Sexual Entertainment Venue Licence (SEV)
When you need a licence
You must apply for a Sexual Entertainment Venue (SEV) licence if your premises regularly offers adult entertainment (known as relevant entertainment) in front of a live audience for financial gain.
Relevant entertainment includes:
- lap dancing
- pole dancing
- strip shows
- peep shows
- live displays of nudity
Even fully clothed or verbal performances may count if they are sexually stimulating in nature.
Exemptions
You do not need an SEV licence if:
- you offer relevant entertainment no more than once a month
- you do this for no more than 11 months in a year
- each event lasts less than 24 hours
To use this exemption, your premises must have the correct permissions under the Licensing Act 2003, such as a Premises Licence or a Temporary Event Notice.
Before you apply
We recommend reading:
You can also read our SEV Application Guidance Notes for a summary of what is permitted.
How to apply
To apply, you must submit:
- a completed application form
- a location plan
- detailed plans of the premises (see Policy section 6.3)
- the correct fee
Public notices
You must:
- display a blue notice (minimum A4 size) at the premises for 21 days from the date the application is submitted. It must be clearly visible to passers-by.
- publish a notice in the Hartlepool Mail within 7 days of submitting your application.
Who can apply
You cannot apply if you:
- are under 18
- have had an SEV licence revoked in the past 12 months
- are not a resident of an EEA state (or were not for the 6 months before applying)
- represent a company not incorporated in an EEA state
- have been refused a licence for the same premises in the past 12 months
What happens next
If we receive any objections, your application will be reviewed by the Licensing Sub-Committee.
We will consider:
- the application
- any representations received
- our SEV Licensing Policy
Each application is assessed on its own merits.
Tacit consent
You must wait for a decision before operating. If you haven’t heard from us within a reasonable time, contact: licensing@hartlepool.gov.uk
Renewals, transfers and variations
Renewing a licence
- apply at least 28 days before your current licence expires.
- if you apply on time, your licence will remain valid until we make a decision.
Transferring a licence
- you can apply to transfer a licence at any time.
- you do not need to submit a premises plan.
Varying a licence
- you can apply to change the terms, conditions or restrictions of your licence at any time
- a new premises plan is only needed if the variation involves structural changes.