Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Related legal acts

Key definition

Establishment definition

What does Establishment mean? In cross‑border insolvency practice, an “establishment” is a debtor’s place of operations in a state where it conducts a stable, non‑transitory economic activity using people and assets. The concept is used to justify secondary (EU) or non‑main (Model Law) proceedings alongside main proceedings at the debtor’s centre of main interests (COMI). It is a defined term in Regulation (EU) 2015/848 (the recast Insolvency Regulation) and in the UNCITRAL Model Law on Cross‑Border Insolvency (implemented in Great Britain by the Cross‑Border Insolvency Regulations 2006 and in Northern Ireland by the 2007 Regulations). In both regimes, it requires more than a...

Licensing Sex Establishments in England and Wales: Definitions, Local Authority Powers, Sexual Entertainment Venues, London Hostess Bars, Application Process, Grounds, Conditions, Advertising Requirements, Objections, Duration, Fees, and Revocation

Published by a LexisNexis Local Government expert

Practice notes

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This Practice Note summarises the law on licensing of sex establishments across England and Wales, together with London-specific variations. It also describes enforcement powers and how local policies are applied to oversee these establishments.

What is a sex establishment?

The Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 (LG(MP)A 1982), as amended, recognises four distinct categories of ‘sex establishment’:

sex cinemas
sex shops
sex entertainment venues (following amendments introduced by the Policing and Crime Act 2009)
hostess bars (following amendments introduced by the London Local authorities Act 2007 (LLAA 2007))

Hostess bars are confined geographically to Greater London.

Sex cinemas

A sex cinema is any premises, vehicle, vessel or stall used to a significant extent for showing moving pictures, however produced, that are principally concerned with portraying, or primarily deal with or relate to, or are intended to stimulate or encourage sexual activity; or acts of force or restraint associated with sexual activity; or that are chiefly concerned with the portrayal of, or primarily deal with or relate to, genital organs or urinary or excretory functions. The content and nature of the film are key...

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Christopher Grunert

John Gaunt & Partners

I was admitted as a solicitor in 2002 and the first significant licensing project was the licensing of Darlington Football Club new 25,000 stadium. In 2004 I joined the licensing department of Mincoffs in Newcastle managing transition for the firm's clients in 2005 including publicly traded companies before joining John Gaunt & Partners in 2007. I was made Partner in 2015. I was admitted as a solicitor in 2002 and the first significant licensing project was the licensing of Darlington Football Club new 25,000 stadium. In 2004 I joined the licensing department of Mincoffs in Newcastle managing transition for the firm's clients in 2005 including publicly traded companies before joining John Gaunt & Partners in 2007. I was made Partner in 2015....

Jonathan Smith

Poppleston Allen

Jonathan joined Poppleston Allen at the beginning of 1997. After being made Partner in 2002, he succeeded founder Jeremy Allen as Managing Partner in 2006, splitting his time between developing the firm and advising clients. In April 2018, Jonathan handed over the reins as Managing Partner to concentrate fully on helping licensed operators solve their alcohol licensing problems. Jonathan’s advice includes obtaining new premises licences, licence variations and licensing reviews, of which he is a veteran of over 250. To help understand the pressures that people working in the leisure sector face, Jonathan holds five licensing qualifications covering England, Wales and Scotland. Jonathan regularly speaks at conferences and seminars. He sat on the Institute of Licensing’s operational and development committee and has sat on various Home Office and Department of Culture, Media and Sport advisory groups. By request, he was called to give evidence as part of The...

Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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