Licence - Sex Establishment (shop or cinema)

eMail: licensing@doncaster.gov.uk | Telephone:  01302 737590 or 736671 | Fax:  01302 737323 
Address: PO Box 257, The Council House, College Road, Doncaster, DN1 1RN.

Licence - Sex Establishment (shop or cinema)

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

Service Contact

Licensing Service,
PO Box 257, The Council House,
College Road,
Doncaster,
DN1 1RN.
Tel: 01302 737590 or 736671
E-Mail: licensing@doncaster.gov.uk

A sex establishment can either be a Sex Shop or a Sex Cinema.

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. 

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:

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 1963 can be purchased from Her Majesty's Stationery Office.

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.

Licence Application Fee from 1st April 2008 - 31st March 2009

£8864.00

Last updated: 30 September 2008
Doncaster Council,
Council House, College Road,
Doncaster, DN1 1BR
Tel: +44 (0)1302 736000
eMail: General Enquiries