Fire Safety and Safety of Places of Sport Act 1987

Licensing in England and Wales

42 Licensing of indoor sports premises in London

(1) In Schedule 12 to the [1963 c. 33.] London Government Act 1963 (licensing of certain public entertainments in London), after paragraph 3 there shall be inserted the following paragraphs—

“Indoor sports licences

3A (1) Subject to sub-paragraphs (2) and (3) below, no premises in a London borough or the City of London shall be used for any entertainment which consists of any sporting event to which the public are invited as spectators (a "sports entertainment") except under and in accordance with the terms of a licence granted under this paragraph by the Council.

(2) Sub-paragraph (1) above does not require a licence in respect of any occasion when the sporting event which constitutes the entertainment is not the principal purpose for which the premises are used on that occasion; but this provision does not apply in relation to a sports complex.

(3) Sub-paragraph (1) above does not apply to a sports entertainment held in a pleasure fair.

(4) The Council may grant to any applicant, and from time to time renew, a licence for the use of any premises specified in it for any sports entertainment on such terms and conditions and subject to such restrictions as may be so specified.

(5) Subject to the next following sub-paragraph and to paragraph 19(3) of this Schedule, a licence granted under this paragraph shall, unless previously cancelled under paragraph 8 or revoked under paragraph 10(4) of this Schedule, remain in force for one year or for such shorter period specified in the licence as the Council think fit.

(6) The Council may grant a licence under this paragraph in respect of such one or more particular occasions only as may be specified in the licence, and a licence granted by virtue of this sub-paragraph is hereafter in this Schedule referred to as an "occasional sports licence".

(7) Where a licence has been granted under this paragraph to any person the Council may if they think fit transfer that licence to any other person on the application of that other person or the holder of the licence.

(8) In this paragraph—

• "premises" means any permanent or temporary building and any tent or inflatable structure and includes a part of a building where the building is a sports complex but does not include a part of any other building;

• "sporting event" means any contest, exhibition or display of any sport;

• "sports complex" means a building—

  (a)

  which provides accommodation and facilities for both those engaging in sport and spectators, and

  (b)

  the parts of which are so arranged that one or more sports can be engaged in simultaneously in different parts of the building; and

• "sport" includes any game in which physical skill is the predominant factor and any form of physical recreation which is also engaged in for purposes of competition or display, except dancing (in any form).

3B (1) An applicant for the grant, renewal or transfer of a licence under paragraph 3A of this Schedule other than an occasional sports licence shall give to the Council, to the commissioner of police in whose district the premises to which the application relates are situated and to the fire authority not less than twenty-one days' notice of his intention to make the application.

(2) An applicant for the grant, renewal or transfer of an occasional sports licence shall give to the Council and the fire authority not less than fourteen days' notice of his intention to make the application.

3C The person making an application for the grant, renewal or transfer of a licence under paragraph 3A of this Schedule shall on making the application pay to the Council such fee as the Council may fix.”

(2) The consequential amendments of the said Schedule 12 specified in Schedule 3 to this Act shall also have effect.

43 Licensing of indoor sports premises outside London

In Schedule 1 to the [1982 c. 30.] Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 (licensing of certain public entertainments), for paragraph 2 (certain sports) there shall be substituted the following paragraph—

“2 (1) Subject to sub-paragraphs (2) and (3) below, no premises shall be used for any entertainment which consists of any sporting event to which the public are invited as spectators (a "sports entertainment") except under and in accordance with the terms of a licence granted under this paragraph by the appropriate authority.

(2) Sub-paragraph (1) above does not require a licence in respect of any occasion when the sporting event which constitutes the entertainment is not the principal purpose for which the premises are used on that occasion; but this provision does not apply in relation to a sports complex.

(3) Sub-paragraph (1) above does not apply to a sports entertainment held in a pleasure fair.

(4) The appropriate authority may grant to any applicant, and from time to time renew, a licence for the use of any premises specified in it for any sports entertainment on such terms and conditions and subject to such restrictions as may be so specified.

(5) The appropriate authority may grant a licence under this paragraph in respect of such one or more particular occasions only as may be specified in the licence.

(6) In this paragraph—

• "premises" means any permanent or temporary building and any tent or inflatable structure and includes a part of a building where the building is a sports complex but does not include a part of any other building;

• "sporting event" means any contest, exhibition or display of any sport;

• "sports complex" means a building—

  (a)

  which provides accommodation and facilities for both those engaging in sport and spectators, and

  (b)

  the parts of which are so arranged that one or more sports can be engaged in simultaneously in different parts of the building; and

• "sport" includes any game in which physical skill is the predominant factor and any form of physical recreation which is also engaged in for purposes of competition or display, except dancing (in any form).”