Sex shop or cinema licence or sexual entertainment venues

Licence Summary

To run a sex shop - i.e. any premises selling sex toys, books or videos - you may need a licence from the local authority. To run a venue where explicit films are shown to members of the public, you also need a licence from the local authority.  Sexual entertainment venues, such as lap dancing clubs may also need to be licensed.

Sex Establishment Licensing Policy

On 30 September, the Forest of Dean District Council adopted the provisions of Schedule 3 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 as amended by Section 27 of the Policing and Crime Act 2009.  The amended provisions came into force on 1 December 2010.  Schedule 3 (as amended) makes provision for the council to exercise licensing controls over all sex establishments in their area.  This covers sex shops, sex cinemas and sexual entertainment venues. 

The Council policy sets out how it will exercise its licensing functions in respect of sex establishments.  View the Sex Establishments Policy here. 

Eligibility Criteria

An applicant:

• must be at least 18 years old
• must not be disqualified from holding a licence
• must not have been refused the grant or renewal of a licence for the premises in question within the last 12 months unless the refusal has been reversed on appeal
   

Regulation Summary

A summary of the regulation relating to this licence

Application Evaluation Process

Fees will be payable for applications and conditions may be attached.

Applications must be in writing (including by electronic means) and contain any information the local authority requires, as well as the applicant's name, address and, where the applicant is an individual, their age, plus the address of the premises.

Applicants must give public notice of their application by publishing an advertisement in a local newspaper.

Will Tacit Consent Apply?

No. It is in the public interest that the authority must process your application before it can be granted. If you have not heard from the local authority within a reasonable period, please contact it. You can do this online if you applied through the UK Welcomes service or use the contact details below.

Apply Online

Apply for a licence for a sex establishment

Tell us about a change to your existing sex establishment licence

Apply by Post

If you want to apply for a Licence by post download the application form and send it to us with the non-returnable application fee of £900. A licence fee of £1100 will be payable upon grant of the licence.

Failed Application Redress

Please contact your Local Authority in the first instance.

Any applicant who is refused a licence, or refused the renewal of a licence, may, within 21 days of being notified of the refusal, appeal to the local magistrates' court.

However, the right to appeal does not apply where the licence was refused on the grounds that:

• the number of sex establishments in the area exceeds the number which the authority consider is appropriate
• the grant of the licence would be inappropriate considering the character of the area, the nature of other premises in the area, or the premises themselves
   

Licence Holder Redress

Please contact your Local Authority in the first instance.

A licence holder who wishes to appeal against a condition can appeal to a local magistrates' court.

Consumer Complaint

We would always advise that in the event of a complaint the first contact is made with the trader by you - preferably in the form a letter (with proof of delivery). If that has not worked, if you are located in the UK, Consumer Direct will give you advice. From outside the UK contact the UK European Consumer Centre .

Licence holders may at any time apply to the authority for a variation of the terms, conditions or restrictions in their licence.

If an application for a variation is refused, or if the licence is revoked, the licence holder may, within 21 days of being notified of the imposition of, or the refusal to vary, the term, condition or restriction in question, or of the revocation, appeal to the local magistrates' court.

A licence holder may also appeal to the crown court against a decision of a magistrates' court.

Other Redress

Any person objecting to an application for the grant, renewal or transfer of a licence may give written notice of their objection to the relevant authority, stating the grounds of the objection, within 28 days of the date of the application.

Trade Associations

None

Contact Us

Licensing Team
Council Offices
High Street
Coleford
Gloucestershire
GL16 8HG

Tel: 01594 812445
Fax: 01594 812590
Email: Licensing@fdean.gov.uk