Entertainment licence
We licence and inspect entertainment places to make sure they maintain high standards of management and have suitable arrangements in place for managing fires and other safety risks.
We also make sure premises are suitable for their intended use and have appropriate levels of insurance, provide access to emergency services and have adequate sanitary and hygiene facilities. This also applies to outdoor entertainment.
Before applying for an entertainment licence, please check if you need planning permission for both indoor and outdoor areas of the entertainment premises with our Planning Service.
Apply for an entertainment licence online
You can apply online for indoor and outdoor entertainment licence.
Please read the terms and conditions for online services and our privacy statement.
Apply for an entertainment licence by post
You can apply for an entertainment licence by downloading the forms below and returning them by post, along with the relevant documents and fees, to:
Building Control
Ground Floor
Cecil Ward Building
4-10 Linenhall Street
Belfast
BT2 8BP
Depending on if you're applying for a new licence, renewing an existing licence, or transferring and varying an existing licence, you'll need to complete different forms.
Apply for a new entertainment licence
Apply to renew, transfer and vary, or transfer and vary an existing licence
Who needs an entertainment licence?
If you provide, or want to provide, entertainment at a venue within the Belfast City Council electoral area, you must have a valid entertainment licence from us.
This applies to private functions and any events for the public where you charge money. Exemptions can be make for religious occasions and, in certain circumstances, schools.
You must be 18 or older to apply for a licence.
If you aren't sure whether you need a licence please contact us. You should also contact us if you're thinking are holding an event and unsure of the safety measures needed.
If you want to renew or transfer an existing licence, you must also apply to us. If there are any changes to your premises or to the type of entertainment provided, you must also apply to us for a variation to your existing licence.
What types of licence are available?
The type of licence depends on the entertainment that you provide. Although we issue licences for both indoor and outdoor events, their conditions vary depending on the how often you provide entertainment and the nature of the premises where it will take place.
If you want to apply for both, you must make separate applications and supply the accompanying information for both types of licence.
|
Type of entertainment
|
Licence needed
|
|
Theatrical performances
Dancing
Singing
Music or other similar entertainment
Circuses
Public contests, matches, exhibitions or displays of boxing, wrestling, judo and karate (or other similar sport).
Billiards, pool, snooker or darts (or other similar game)
|
Indoor licence
|
|
Any public musical entertainment held entirely or mainly in the open air on private land (regardless of any change)
|
Outdoor licence
|
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Garden fetes or bazaars
Religious meetings or services
Exhibitions or sales of work
Sports or athletics events
Other functions or events of a similar nature (limited to one day or extended over two or more days)
|
No licence needed
|
Entertainment licences - date and frequency of entertainment
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Date and frequency
|
Licence needed
|
Variation
|
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Regular
Monday to Saturday or Monday to Sunday
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Annual licence
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Six-day annual application which allows entertainment to take place from Monday to Saturday for a 12-month period
Seven-day annual application which allows entertainment to take place from Monday to Sunday for a 12-month period
|
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Infrequent
|
Occasional licence
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14-day occasional licence where the days of use are not specified
14-day occasional licence where the days of use are specified and allow entertainment to take place on 14 individual days within a 12-month period
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If you are granted a 14-day unspecified occasional licence, you must notify us at least 14 days before each event is due to take place.
Entertainment licences - type of premises
|
| Event |
Licence needed |
| Premises already open |
Grant |
| Premises currently being constructed, extended or altered |
Provisional grant |
What documents are needed to apply?
Once you know the type of licence you need, you can apply online or fill in the relevant application forms and return by post.
You must provide a range of documents relating to your premises. If you're applying for a renewal, transfer or variation of an existing licence, you must also supply the certificates listed below.
We only accept original certificates - faxes and photocopies will not be accepted. Certificates will be copied and the originals returned to you, if requested.
You must also submit three copies of the floor plan of your premises (at a scale of 1:100). You must also do this if you're applying for a variation of your existing licence and have altered the layout of your premises, added another area to be licensed or intend to do so.
Send hard copies to:
Building Control
Ground Floor
Cecil Ward Building
4-10 Linenhall Street
Belfast
BT2 8BP
Documents required for entertainment licensing applications
|
Type of document
|
Document duration |
| Public liability insurance declaration |
One year |
| Entertainment licence advertisements |
One year |
| Fire extinguisher certificate |
One year |
| Emergency lighting certificate |
One year |
| Fire alarm certificate |
One year |
| Electrical certificate |
Maximum of three years |
| Heating certificate |
Two years |
| Ventilation certificate |
Two years |
| Ceiling certificate |
Four years |
| Structural floor certificate |
Indefinite - this will then only be needed if your premises are altered or extended |
| Fire risk Assessment |
One year |
You can download the following guidance notes for further information:
How are applications processed?
Timescales
Please allow a minimum of 28 days from the date of receipt for us to process your application.
We consult with the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service when considering entertainment licensing applications and take any observations they make into account. We also give other interested parties the chance to express their views before we make our final decision.
During this time, the licensing surveyor will inspect your premises. We can't progress your application or carry out an inspection until we receive three copies of the floor plans of your premises.
We may ask you to undertake remedial work at your premises to bring the building up to a suitable standard before we can issue a licence.
Entertainment licence advertisements
Within seven days of submitting your application, you must also place legal notice of it in one local newspaper. These are not required for applications for a 14-day occasional licence made by schools or for church halls.
Objections
If we receive objections to an application which are not resolved through mediation, the application will be referred to our Licensing Committee for further consideration. If this happens, both you and anyone who objects to your application will have the chance to present a case to the committee.
Appeals
If an application is refused or where terms, conditions or restrictions are imposed or where a licence is revoked, you have the right to appeal our decision. Appeals must be lodged within 21 days of you being informed of the decision to the County Court. Their decision is final.
What happens when a licence is approved?
You shouldn’t consider your licence granted until you receive formal confirmation from us. And you shouldn’t provide any entertainment at your premises until we issue you with a valid entertainment licence.
It's a serious offence to breach the terms of an entertainment licence, especially to allow overcrowding. This can lead to your licence being revoked or suspended, as well as a fine of up to £20,000.
All entertainment licences are granted for a period of up to 12 months and are subject to standard conditions such as:
- days and hours of use
- the nature of entertainment which may be provided
- occupancy figures.
Applications for renewals should be submitted at least one month before your licence is due to expire. We'll write to you in advance to remind you to renew your licence.
If you’re issued with a licence for the first time, you’ll receive our Rules of Management for Places of Indoor Entertainment document.
These rules help you manage and operate your licensed premises properly. You must keep these on site at all time as part of the conditions of your licence. Our licensing surveyors may ask to see it when carrying out performance inspections.
If you are granted a licence, your premises will be inspected regularly to check that you are complying with the conditions of your licence and managing the premises properly. If necessary, our surveyors can take enforcement action to ensure you’re meeting with the licence conditions.
The cost of an entertainment licence depends on the type of licence that you need. These fees are non-refundable, even if your application is refused.
| Type of licence |
Number of people or type of event |
Fee
(based on maximum number of patrons) |
| Indoor entertainment licence (annual) |
Less than 100
|
£100 |
| 101 to 200 |
£150 |
| 201 - 300 |
£250 |
| 301 - 500 |
£400 |
| 501 - 1,000 |
£750 |
| More than 1,000 |
£1,000 |
£100
This fee does not apply when the machines or equipment are not the main focus of entertainment and are provided as an addition to the main use of the premises
|
Machines or equipment for entertainment or amusement (excluding gaming machines)
Equipment for billiards, pool, snooker or other similar game |
| Circus |
£50 |
| |
|
|
| Indoor entertainment licence (14-day occasional) |
Less than 100 |
£50 |
| 101 -200 |
£75 |
| 201 - 300 |
£125 |
| 301 - 500 |
£200 |
| 501 to 1.000 |
£375 |
| More than 1,000 |
£500 |
| Schools, church halls, voluntary organisations (holding a non-profit event) or charities wishing to hold an indoor entertainment event |
£50 (set fee regardless of the number of patrons) |
| |
|
|
| Outdoor entertainment licence (music) |
Less than 500 |
£1,000 |
| More than 500 |
£2,000 |
| |
|
|
Outdoor entertainment licence (music)
(For voluntary groups and charities) |
Less than 500 |
£125 |
| More than 500 |
£250 |
| |
|
|
| Variations to the terms, conditions or restrictions of an existing entertainment licence cost £80 |
Fees can be paid by cheque or postal or money order (made payable to Belfast City Council), or by credit and debit card using our online payment system.
I'm planning a large outdoor event. What advice is available?
If you want to hold a large outdoor event, such as a concert or other musical entertainment, you'll need a licence from us.
Licensing events in this way helps to ensure high standards of health and safety management and minimises the impact it may have on local residents.
Once you have been granted an entertainment licence, you must supply us with an event management plan specific to your event at least one month before it's due to take place (for larger events, more time is needed). Your plan should provide proposals on issues such as:
- site layout
- crowd management
- stewarding
- temporary structures
- noise control.
The finish time for outdoor events is normally 11pm. You must consult us well in advance if you want your event to finish after this time.
You'll also need to consider how you manage litter and waste at your event.
The Health and Safety Executive provide the Event Safety Guide with information on planning outdoor events in a range of locations, such as purpose-built arenas, sites not designed for public entertainment, open-air stadia and parks.
Queries
If you have any queries or complaints about the licensing process, or to find out if a licence has been issued,
please contact us.