Licensing Services
Public Entertainment Licence
If your premises are used as a place of public entertainment you must hold a public entertainment licence.
Such a licence is not required in certain circumstances, eg for an athletic or sports
ground being used for sports or athletic purposes or entertainment that is being
provided on premises licensed under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 during licensed
hours.
The following use of the premises/site as a place of public entertainment require
to be licensed:- leisure/pool complexes linked with commercial activity, concerts,
displays (including fireworks and bonfire displays), exhibitions and sporting events
(whether indoors or outdoors) at which an audience may be present, circuses, fairgrounds,
snooker/billiard halls, dancing, discotheques and roller discos, ice rinks and amusement
arcades.
If the application is for entertainment that will be mainly or wholly on the premises
you must display a public notice detailing your application, in a public place at
or near the premises for 21 days from the date the application is submitted. The
notice must contain details relating to the application, where objections and representations
can be made and how the objections and representations can be made.
If you are required to place a notice you must supply South Ayrshire Council with
a certificate confirming you have complied with the requirement.
How to apply
Please contact South Ayrshire Council using the contact details below in the first
instance.
What happens next?
Before considering an application South Ayrshire Council must have received all
the required supporting documentation before the application is considered lodged.
South Ayrshire Council will send a copy of the application to the local chief constable
and to the appropriate relevant authority (or where applicable the enforcing authority
under the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005).
The enforcing or relevant authority may be the Health & Safety Executive, the
fire service or South Ayrshire Council.
South Ayrshire Council will give notice to the public in local newspapers of every
application
We would expect to process your application within 183 calendar days or 131 working
days. If you have not heard from us within a reasonable period, please contact us.
You will be able to act as though your application is granted if you have not heard
from the local authority by the end of the target completion period.
What if I have been refused approval?
Please contact South Ayrshire Council using the contact details below in the first
instance.
If you wish to appeal against a decision you may do so to the local sheriff within
28 days of the decision. The sheriff can only uphold an appeal if they consider
that the licensing authority:
- erred in law
- used incorrect material fact when making their decision
- acted contrary to natural justice
- didn't exercise their discretion in a reasonable manner
Appeals against a sheriff's decision can be made to the Court of Session within
28 days of the decision.
Consumer complaints
We would always advise that in the event of a complaint the first contact is made
with the service provider by you - preferably in the form a letter (with proof of
delivery). If that has not worked, if you are located in the UK, Consumer Direct will give you advice or you can
contact us directly. From outside the UK contact the UK European Consumer Centre.
Other complaints
If you wish to complain about a licence holder then please use the contact details
below.
Who to contact
Licensing Services
South Ayrshire Council
Town Buildings
29 New Bridge Street
Ayr KA7 1JX
Tel: 01292 617685
Trade Associations
Not applicable