Sex Establishment / Cinema Licence

If you run a sex cinema or sex shop, you may need the following licence from us:

Apply for a sex shop and cinema licence

Alternatively you can complete the Sex establishment/cinema application (PDF, 99 KB) and return to us at:

Licensing Services, Environmental Health Department, Town Hall, Lancaster Road, Preston, PR1 2RL.

You may also apply to the council for the requirement for a licence to be waived.

You must comply with any conditions attached to a licence.

Applications will also be subject to a fee.

Eligibility criteria

Applications for a licence, renewal or transfer of a licence must be made in writing (including by electronic means) to the council.

The application must be submitted in duplicate.

Advertisements must be placed in newspapers circulating in the Preston council area, detailing that the application has been made. You can download an example notice (PDF, 13 KB) here.

A copy of every advertisement must be supplied to Preston City Council. The advertisement must be published no later than seven days after the application is made.

Regulation summary

A summary of the regulation relating to this licence can be viewed on the legislation website.

Application evaluation process

We will provide a copy of the application to the sub-divisional commander of the area.

We will consider any representations made in relation to the application and any observations or representations of the sub-divisional commander of the local police force.

You will be given the opportunity of a hearing before your district council before you application is refused.

Licences will be refused under the following circumstances:

if the applicant is under 18 years of age
the applicant is disqualified for 12 months from holding a licence after a previous licence was revoked
the applicant, if not a limited company, is not resident in the UK or has not been resident for at least six months prior to the application
if the applicant is a company, they are not incorporated in the UK
if the applicant has been refused an application within the previous 12 months

Other grounds on which a district council can refuse an application are:

the applicant is unsuitable through being convicted of an offence, or through another reason
if the licence was granted the business would be carried on for the benefit of another person who would be refused a licence
the grant or renewal of a licence would not be appropriate taking into account the character of the area, the use of the premises and the layout, condition and character of the premises, vehicle, vessel or stall to which the application relates

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 us within a reasonable period, please contact it on licensing@preston.gov.uk or call 01772 906911.

Apply online

GOV.UK - apply for a sex shop and cinema licence

GOV.UK - Change a sex shop and cinema licence application

Failed application redress

Please contact us on licensing@preston.gov.uk or call 01772 906911 in the first instance.

If you wish to make representations about an application you may do so to us. The representations should reach the Council no later than 28 days after the date of the application.

If you wish to appeal against the refusal of an application you may appeal to the local County court where the premises are located or if the application related to a vehicle, vessel or stall, the area where they were going to be used, within 21 days of being notified of the refusal of the application.

Appeals may not be made if the refusal is because:

the applicant is under 18 years of age
the applicant is disqualified for 12 months from holding a licence after a previous licence was revoked
the applicant, if not a limited company, is not resident in the UK or has not been resident for at least six months prior to the application
the applicant is a company, they are not incorporated in the UK
the applicant has been refused an application within the previous 12 months

Appeals may not be made if the application is refused because:

the number of establishments in the area are or exceed the number the district council consider appropriate for the area, or
the grant or renewal of a licence would not be appropriate taking into account the character of the area, the use of the premises and the layout, condition and character of the premises, vehicle, vessel or stall to which the application relates.

Licence holder redress

Please contact us on licensing@preston.gov.uk 01772 906911 in the first instance.

If you wish to make representations about an application you may do so to us. The representations should reach the Council no later than 28 days after the date of the application.

the applicant is under 18 years of age
the applicant is disqualified for 12 months from holding a licence after a previous licence was revoked
the applicant, if not a limited company, is not resident in the UK or has not been resident for at least six months prior to the application
the applicant is a company, they are not incorporated in the UK
the applicant has been refused an application within the previous 12 months

Appeals may not be made if the application is refused because:

the number of establishments in the area are or exceed the number the district council consider appropriate for the area, or
the grant or renewal of a licence would not be appropriate taking into account the character of the area, the use of the premises and the layout, condition and character of the premises, vehicle, vessel or stall to which the application relates.

Consumer complaint

If you wish to make representations about an application you may do so to the Council. The representations should reach the council no later than 28 days after the date of the application.

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.

Other redress

If you wish to make representations about an application you may do so to the Council. The representations should reach the Council no later than 28 days after the date of the application.