The Registration of Clubs (Northern Ireland) Order 1996

Special occasion authorisations N.I.

Authorisations for special occasions N.I.

26.—(1) On the application of a registered club, not less than 7 days before the [F1 first] occasion to which the application relates, the sub-divisional commander for the police sub-division in which the premises are situated may, in writing, authorise the club to supply intoxicating liquor to members of the club and to guests of members of the club—

(a) except in the case of a nightworkers club, during the hours—

(i) on week-days from 11 in the evening to 1 in the morning of the day next following, or

[F2 (ii) on Sundays, from 11 in the evening to 1 in the morning of the day next following,] or

(b) in a nightworkers club on any day, during the 2 hours following the end of the permitted hours,

in addition to the hours mentioned in Article 24, [F3 on such occasions specified in the authorisation as the commander thinks fit] , and any additional hours authorised under this Article shall be included in the permitted hours for the registered club.

(2) Not more than [F4 104] authorisations shall be granted under this Article to any club in any year.

[F5 (2A) Regulations may modify paragraph (2) so as to substitute a different number of authorisations for the number for the time being specified there.

(2B) Regulations may not be made under paragraph (2A) unless a draft of the regulations has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, the Assembly.]

(3) Nothing in this Article shall permit an authorisation under paragraph (1) to authorise the supply of intoxicating liquor on Christmas DayF6 ....

(4) Where an authorisation under paragraph (1) is in force in the case of a nightworkers club, the rules of the club or Article 5(8)(b) shall not prohibit the admission of guests of members to, or their presence in, the premises of the club during any additional hours authorised under this Article.

[F7 (5) A person who intends to make an application under this Article shall—

(a) during the 3 weeks before the first occasion to which the application relates, cause notice of the application to be displayed on or near the premises of the club;

(b) not less than 3 weeks before that time, serve a copy of the notice of the application on the district council for the district in which the premises of the club are situated.

(6) The notice under paragraph (5) must contain such information as may be prescribed by magistrates’ courts rules.

(7) The following provisions of this Article apply where a complaint is made to a court of summary jurisdiction under Part 8 of the Magistrates’ Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 on the grounds—

(a) that the business carried on in the premises of the club is being conducted during the hours mentioned in paragraph (1) or any period immediately following their termination in such a manner as to cause undue inconvenience to persons residing in the vicinity of the premises; or

(b) that such hours are causing undue inconvenience to persons residing in the vicinity of the premises.

(8) Where the court is satisfied that the grounds of the complaint are made out, it may—

(a) revoke the authorisation; or

(b) modify the authorisation or, in relation to the authorisation, the hours mentioned in paragraph (1); or

(c) make the continuance of the authorisation subject to such terms and conditions as the court thinks fit.

(9) The terms and conditions which may be imposed under paragraph (8)(c) include those requested by the district commander of the police district in which the premises of the club are situated.]

F1 Word in art. 26(1) inserted (1.3.2012) by Licensing and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 (c. 18), ss. 13(2)(a), 18; S.R. 2012/9, art. 2

F2 Art. 26(1)(a)(ii) substituted for art. 26(1)(a)(ii)(iii) (1.10.2021) by Licensing and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2021 (c. 7), ss. 31(2), 47(2); S.R. 2021/247, art. 2, Sch.

F3 Words in art. 26(1) substituted (1.3.2012) by Licensing and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 (c. 18), ss. 13(2)(b), 18; S.R. 2012/9, art. 2

F4 Word in art. 26(2) substituted (1.10.2021) by Licensing and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2021 (c. 7), ss. 33(1), 47(2); S.R. 2021/247, art. 2, Sch.

F5 Art. 26(2A)(2B) inserted (1.10.2021) by Licensing and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2021 (c. 7), ss. 33(2), 47(2); S.R. 2021/247, art. 2, Sch.

F6 Words in art. 26(3) repealed (1.10.2021) by Licensing and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2021 (c. 7), ss. 30(4), 47(2), Sch. 2; S.R. 2021/247, art. 2, Sch.

F7 Art. 26(5)-(9) inserted (1.10.2021) by Licensing and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2021 (c. 7), ss. 33(3), 47(2); S.R. 2021/247, art. 2, Sch.