Licensing Act 2003

Village , church, community and Parish Halls

Village halls and similar venues often have public entertainment licences but only a few have their own Justices Licences to sell alcohol. Instead they rely on the licence of other people, such as the local pub, to provide the bar for events.

Existing public entertainment licences can be converted into new Premises Licences on a like for like basis. In the case of village, community and parish halls there is an exemption from paying a licence fee but only for ‘regulated entertainment’. Where the supply of alcohol or providing late night (2300-0500) hot food or hot drink is part of the Premises Licence then there is no exemption from paying the full fee. These fees and exemptions have been set by the government and are outside of the control of the Council.

The arrangement of someone ‘supplying the bar’ could continue with the local pub using one of their ‘Temporary Event Notices’ (TENS). Alternatively the organiser of the event could also issue a TENS notice and run a bar themselves even if they are not the holder of a Personal Licence. Each TENS notification costs £21 and there is no exemption from this fee for village halls or charities.

Bear in mind that there are limits to the numbers of TENS that can be issued in any year as follows:

Personal Licence Holders can issue up to 50 in any year.

Non personal Licence Holders can issue up to 5 in any year.

Only 12 TENS can be issued for each premises in any year.

Busy village halls will find that the restriction of 12 TENS per year for the premises means that they will need a premises licence to sell or supply alcohol. Bear in mind that this number includes any issued by organisers of events where you are simply hiring out the hall and have no involvement in the function. This means the village hall will need to advertise the application and pay the full fee. Furthermore they will need to have a named individual as ‘Designated Premises Supervisor’ (DPS) who will be responsible for all sales of alcohol under the licence. They will need to hold a Personal Licence in order to qualify to be a DPS, which involves obtaining a licensing qualification. Although this is an additional complication and cost it does mean that the village hall could itself provide the bar for all functions, even when they let the hall out to other people, which could generate income.

Village halls where few events are held could find the TENS system adequate.