Sex Establishment Licence (shop, cinema or entertainment venue)

Sex Establishment Licence (shop, cinema or entertainment venue)

Sex Establishments are required to be licensed under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982.

A sex establishment can either be a Sex Shop, a Sex Cinema or a Sexual Entertainment Venue.

A sex shop is a premises used for business which consists to a significant degree of selling sex articles. 

A sex cinema is any premises used to a significant degree for showing of films which are concerned primarily with, or relate to, or are intended to stimulate, sexual activity. 

A sexual entertainment venue is any premises at which relevant entertainment is provided before a live audience for the financial gain of the organiser or the entertainer.  Relevant entertainment will generally be taken to include:

• Lap dancing
• Pole dancing
• Table dancing
• Strip shows
• Peep shows
• Live sex shows

The law defines the way in which an application is made, which include advertising notice of the application in the local press and displaying a notice outside the premises for a specific time period to give passers by the opportunity to comment by a statutory closing date.

When considering an application for a sex establishment licence the Council may only use the following criteria:

• The suitability of the Applicant
• Whether the person applying is a "front" person for someone else
• The location and situation of the premises in relation to other premises in the area
• Whether the number of sex establishments in that locality is equal to, or exceeds the number which the Council considers appropriate for the area

Apply Online

You can now apply and pay online, please use the following link:

Apply Online

What is the process?

There is a 28 day consultation period.

How long does the process take?

The outcome of your application will be determined within 14 days following the end of consultation.

How long is it valid?

The licence is valid for 1 year from date of grant.

Your Right of Appeal

1. Any person aggrieved by a refusal to be granted a licence or by any condition to which a licence is subject may appeal to the Magistrates Court.
2. An appeal against a decision made at the Magistrates Court may be appealed at the Crown Court but the decision of the Crown Court is final. 

Offences and Penalties

1. Anybody who operates a sex establishment without a licence or fails to comply with licence condition or admits persons under the age of 18 is committing an offence.
2. Penalties upon conviction can range from £1,000 to £20,000. 

Further Information

Copies of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 can be viewed on the Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI) website.

A copy of the legislation can be viewed at the Council Offices where you can also obtain an application form and a copy of our standard conditions.

How much does it cost?

Application Fee = £8864.00

Sexual Entertainment Venue

Please see the 'Sexual Entertainment Venue Licensing Policy' document attached to this page.

The Sexual Entertainment Venue Policy Statement sets out the Council’s requirements for premises to be licensed as Sex Establishments within the meaning of Schedule 3 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 (as amended by Section 27 of the Policing and Crime Act 2009).