Club Premises Certificates are issued by the council under the Licensing Act 2003 to registered members' clubs, for supplying alcohol and providing entertainment.
Go to our Apply for a Licence section to get application forms, with guidance on how to apply in Eastbourne and where to send the forms.
How Do You Qualify as a Club Premises?
Voluntary and social clubs give rise to different issues for licensing law than commercially run premises selling direct to the public.
Club Premises Certificates enable club premises that fulfil specific membership criteria to supply alcohol and other club activities for their members and guests, on a non-profit basis.
The criteria are similar to members' club certificates previously issued under the Licensing Act 1964, but not all existing members' clubs qualify for the new club premises certificates. Club certificates do not have an expiry date.
It is the people within the organisation that usually own the property in which they meet and any fixtures and fittings, such as alcohol. The bar is run by a bar Committee of at least three members, although it is permissible for them to employ a bar man to dispense the alcohol.
Since members already ‘own’ the alcohol they cannot buy it but may pass money to replace the stock they have taken. Alcohol can only be supplied to members. In a registered club no one person derives financial benefit from the running of the club.
The criteria for qualifying clubs are:
there must be an interval of at least two days between nomination for membership and granting of membership or admission
there must be at least 25 members
the club must be established and conducted in good faith
the club must be non-profit making
alcohol is not supplied or intended to be supplied to members on the premises other than by, or on behalf of, the club
What Are the Benefits of a Club Certificate?
Qualifying clubs get special treatment outside the normal premises licence arrangements.
A club is entitled to certain benefits, which include the authority to supply alcohol to its members and sell it to guests without the need for any member or employee to hold a personal licence, and the absence of a requirement to specify a designated premises supervisor.
There are also more limited rights of entry for the police and other authorised persons, as the premises are considered private and not generally open to the public.
What if My Club Does Not Meet the Requirements?
If a club does not meet the conditions to be classified as a qualifying club, it must apply for a premises licence. It is for the club to determine whether the activities it wishes to undertake would be better served by a premises licence.
