The Registration of Clubs (Northern Ireland) Order 1996

[F1 Consent required for certain alterations to premises N.I.

12A.— (1) An alteration shall not, subject to paragraph (2), be made to the premises of a registered club if the alteration—

(a) gives increased facilities for drinking in any part of the premises which contains a bar; or

(b) adds to any part of the premises which contains a bar or substitutes one such part of the premises for another; or

(c) conceals from observation a part of the premises in which intoxicating liquor is supplied; or

(d) affects the means of passage between a part of the premises which contains a bar and the remainder of the premises or any road or other public place.

(2) An alteration such as is mentioned in paragraph (1) may be made if—

(a) an application under this Article has been made by the secretary of the club to a county court and the court has made an order consenting to the alteration; or

(b) the alteration is required by order of some lawful authority and, before the alteration is made, notice of the requirement is served by the secretary of the club on the clerk of petty sessions.

(3) The procedure for applications under paragraph (2)(a) is set out in Part 1 of Schedule 4A, and Part 2 of that Schedule has effect in relation to notices under paragraph (2)(b).

(4) If an alteration such as is mentioned in paragraph (1) is made to premises otherwise than in accordance with an order of the county court or an order of some lawful authority, a court of summary jurisdiction may order the registered club to restore, as far as is practicable, the premises to their original condition within a period fixed by the order.

(5) The period fixed by an order under paragraph (4) may be extended by order of a court of summary jurisdiction on the application of the secretary of the club.

(6) If paragraph (2)(b) is not complied with, the registered club and every official of the club are each guilty of an offence and each liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 2 on the standard scale.

(7) If the registered club makes default in complying with an order under paragraph (4), the club and every official of the club are each guilty of an offence and each liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both.

(8) This Article does not apply to an extension such as requires authorisation under Article 15A.]

F1 Art. 12A and cross-heading inserted (1.10.2022) by Licensing and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2021 (c. 7), ss. 29(1), 47(2); S.R. 2022/180, arts. 1(2), 2, Sch.