The club has at least 25 members 
• If the membership falls below 25, the withdrawal of club status will not have effect until 3 months after we give notice. It will not have effect if by the end of three months the membership numbers are 25 or above (Section 90)
• No alcohol is supplied, or intended to be supplied, on the club premises except by or on behalf of the club

Application fees

Please pay the correct fee with your application. This depends on the non-domestic rateable value of your business. Find and check your business rates valuation online at GOV.UK

Application fees for a Club premises certificate are a one-off payment. If you are applying for a large venue licence with a capacity of over £5000 people please contact licensing@fenland.gov.uk before applying.

Length of a Club Premises Certificate

Once granted it will remain in force until it is surrendered by the holder or revoked following a review of the licence.

Document Checklist

Before submitting your application please ensure you have the relevant documents and they are ready to be uploaded during the next stage:

1. A Plan of the Premises -Your plans do not need to be professionally drawn. However please submit in the following format:

• The plan should be drawn in a standard scale (unless agreed otherwise with your Licensing Officer). 1 millimetre should represent 100 millimetres
• You can use symbols to show information
• You don't need to show areas that aren't part of the premises you are licensing
• You should describe areas you intend to provide for people to drink alcohol sold or supplied by you

The plan must show:

• The building boundary (and the premises perimeter, if different). If relevant, show external and internal walls of the building 
• Access and egress points, including any other escape routes
• Fixed structures (including furniture) or similar that may impact on people using exit or escape routes
• The location and height of any stages or raised areas (from the floor)
• Where each licensable activity will take place (if more than one)
• Steps, stairs, elevators or lifts
• The location of public toilets
• The location and type of fire safety and other safety equipment
• The location of the kitchen (if applicable)

2.  Club Certificate Declaration (Word doc) [85KB]

3. A copy of your club rules

How to Apply

Online Application

Once you are ready to apply, please click on the link below. This will then take you through the application process and pay the relevant fee

You may also wish to refer to the  guidance notes (Word doc) [60KB]  for this application.

Apply online for a Club Premises Certificate

Paper Application
If you're submitting a paper application, please send a copy of it and your plan to all  relevant authorities [69.82KB].

Advertising your application

As part of the application process you must advertise in two ways:

1. Place a public notice in a local  advertised newspaper, on one occasion, within 10 working days of the application being submitted. The licence applicant must pay the cost of the advert
2. Display a statutory at your premises, it must be easily viewed from the outside. You can download a notice template which must be printed on blue paper. This must be displayed continuously for 28 days from the day after the application was submitted.

Consultation Process

On the day after an application is received, a 28 day consultation period begins allowing comments or 'representations' to be made about the application by the responsible authorities and any local residents or 'interested parties'. During this time, the responsible authorities will work with you to ensure your proposals are in line with the four licensing objectives.

If no comments are received during this period, the application will be deemed granted after the last date for representations and your licence will be issued and sent to you.

If relevant representations are received within the 28 day consultation period, we will attempt to mediate between the parties to try and find a suitable solution. If the mediation is unsuccessful then a public hearing must be held to determine your application. You will be notified advising you when the hearing will be, who has made a representation and what the concerns are.

The public hearing will be held within 20 working days after the last date for representation. The hearing date may be extended if we consider it is in the public interest to do so.

When you make an application, the details of the application will be published on our website and the information on any licence granted will be included in a public register.

Annual licence fees

Once a certificate has been granted, an annual fee is payable each year on the anniversary of the date the licence was granted. An invoice for this will be sent to the Premises Licence Holder.

The amount must be paid in full. Failure to pay will mean your premises licence is suspended and no licensable activities can continue. 

Fees for club premises certificate are:

• Band A - £70
• Band B - £180
• Band C - £295
• Band D - £320
• Band E - £350

Vary a Club Premises Certificate

Once a club premises certificate has been granted, you can apply to  vary the operating schedule (Word doc) [403KB]

The fees are the same as they are for new applications (listed above). 

Report changes to the club

The club secretary must tell us about any changes to the club's rules, name or address. It is an offence not to do this within 28 days and could lead to a fine.

Please email us at licensing@fenland.gov.uk

The club certificate must accompany these changes. If this is not possible, you will need to explain why.