Apply for a sex establishment licence
There are three types of sex establishment which require licensing.
- Sex shops, which exclusively or primarily sell items for use in sexual activity or of a sexual nature.
- Sex cinemas, which exclusively or primarily show films of a sexual nature.
- Sexual entertainment venues, which offer lap dancing, strip tease, or similar activities.
Cost
- A new licence costs £665.41 for sex shops and sex cinemas, and £791.58 for sexual entertainment venues.
- A variation to a sexual entertainment venue costs £639.48 for major variations, and £141.15 for minor variations.
Please note that we can only accept payment by credit and debit card or by bank transfer. If you wish to pay by bank transfer, please contact the licensing team for our bank details.
Apply
Applications must be submitted using our application form and with payment of the relevant fee. Licences are granted subject to our standard conditions and must be renewed annually. The standard conditions can be found in our policy (PDF 918kB).
Renewals
You must ensure that your licence is renewed before it expires in order to continue operating. If your consent expires, you must stop trading until your licence is renewed.
It is suggested that you apply at least six weeks before your licence expires. This is to allow adequate time for all of your checks to be completed, for the 28 day consultation period to be completed, and for the licensing authority to make a decision on your application.
You will not lose time from your licence if you renew earlier. Your new licence will start from the expiry date of your existing consent.
The application process to renew a consent is exactly the same as applying for a new consent.
Renewals cost
A renewal costs £165.92 for sex shops and sex cinemas, and £291.51 for sexual entertainment venues.
Please note that we can only accept payment by credit and debit card or by bank transfer. If you wish to pay by bank transfer, please contact the licensing team for our bank details.
Timescales
Applications must be advertised in the local newspaper by a newspaper notice (PDF 7kB) and on the premises by a site notice (PDF 104kB) for at least 28 days.
It is in the public interest for us to process your application before granting it. We must make a decision on your application and you cannot assume it has been granted.
Criteria
Applications may only be rejected for the following reasons:
- the applicant is unsuitable
- the applicant is a "front" for someone who is unsuitable
- the suitability of the location of the premises
- if the council has set a limit on the number of establishments permitted within the area
Our policy is to only licence one sex shop and one sexual entertainment venue in the town centre and nowhere else.
How to appeal
Appeals may be made to the magistrates' court within 21 days against a decision to refuse a licence, or to attach conditions to a licence, except where the refusal is on policy grounds only.
How to object or complain
Objections must be made within the 28 day consultation period. Please also see objecting to licence applications.
