Entertainment licensing
Guidance on whether you need approval to put on certain types of regulated entertainment.
Businesses, organisations and individuals who want to provide types of entertainment may require a licence or other authorisation from us.
The types of businesses and organisations that need a licence for entertainment might include:
- nightclubs
- live music venues
- cinemas
- larger theatres
- larger street and open air festivals
- larger indoor sporting arena
In particular a licence may be required by:
- anyone that provides any entertainment between 11pm and 8am
- anyone that provides amplified live or recorded music to an audience of more than 500 people
- anyone that provides recorded music to an audience on premises not licensed for the sale or supply of alcohol
- anyone that puts on a performance of a play or a dance to an audience of more than 500 people, or an indoor sporting event to more than 1,000 spectators
- anyone that puts on boxing or wrestling
- anyone that screens a film to an audience
Do I need a licence for music entertainment?
Whether a licence is needed for music entertainment will depend on the circumstances. A licence is not required to stage a performance of live music, or the playing of recorded music if:
- it takes place between 8am and 11pm and
- it takes place at an alcohol on-licensed premises; and
- the audience is no more than 500 people
You also don't need a licence:
- to put on unamplified live music at any place between the same hours; or
- to put on amplified live music at a workplace between the same hours and provided the audience is no more than 500 people.
In other circumstances, a licence may be required. One licence application can cover all types of regulated entertainment and the sale or supply of alcohol.
There are exemptions from the need for a licence for music entertainment, in defined circumstances as set out in the Guidance, including for:
- places of public worship, village halls, church halls and other similar buildings
- schools
- hospitals
- local authority premises
- incidental music - music that is incidental to other activities that aren't classed as regulated entertainment
The guidance also sets out the process by which a local council can review a licence where problems may occur in relation to music entertainment and noise nuisance.
Do I need a licence to put on a play or a performance of dance?
Whether a licence is needed for a performance of a play or a dance will depend on the circumstances. A licence is not required to stage a performance of a play or a performance of dance if:
- it takes place between 8am and 11pm; and
- the audience is no more than 500 people.
In other circumstances, a licence maybe required. One licence application can cover all types of regulated entertainment and the sale or supply of alcohol. A licence is always required for any activity that is sexual entertainment
Do I need a licence to stage an indoor sporting event?
Whether a licence is needed for an indoor sporting event will depend on the circumstances. A licence is not required to stage an indoor sporting event if:
- it takes place between 8am and 11pm; and
- the number of spectators is not more than 1000 people.
In other circumstances, a licence maybe required. One licence application can cover all types of regulated entertainment and the sale or supply of alcohol.
Do I need a licence to stage boxing or wrestling?
You will need a licence to stage boxing, wrestling and mixed martial arts. One licence application can cover all types of regulated entertainment and the sale or supply of alcohol.
Do I need a licence to screen a film?
A licence is needed to screen a film or exhibit moving pictures. One licence application can cover all types of regulated entertainment and the sale or supply of alcohol.
There are exemptions from the need for a licence for film entertainment, in defined circumstances as set out in the guidance, including for:
- places of public worship, village halls, church halls and other similar buildings
- education
- incidental film — moving pictures that are incidental to other activities that aren't classed as regulated entertainment
- television broadcasts
In other circumstances, a licence maybe required to show a film:
- in public
- or in private, if those attending are charged for entry and the intention is to make a profit, including raising money for charity.
Further information
Further detail is set out in Guidance issued under the Licensing Act 2003. You can also contact the licensing team for further information.