Before you apply

Part of: Club premises certificate

Contents

A club premises certificate is only available to qualifying clubs. These are private member clubs that operate for the benefit of their members, rather than the general public.

The law treats these clubs differently because there is no retail sale of alcohol to members. Each member jointly owns part of the club’s alcohol stock, and payments made at the bar are simply to keep things fair between members.

What counts as a qualifying club

To qualify, your club must meet all of the following conditions under the Licensing Act 2003:

  • The club must have at least 25 members.
  • The club must be established and run in good faith, not set up as a business selling alcohol to the public.
  • Alcohol can only be supplied to members and guests on behalf of the club.
  • A person applying for membership cannot use club privileges for at least two days after applying or being nominated.
  • Club rules must confirm the same two-day wait for new members joining automatically.

Alcohol supply and management conditions

Your club must also meet these conditions about how alcohol is bought and supplied:

  • Alcohol must be purchased and supplied by members aged 18 or older who are elected by the membership.
  • No one can be paid or receive commission for buying alcohol for the club.
  • No one can personally profit from supplying alcohol, apart from indirect benefits to the club itself.

Types of clubs that can qualify

The following types of organisations may qualify if they meet the above requirements:

  • Industrial and provident societies or friendly societies
  • Miners’ welfare institutes managed by committees made up mostly of current or former coal industry workers
  • Clubs that hold their premises in trust under the Recreational Charities Act 1958

Why these rules exist

These rules make sure that only genuine member clubs qualify for a club premises certificate. They prevent public venues or commercial operators from using this type of licence to avoid the stricter controls of a premises licence.

When we assess your application, we refer to the Licensing Act 2003, the licensing objectives, and our Statement of Licensing Policy.

If you’re unsure whether your club qualifies, you can request pre-application advice before applying.