What is regulated entertainment?

1. plays
2. film exhibitions
3. indoor sporting events
4. boxing or wrestling exhibitions
5. live music (including karaoke)
6. recorded music
7. dancing by the public or performers
8. any entertainment similar to that described in 5, 6 or 7 above.

But only where ...

• for members of the public (anybody can buy a ticket or come to the event), OR
• exclusively for members of a (private) qualifying club and their guests, OR
• arranged by someone who is trying to make a profit. This includes things like letting out a room in a pub for wedding receptions where people will dance.

What about providing entertainment facilities?

• having a piano on the premises for the use of customers or performers,
• having a dance floor on the premises, or
• providing a video jukebox (but not a music jukebox – see incidental entertainment below).

When do I not require a licence for regulated entertainment?

• Films which are solely or mainly to demonstrate a product, advertise goods or services, or provide information, education or instruction.
• Films as part of an exhibition in a museum or gallery.
• TV and radio broadcasts, providing they are shown 'live' and not recorded.
• Religious meetings or services.
• Entertainment in places of public religious worship.
• Garden fetes (unless held for private gain).
• Entertainment provided in a moving vehicle.
• Morris dancing.
• 'Incidental entertainment' (see below).

What does ‘incidental entertainment’ mean?

• a supermarket playing background music (people go there to shop, not to listen to music)
• music during keep fit classes (people are there to exercise)
• salsa dance classes (people are there to learn to dance)
• a pub jukebox playing in the background (people are there to drink).

Further information