London Government Act 1963

Indoor sports licences E+W

[F1 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).]

Textual Amendments

F1 Sch. 12 paras. 3A-3C inserted by Fire Safety and Safety of Places of Sport Act 1987 (c. 27, SIF 81:1), s. 42(1)