Sex Establishments and Sexual Entertainment Venues

Sex Establishments and Sexual Entertainment Venues

Sex Establishments are required to be licensed 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.

To operate a sex establishment, you need a licence from South Norfolk or Broadland Council, depending on where the establishment is to be located.

A sex establishment can be a sexual entertainment venue, a sex shop or a sex cinema.

A sexual entertainment venue is a premises where entertainment is provided before a live audience, such as lap dancing, strip shows or a pole dancing club.

A sex shop is any premises where articles, in the course of a business, are sold (to a significant degree) which can be used in connection with sexual activity, such as sex toys, books or videos.

A sex cinema is defined as any premises used for the showing of films that are concerned primarily with, relate to, or are intended to stimulate sexual activity.

View the Sex Establishment and Sexual Entertainment Venue Policy for further details:

Application Process

Fees will be payable for applications and conditions may be attached.

Eligibility

An applicant:

must be at least 18 years old
must not be disqualified from holding a licence
must have been resident in the UK at least six months immediately before the application or, if a corporate body, must be incorporated in the UK
must not have been refused the grant or renewal of a licence for the premises in question within the last 12 months unless the refusal has been reversed on appeal

Applications must be made in writing by completing the relevant application form.

Applicants must give public notice of their application by publishing an advertisement in a local newspaper in accordance with the legislation and policy.

Refusals

Any applicant who is refused a licence, or refused the renewal of a licence, may, within 21 days of being notified of the refusal, appeal to the local magistrates' court.

The right to appeal does not apply against the mandatory grounds for refusal.

There is no right of appeal for objectors.

Offences and Penalties

Anybody who operates a sex establishment without a licence or fails to comply with the licence conditions, or employs illegal workers is committing an offence.

Penalties upon conviction can range from £1,000 to £20,000.