Licence - sex shops
Licence Summary
To run a sex shop - ie any premises selling sex toys, books or
videos - you may need a licence from Carlisle City Council. To
run a venue where explicit films are shown to members of the
public, you also need a licence from Carlisle City
Council. This is for any premises used to a significant
degree for showing of films which are concerned primarily with, or
relate to, or are intended to stimulate sexual activity.
Eligibility Criteria
Anybody who operates a sex establishment
without a licence or fails to comply with a licence condition or
admits persons under the age of 18 is committing an
offence.
An applicant:
- must be at least 18 years old
- must not be disqualified from holding a licence
- must have been resident in the UK at least six months
immediately before the application or, if a body corporate, must be
incorporated in the UK
- must not have been refused the grant or renewal of a licence
for the premises in question within the last 12 months unless the
refusal has been reversed on appeal
Application Evaluation Process
Applications must be in writing (including by
electronic means) and contain any information that Carlisle
City Council requires, as well as the applicant's name,
address and, where the applicant is an individual, their age, plus
the address of the premises.
Postal applications should be sent to:
Licensing Section, Governance Directorate, Carlisle City Council,
Civic Centre, Carlisle CA3 8QG.
Applicants must give public notice of their
application by publishing an advertisement in a local
newspaper.
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 the local authority
within a reasonable period, please contact Carlisle City
Council.
An application period of 28 calendar days is required.
Apply on line
Apply for a licence for a sex establishment
Change to an existing sex establishment licence
Failed Application
Redress
Any applicant who is refused a licence, or
refused the renewal of a licence, may, within 21 days of being
notified of the refusal, appeal to the local magistrates'
court.
However, the right to appeal does not apply
where the licence was refused on the grounds that:
- the number of sex establishments in the area exceeds the number
which Carlisle City Council consider is appropriate
- the grant of the licence would be inappropriate considering the
character of the area, the nature of other premises in the area, or
the premises themselves
Licence Holder Redress
If an application for a new/variation is
refused, or if the licence is revoked, the licence holder may,
within 21 days of being notified of the imposition of, or the
refusal to vary, the term, condition or restriction in question, or
of the revocation, appeal to the local magistrates' court.
Consumer Complaint
We would always advise that in the event of a
complaint the first contact is made with the trader 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. From outside the UK contact the UK European Consumer Centre.
Other Redress
A licence holder may also appeal to the crown
court against a decision of a magistrates' court.
Any person objecting to an application for the
grant, renewal or transfer of a licence may give written notice of
their objection to the relevant authority, stating the grounds of
the objection, within 28 days of the date of the application.
Trade Associations
Adult Industry Trade
Association