Regulated Entertainment

Regulated entertainment, subject to specified conditions and exemptions, includes: 

1. a performance of a play;
2. an exhibition of a film;
3. an indoor sporting event;
4. a boxing or wrestling event;
5. a performance of live music;
6. any playing of recorded music;
7. a performance of dance; and 
8. entertainment of a similar description to that falling within 5, 6 or 7

In terms of specific regulated entertainments please note that: 

• Plays: no license is required for performances between 08.00 and 23.00 on any day, provided that the audience does not exceed 500. 
• Dance: no license is required for performances between 08.00 and 23.00 on any day, provided that the audience does not exceed 500. However, a performance which amounts to adult entertainment remains licensable. 
• Films: no license is required for 'not-for-profit' film exhibitions held in community premises between 08.00 and 23.00 on any day, provided that the audience does not exceed 500 and the organiser:
  1. gets consent to the screening from a person who is responsible for the premises;
  2. ensures that each such screening abides by age classification ratings.
• Indoor sporting events: no license is required for performances between 08.00 and 23.00 on any day, provided that the audience does not exceed 1000. 
• Boxing or wrestling entertainment: no license is required for a contest, exhibition or display of Greco-Roman wresting, or freestyle wrestling between 08.00 and 23.00 on any day, provided that the audience does not exceed 1000. 
  • Combined fighting sports - defined as a contest, exhibition or display which combines boxing or wrestling with one or more martial arts - are licensable as a boxing or wrestling entertainment rather than an indoor sporting event.
• Live music: no license or permission is required for:
  • a performance of unamplified music between 08.00 and 23.00 on any day, on any premises. 
  • a performance of amplified live music between 08.00 and 23.00 on any day on any premises authorised to sell alcohol for consumption on those premises, provided that the audience does not exceed 500. 
  • a performance of amplified live music between 08.00 and 23.00 on any day, in a workplace that is not license to sell alcohol on those premises, provided that the audience does not exceed 500. 
  • a performance of amplified live music between 08.00 and 23.00 on any day, in a church hall, village hall, community hall, or other similar community premises, that is not licensed by a premises license to sell alcohol, provided that: 
    1. the audience does not exceed 500.
    2. the organiser gets consent for the performance from the person who is responsible for the premises.
  • a performance of amplified live music between 08.00 and 23.00 on any day, at the non-residential premises of (i) a local authority, (ii) a school, or (iii) a hospital, provided that: 
    1. the audience does not exceed 500. 
    2. the organiser gets consent for the performance on the relevant premises from: (i) the local authority concerned, (ii) the school, or (iii) the health care provider for the hospital.
• Recorded music: no license permission is required for: 
  • any playing of recorded music between 08.00 and 23.00 on any day on premises authorised to sell alcohol for consumption on those premises, provided that the audience does not exceed 500. 
  • any playing of recorded music between 08.00 and 23.00 on any day, in a church hall, village hall, community hall, or other similar community premises, that is not licensed by a premises licence to sell alcohol, provided that:
    1. the audience does not exceed 500
    2. the organiser gets consent for the performance from a person who is responsible for the premises.
  • any playing of recorded music between 08.00 and 23.00 on any day, at the non-residential premises of (i) a local authority, or (ii) a school, or (iii) a hospital, provided that:
    1. the audience does not exceed 500
    2. the organiser gets consent for the performance on the relevant premises from: (i) the local authority concerned, or (ii) the school proprietor or (iii) the health care provider for the hospital.
• Cross activity exemptions: no license is required between 08.00 and 23.00 on any day, with no limit on audience size for: 
  • any entertainment taking place on the premises of the local authority where the entertainment is provided by or on behalf of the local authority. 
  • any entertainment taking place on the hospital premises of the health care provider where the entertainment is provided by or on behalf of the health care provider. 
  • any entertainment taking place on the premises of the school where the entertainment is provided by or on behalf of the school proprietor.
  • any entertainment (excluding films and boxing or wrestling entertainment) taking place at a travelling circus, provided that: 
    1. it takes place within a moveable structure that accommodates the audience. 
    2. that the travelling circus has not been located on the same site for more than 28 consecutive days. 

If you are uncertain whether or not the activities that you propose are licensable, you should contact your licensing authority for further advice.