Sexual Entertainment Venue Licensing

On 19 April 2010 Council resolved to adopt Schedule 3 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 as amended by Section 27 of the Policing and Crime Act 2009 so that the provisions for the control of sexual entertainment venues would apply in this District. The amended Schedule 3 gives the Local Authority more powers to control the number and location of lap dancing clubs and similar venues in the area.

The new powers took effect in Oxford from 10th June 2010.

The forms of 'relevant' entertainment commonly understood to be connected with Sexual Entertainment Venues are (though this is not a comprehensive list):

• Lap dancing
• Pole dancing
• Table dancing
• Strip shows
• Peep shows
• Live sex shows

Applications made for a Sexual Entertainment Venue Licence will not generally be deemed to be appropriate if the premises is near or in locations or areas containing any of the following:

(i)    Historic buildings or tourist attractions
(ii)   Schools, play areas, nurseries, children's centres or similar premises
(iii)  Shopping complexes
(iv)   Residential areas
(v)    Places of Worship

There is an exemption for premises which provide such entertainment less frequently than once a month.

Further guidance for applicants and interested parties can be found below:

Sexual Entertainment Venues - Home Office Guidance (269kB PDF)

How to Apply for a Sexual Entertainment Venue Licence

You can download a copy of the application form below:

Sex Establishment Licence Application Form (102kB PDF)
Full Sex Establishment Licence Application Pack (116kB PDF)
Sex Establishment Licence Fees (32kB PDF)

You must submit your completed application and your fee to:

Licensing Team,
Oxford City Council
St Aldate's Chambers,
109 St Aldate's,
Oxford, OX1 1DS

Alternatively you can email the application to: licensing@oxford.gov.uk

You must submit a copy of your application to the address below within 7 days of submitting the application to the Licensing Team:

Chief Officer of Police,
Thames Valley Police,
St Aldate's Police Station,
Oxford, OX1 1SZ

If you send your application to us by email, we will forward a copy of your application to Thames Valley Police.

When completing your application, you must also complete the Notices and Certifications below.

Notices and Certifications

Applicants for a sex establishment licence must give public notice of the application by publishing an advertisement in a local newspaper that is circulated in the local authority area no later than 7 days after the date the application is made:

Newspaper Advertisement Notice (9kB PDF)
Certificate for Newspaper Advertisement Notice (9kB PDF)

Where the application relates to premises, a notice should also be displayed on or near the premises in a place where it can be conveniently read by members of the public. The notice should be displayed for a period of 21 days beginning with the date the applications was made:

Site Advertisement Notice (9kB PDF)
Certificate for Site Advertisement Notice (9kB PDF)

All notices should be in the form prescribed by Oxford City Council and identify the premises or, if the application relates to a vehicle, vessel or stall, specify where it will be used as a sex establishment. You must send both Forms of Certification to the Licensing Authority when you submit the application.

Most sexual entertainment venues will require a Premises Licence or Club Premises Certificate granted under the Licensing Act 2003, as well as a sex establishment licence, in order to sell / supply alcohol, provide regulated entertainment, and provide late night refreshment. Visit our Licensing page for more information.

Conditions attached to a Sexual Entertainment Venue Licence

Once it has decided to grant a licence the Licensing Authority are able to impose terms, conditions and restrictions on that licence, either in the form of conditions specific to the individual or standard conditions applicable to all sex establishments, or particular types of sex establishments.

In Oxford, the Licensing Authority has decided to produce standard conditions and these will apply to every licence granted, renewed or transferred by the authority unless they have been expressly excluded or varied.

You can view our Standard Conditions below:

Sex Establishments Standard Conditions (82kB PDF)

Fees

• The fee for a new Sexual Entertainment Venue Licence is £5,750.00
• The fee for renewal of a Sexual Entertainment Venue Licence is £5,225.00
• The fee to transfer a Sexual Entertainment Venue Licence is £1,150.00
• The fee to vary a Sexual Entertainment Venue Licence is £1,150.00

Contact Us

Should you require any further advice, you can contact the Licensing Team either in writing, by telephone or by email:

Licensing Team, Oxford City Council, St Aldate's Chambers, 109 St Aldate's, Oxford, OX1 1DS.
Telephone: 01865 252565
Email: licensing@oxford.gov.uk

Page last reviewed 21 March 2012