Sex establishment licensing

You will need to apply for a licence to operate any of the following:

• Sexual entertainment venues (where entertainment is provided for sexual stimulation of the audience)
• Sex shops (a premises used for business which consists, to a significant degree, of selling sex articles)
• Sex cinemas (any premises used to a significant degree for showing films which are concerned primarily with, or relate to, or are intended to simulate, sexual activity)

To apply for a licence, you need to fill out the right form for the area your establishment is based in:

• Apply for the renewal, variation or transfer of a sex establishment license in the Barrow area (.doc, 393kb)
• Apply for a new sex establishment license in the Barrow area (.doc, 388kb)
• Apply for a new sex establishment license in the South Lakeland area (.doc, 141kb)

The council currently aren’t accepting applications in the Eden area.

When considering an application we will take into account:

• whether the applicant is suitable
• whether the person applying is a front person for someone else
• the location and situation of the premises in relation to other premises
• whether the number of sex establishments in the area is equal to or exceeds the number which we consider appropriate

Appeals

If you disagree with our decision to refuse a licence or with any conditions you can appeal to the Magistrates' Court. You can appeal against the Magistrates' Court decision at the Crown Court. The decision of the Crown Court is final.

Offences and penalties

Anybody who operates a sex establishment without a licence, fails to comply with licence conditions or admits people under 18 is committing an offence. Penalties can range from £1,000 to £20,000.

Further information can be found in The Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982. 

Contact our Licensing Team

Please use the details below if you wish to contact our Licensing team