Cinema Licence
If you want to make use of premises for exhibition of films, you will need a cinema licence.
A licence is required if you wish to use premises for a film exhibition to members of the public. This includes any exhibition of moving pictures and would include screening of recorded films, performances or others.
However a licence is not required for:
-
Exhibiting films in a private house, to which the public are not admitted provided the exhibition is not for private gain
-
Non-commercial film exhibitions to which the public are not admitted or are admitted without payment or exhibitions by exempting societies or organisations
-
Occasional and exceptional exhibitions – where premises are used on no more than six days in the calendar year
-
Mobile cinemas (other than for where the owner of the mobile unit resides)
Additionally, a licence is not required for:
-
Video games
-
Screening of television programmes at the time they are received.
Any person who wants to make use of premises for exhibition of films must make an application for a cinema licence.
You can download a Cinema Application Form and guidance notes (Word 42.5Kb)
Alternatively, an application pack can be obtained using the contact details on the right of this page.
Completed application forms should also be sent to the contact details at the right of this page. The application form should be accompanied by the non refundable fee.
On receipt of the completed documents, the application will be circulated to all consultees listed on the front of the form and some of the consultees will carry out an inspection of the premises (if applicable). It will also be advertised on the Council's website to allow for members of the public to lodge any objections or representations to the issue of the licence.
If there are no objections, the licence will be issued for a period of 1 year from the date of issue.
It is in the public interest that North Ayrshire Council must process your application before it can be granted. If you have not heard from the Licensing Office within a reasonable period, please contact us. You can do this using the contact details to the right of this page.
Please note that the application process may take up to 7/8 weeks.
For 2010/2011 the fee for a Cinema licence is £245. The fee is subject to annual review.
The fee is not returnable if you decide to withdraw the application or if the licence is refused.