Regulation Summary

Sex Establishments are defined in schedule three to the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982. Under this Act to run a sex establishment, a sex shop or sex cinema you may need a licence from Runnymede Borough Council.

Sex shops are defined as any premises, vehicle, vessel or stall used for a business that consists to a significant degree of selling, hiring, exchanging, lending, displaying or demonstrating sex articles. "Sex articles" are further defined by the legislation.

Sex cinemas are defined as any premises, vehicle, vessel or stall used to a significant degree for the exhibition of moving pictures, by whatever means produced, which are concerned primarily with the portrayal of, or primarily deal with or relate to, or are intended to stimulate or encourage sexual activity or acts of force or restraint which are associated with sexual activity or are concerned primarily with the portrayal of, or primarily deal with or relate to, genital organs or urinary or excretory functions, but does not include a dwelling-house to which the public is not admitted. Such premises will show R18 films to persons over the age of 18.

The Policing and Crime Bill, currently before Parliament, seeks to amend the legislation to create a new category of  "Sex Encounter Establishments" which, if the provisions are adopted by individual local authorities, will need to be licensed under the 1982 Act
Eligibility Criteria

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 contain any information that the 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.

Applicants must give public notice of their application by publishing an advertisement in a local newspaper.

If you do not supply the correct information, your application will not be processed.

Application Fee for 1st April 2010 - 31st March 2011

- £1500.00

Where applications are refused or in-complete etc, an administration charge may apply. Please contact us for further information.

Apply online

Apply for a licence for a sex establishment

Application to change a sex shop and cinema licence

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 Runnymede Borough Council within a reasonable period, please contact us. You can do this online here if you applied through the UK Welcomes service or use the contact details below.

Contact us

To find out more about licensing of a sex establishment within the Borough of Runnymede, please contact:

Runnymede Borough Council, Technical Services Department, Runnymede Civic Centre, Station Road, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 2AH.

Tel: 01932 425131 Fax: 01932 838384 Email: environmental.protection@runnymede.gov.uk