What are unlicensed family entertainment centres

Unlicensed family entertainment centres are premises which are wholly or mainly used for making gaming machines available. We cannot grant a permit for an entire shopping centre or bowling alley.

Family entertainment centres are commonly located at seaside resorts, airports and at motorway service stations, and cater for families (for example, amusement arcade). Unlicensed family entertainment centres are able to offer only category D machines, but must have a gaming machine permit.

If you are running an unlicensed family entertainment centre, you will need a permit from us. The application for a permit can only be made by a person who occupies or plans to occupy the premises, and are aged 18 years or older. Applications for a permit cannot be made if a premises licence is in effect for the same premises.

The permit will last for 10 years unless it lapses or is surrendered.

Lapse, surrender or forfeiture of permit

The permit may lapse for a number of reasons, namely:

• if the holder ceases to occupy the premises
• if the licensing authority notifies the holder that the premises are not being used as an unlicensed family entertainment centre
• if an individual permit holder dies, becomes incapable by reason of mental or physical incapacity, becomes bankrupt, or sequestration of his estate is ordered
• if the company holding the permit ceases to exist, or goes into liquidation.

In the last two circumstances, the Act provides that the personal representative (in the case of death), trustee of the bankrupt estate or liquidator of the company may rely on the permit for a period of 6 months as though it had effect and was issued to them.

The permit may also cease to have effect if the holder surrenders it to the licensing authority. Notice of such surrender must be accompanied by the permit, or by an explanation of why the permit cannot be produced.

If the permit holder is convicted of a relevant offence the court may order the forfeiture of the permit. The court may order the holder to deliver the permit to the licensing authority, and it must in any case notify the licensing authority that it has made a forfeiture order as soon as is reasonably practicable after making the order. An order may be suspended by a higher court, pending appeal.

Application form

Fees and Charges

Current fees and charges can be found on our Fees and charges page.

Comment on an application

View all Recent licence applications made to the licensing authority under the Gambling Act 2005, for new Premises Licences, variations or reviews of existing licences.

Public Register

The Gambling Act requires us to maintain a register of premises licences issued, permits issued and temporary use notices issued.

These can be viewed on our Public Registers page.

Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Principles (Licensing Policy)

Somerset Council are required to produce a Statement of Principles under the Gambling Act 2005.

The Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Principles can be viewed on our Licensing Policies page.