Small venues to be exempt from live music licensing
Commercial insurance
4th January 2010
Businesses and organisations operating in the licensed trade may by interested to learn of new government plans to exempt smaller venues from licensing regulations.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport announced the plans to allow such facilities to stage music events for 100 people or fewer without requiring a license, certificate or temporary event notice so long as the performances are held indoors between 08:00 GMT and 23:00 GMT.
According to licensing minister Gerry Sutcliffe, the government is "keen to do what we can to support audiences and musicians" and predicted that the move will also help unlicensed premises such as cafes and village halls.
However, he added the exemption could be revoked in cases where there are problems relating to noise or disorder at particular venues.
Those seeking pub insurance may also be interested to learn that the move has been welcomed by the British Beer and Pub Association, an organisation representing more than half of the owners of the 54,000 pubs across the UK.
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