Licensing Courts

The Licensing Court is chaired by His Worship the Deputy High Bailiff accompanied by up to four magistrates. The court sits on the second Thursday of each month in a public court. This session is known as the "special session of the court".

The Licensing Court is responsible for issuing licences for:-

• all on-licensed premises;
• off-licences;
• passenger vessels;
• registration of clubs;
• weekly club and charity functions;
• occcasional licences;
• cinematograph; and
• music, singing and dancing.

It also gives approval for designated officials (DO’s) and club secretaries. After receiving the application, the court grants the licences either at court (Special Sessions), or in some instances, licences can be issued administratively in private chambers.

Legislation

The following Rules and Acts apply for Licensing matters

• The Licensing Act 1995
• The Licensing (Amendment) Act 2001
• The Licensing Regulations 1996
• The Licensing Court Rules 1996
• The Licensing Court of Appeal Rules 1996
• The Music and Dancing Acts 1961 to 1976
• The Cinematograph Act 1977

Copies of the legislation can be obtained from the Tynwald Library, contact details for which can be found on the Tynwald website.

Applications which are heard at the Special Session Court

Use the links above to download the application forms, guidance notes and Marquee conditions which can also be found on the forms page. The fees for the various applications are detailed on the Fees page.

Applications without specific forms

Application to change the Secretary of a Club

A letter should be sent to the court notifying the change to be made and giving full details of the new secretary. Upon receipt, the court will inform the new secretary of a court date on which he/she should appear before the Licensing Bench. He/she should also provide, at court, a minute of the club’s decision to change secretary.

Application to amend a licensed premises

A letter application should be sent to the court requesting the changes to be made. This has to be advertised in two newspapers and a notice in form 3 served on the chief constable. Three sets of plans also need to be sent into the court at least 10 days prior to the hearing date. This gives any objector the opportunity to view the plans.

How to apply to the Special Sessions Court

Applications should be sent to the following address not less than 10 days before the hearing of the application along with the appropriate fee.

Administrative Applications not held in Public Court

Weekly Special Permissions

Special permissions are weekly applications submitted by clubs to ask permission to hold a function where non club members will be attending. These are heard by His Worship in private chambers. Applications should be submitted at least three days before the Thursday in private chambers court. Licences are issued at the public counter each Friday after the private chambers court.

Triennial Sessions

Each renewed licence runs for three years. Therefore at the Triennial Session, which usually sits in March every three years, the court renews licences that have already been granted and remain valid . The Triennial Session is publicised in local papers in the preceding October/November giving applicants advance notice of how and when to submit their applications.

The application fee and full licence fee should be submitted at the application stage. Refer to the Fees page for:-

• the application fee;
• the full licence fee; and
• fee reductions for applications submitted part way through a trimester

The application forms for this court are available here, below or can be picked up from the public counter.