Regulated entertainment

Regulated entertainment under the Licensing Act 2003 consists of the following:

1. a performance of a play
2. an exhibition of a film
3. an indoor sporting event
4. a boxing or wrestling entertainment
5. a performance of live music
6. any playing of recorded music
7. a performance of dance
8. entertainment of a similar description to that falling within 5, 6 or 7 (i.e. similar to music and dancing).

When applying for a Premises Licence, Club Premises Certificate or Provisional Statement, you may want to give some thought as to what regulated entertainment you wish to host, and risk assess how such activities may impact on those attending your venue, or those persons who may be impacted upon by the activities taking place (i.e. noise issues, dispersal of customers, queuing, ensuring your customers are safe during the event, etc) and you may wish to propose conditions that can be attached to the licence (if granted) to mitigate for these events.

Consulting others 

We would also strongly recommend that you talk with the Police and Environmental Health, and any of the other responsible authorities (including ourselves) when scoping your application, to ensure that any concerns about upholding the licensing objectives are addressed.

Please see our Licensing contacts page for all necessary contact details.

When regulated entertainment is not licensable

Below is a brief guide as to when certain regulated entertainment is exempt from the need for a licence or temporary event notice.

Plays / Theatrical Performance

Not licensable when:

• it takes place between 8am and 11pm; and
• the audience is no more than 500 people

Films (in Community Premises)

Not licensable when:

• it takes place between 8am and 11pm; and
• is "not-for-profit"; and
• takes place to audiences of 500 or less; and
• is held in accordance with any age classification recommendations set by the BBFC, or where different, any age rating set by the Licensing Authority in whose area that exhibition takes place

Indoor Sporting Events

Not licensable when:

• it takes place between 8am and 11pm; and
• the audience is no more than 1000 people

Boxing / Wrestling (includes Mixed Martial Arts and Cage Fighting)

Not licensable when the audience is no more than 1000.

Only licensable if Olympic style Greco-Roman and Freestyle wrestling.

Live Music (Amplified)

Not licensable when:

• it takes place between 8am and 11pm; and
• it takes place at a licensed premises or workplace; and/or an unlicensed community premises; and/or non-residential premises
• the audience is no more than 500 people

Live music (Acoustic)

Not licensable when it takes place between 8am and 11pm anywhere.

Recorded Music

Not licensable when:

• it takes place between 8am and 11pm; and
• it takes place at a licensed premises; and/or an unlicensed community premises; and/or non-residential premises
• the audience is no more than 500 people

Dance

Not licensable when:

• it takes place between 8am and 11pm; and
• the audience is no more than 500 people

Similar to Music and Dance

Not licensable when: 

• karaoke
• busking
• incidental music or dancing as part of a wider event

Cross-activity exemptions hosted by local authorities, hospitals, nurseries and schools on own premises    

Not licensable when: All regulated entertainments between 8am and 11pm with no audience limitations.

Activities held on local authority, hospital, nursery and school premises by others with their permission

Not licensable when live and recorded music between 8am and 11pm for audiences up to 500.

Community premises (e.g. church and village halls, community halls, etc.)

Not licensable when live and recorded music between 8am and 11pm for audiences up to 500.

Circuses

Not licensable when live and recorded music, plays, dance and indoor sports between 8am and 11pm with no audience limitations.

Other exceptions

No licence or temporary event notice is needed for:

• films which are solely or mainly to demonstrate a product, advertise goods or services, or provide information, education or instruction
• films as part of an exhibition in a museum or gallery
• TV and radio broadcasts, providing they are shown live and not recorded
• religious meetings or services
• entertainment in places of public religious worship
• garden fetes (unless held for private gain)
• entertainment provided in a moving vehicle
• morris dancing

It also includes 'incidental entertainment' - i.e. background entertainment such as:

• a supermarket playing background music (people go there to shop, not to listen to music)
• music during keep-fit classes (people are there to exercise)
• salsa dance classes (people are there to learn to dance)
• a pub jukebox playing in the background (people are there to drink)