Club Premises Certificate
If you run a member's club you will need a club premises certificate to use the club premises for licensable activities, including the sale and supply of alcohol, regulated entertainment (such as live performances and film screenings) and the provision of late-night refreshment (between 11pm and 5am).
Sports and social clubs where alcohol or entertainment are provided require a club premises certificate. Applicants must be 18 years of age or over.
If you want to sell or supply alcohol or provide entertainment to the public, or hire out the premises, then you may need a premises licence to sell alcohol.
Please see the link below for advice about the extended trading times during the 2026 FIFA World Cup
To qualify a club and its membership must satisfy the following conditions:
- a person must not be given membership or be a candidate for membership or get any membership privileges without an interval of at least 2 days from their membership application or nomination and their membership being granted
- people becoming members without nomination or application cannot have membership privileges for at least 2 days between them becoming members and being admitted to the club
- the club is established and conducted in good faith
- the club has at least 25 members
- alcohol is only supplied to members on the premises on behalf or by the club
The fee is based on the non-domestic rateable value of the premises. You must include the correct fee with your application.
You can find details of your non-domestic rateable value on the Government website.
Application and annual fees are set out in GOV.UK's fees table
There are additional fees for premises licence applications and associated annual fees for exceptionally large scale events (5,000+) unless certain conditions apply. Please read and refer to Regulation 4(4) and 4(5) of The Licensing Act 2003 (Fees) Regulations 2005 for more information.
To apply for a club premises certificate, you need to:
- Read the licensing guidance notes. This document includes specific information about the club premises certificate and notes on filling in the application form
- Calculate your licence fee using the information in the Fees section above
- Fill out our club premises certificate online form. At this stage you can also choose to pay your fee online
- Return your signed form to us, along with a plan of the premises and a copy of the club declaration and club rules. If you haven’t paid online, please include a cheque with the appropriate fee
- Send copies of the application form and a plan showing the area where licensable activities are to take place outlined in red to the authorities on our Responsible Authorities list
Apply by post
- Print and complete the Club Premises Certificate application form keeping a copy of the completed form for your own records.
- Post the completed form to:
Licensing Team
Horsham District Council
Albery House
Springfield Road
Horsham
West Sussex
RH12 2GB
- Postal applicants must send a copy of the completed application to each of the responsible authorities listed.
Apply by email
Download and complete the Club Premises Certificate application form keeping a copy of the completed form for your own records.
Email your form to: licensing@horsham.gov,uk
If you apply via email or the online system we will copy the forms to all of the Responsible Authorities on your behalf.
The council's Planning department and the South Downs National Park Authority (where relevant) are Responsible Authorities under the Licensing Act 2003 and are therefore consulted on applications for new premises licences, and variations of those licences.
The licensing and planning functions are legally separate. Planning is directed at development of land and the use of premises on that land. Licensing is directed at licensable activities and responsible management of premises upon that land, and therefore the two may not come to the same conclusions.
Planning matters will only be considered where they relate to the promotion of the licensing objectives. The relevance of planning matters will be decided on a case-by-case basis. If planning permission is not in place, and a licence is granted, the Premises Licence Holder would be subject to planning enforcement under planning legislation and would not be subject to enforcement under licensing legislation.
Please refer to the council's Statement of Licensing Policy issued under the Licensing Act 2003 which gives more information on this.
Applicants must advertise applications in a local newspaper and ensure a site notice is displayed according to the guidance below. These are statutory requirements.
Local newspaper
The newspaper notice must be published in a local newspaper on at least one occasion during the period of ten working days starting on the day after the day on which the application was given. A copy of the newspaper advertisement should be forwarded to the Licensing team.
Site notices
You must advertise your application at the premises. This notice must be displayed prominently at or on the premises to which the application relates and be affixed for a minimum of 28 days starting on the day after the day on which the application was given to the licensing authority.
- The poster must be displayed where it can be conveniently read by the public.
- The poster must be displayed. It should be equal or larger than A4, of pale blue colour, printed legibly in black ink or typed in black in a font of a size equal to or larger than 16.
If there is a problem with the application, we may contact you for further information or return the application for your attention in order to remedy. Until these problems are resolved your application will not be deemed as valid and the consultation period will not start.
There is a statutory 28-day consultation period during which representations can be made both in support or against an application. If we receive no representations within this timeframe we will grant your application as applied for, subject to the conditions offered in your operating schedule.
What happens if representations are received
Where we receive relevant representations, we will hold a hearing of the council's licensing sub-committee to determine the application (unless all parties agree that a hearing is not necessary). Relevant parties will be informed about the necessary arrangements made for any such hearing.
You should advertise the application for 28 days at the premises, and in the public notices section of the local newspaper.
If we do not receive any representations against the application within the 28 days, then we’ll issue the licence.
If we do receive a representation from a responsible authority or interested party, then the licensing sub committee may need to review the application. We’ll arrange a hearing within 20 working days after the representation period ends.
There is a £10.50 charge to make the following changes to your Club Premises Certificate:
- Change the name or alter the rules of the club
- Change the relevant registered address of the club
- Replace a lost or stolen Club Premises Certificate