Further Detail - De-Regulation of Entertainment Licensing

Further to our earlier news item regarding the responses to the Department of Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) consultation to changes to entertainment licensing, more detail has become available by way of The Legislative Reform (Entertainment Licensing) Order explanatory document. The document runs to 122 pages and can be accessed via this link: The Legislative Reform (Entertainment Licensing) Order 2014. 

The document provides detail as to the proportionate deregulation sought by the Government. The key proposals are:

• Cross activity exemption - the provision of regulated entertainment by or on behalf of Local Authorities, Health Care Providers or Schools (trusted providers) on their own defined premises will be exempt from Entertainment Licences between 08.00 and 23.00 on the same day with no audience limit (chapter 4).
• Live music in relevant alcohol licensed premises and workplaces - the audience limit for live amplified music between 08.00 and 23.00 will increase to 500 persons. 
• Recorded music - the same enhancement applies as for live music.
• Additional live and recorded music exemptions - Local Authorities, Health Care Providers and Schools will be exempt from entertainment licensing when making their own defined premises available to third parties for live and recorded music activity between 08.00 and 23.00 on the same day for audiences up to 500 and this will also apply to community premises not licensed to supply alcohol.

Additional exemptions are to be provided in respect of travelling circuses and for the undertaking of Greco Roman and freestyle wrestling, in the latter instance the audience is permitted to be up to 1,000 people. Furthermore, exhibition of a film that is incidental to another activity will become exempt from licensing.

If you are interested in any particular aspect of the proposed changes, please contact one of our Solicitors.