This licence is for the use of any premises as a 'place of public entertainment'. This means any place (including land) where the public are admitted or may use facilities for the purposes of entertainment. 

It doesn't matter if the activity is free, or donation based. You still need a licence unless North Ayrshire Council's Interim Arrangements apply. 

The Law is that - it is for each of the 32 councils in Scotland to decide what premises need a Licence. Each council passes a Resolution, after public consultation. Ours is summarised below. Check with the Licensing Office because:

the council is revising its Resolution
before the revision, the council has adopted interim arrangements

How to apply

There are two kinds of licence:

a permanent licence lasts up to three years, and can be renewed
a temporary licence lasts no more than six weeks, and can't be renewed

Read our Public Entertainment Licence information notes.

To apply for a Public Entertainment Licence for a permanent premises (such as a building) complete and return a Permanent Public Entertainment application.

To apply for a Public Entertainment Licence for a temporary event (such as a fairground, circus or open air concert) complete and return a Temporary Event Public Entertainment application.

PEL form A and B.

Note:

Although a permanent licence can last three years the council can grant it for a shorter period. Licences for seasonal premises are granted for one year at a time. For example, a fairground operating during the summer and dismantled for winter, will only get a one year licence.
A travelling fairground which operates in one town and moved to another town, will need a series of temporary licences. A permanent licence cannot cover several sites or dates. The holder cannot get a permanent licence and later amend it to include different sites or dates.
For major events (more than 800 people present, including performers, staff and the public) contact us to discuss. This will be dealt with as a 'Temporary Event’ but may be complicated so you should give as much notice as possible of your application.

The Resolution

A Public Entertainment Licence is required for the following activities or premises:

boxing, wrestling or another spectacle
motorcycle scrambling
dancing, a discotheque or amplified sound
an open air concert
an exhibition
a large fete with one or more public marquees
fireworks display
an ice rink
a musical, dramatic or other stage or floor or radio or television performance or activity
a circus
a fairground (includes a ride of whatever size, speed or cost)

a swimming pool
a billiards, snooker and/or pool hall
an amusement arcade other than one licensed under the Gambling Act 2005

Interim arrangements

Even if premises are within the Resolution, they might not need a Licence.

Pending a full review of the Resolution, the council decided that activities would not need a licence if either:

the premises are Council operated or owned
all four criteria are met

The criteria are:

admission to the entertainment is free
there is no charge for the use of any facilities at the event
no donations towards the cost of the facilities or the costs of the place (such as rent, heating and lighting) are invited
the function is held by a charitable, religious, youth, recreational, community, political or similar organisation

Exemptions

This licence is not required in certain circumstances, for example:

an athletic/sports ground being used for athletic/sports purposes
when the entertainment being provided on the premises is licensed under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 and is held during licensed hours
if the entertainment is covered by a Theatre or Cinema licence and you hold one of these.

Next stages

We'll consult with Police Scotland and other council departments.
We may arrange to carry out an inspection on your proposed premises to make sure they meet the required standards.
Applications advertised allow the public to make any objections or representations. This is for permanent licences.
If applying for a temporary licence, the council is not obliged to take any comments into account before it decides. But sometimes the council holds a hearing where the public can make comments.

If there is any comment from the public, Police Scotland or any council department, you will be told, and your application referred to the Licensing Committee for a decision. If the committee decides to have a hearing, you will be invited to that and you will be able to speak to the committee. The majority of applications do not need a hearing and are granted by council officers.

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