Permission to hold a public event (public entertainment licensing)

About public events and licensing

Occasional Entertainment Permits are issued to cover public entertainment at venues that do not hold an annual Bailiff’s Entertainment Permit, referred to as a P49. You do not need to apply for a separate permit if your event meets the terms of the venue's existing P49 permit.

The primary purpose of controlling public entertainment is to ensure that all buildings (including temporary structures such as marquees) and/or sites are safe and fit for purpose for the number of expected people. The secondary purpose is to ensure that the entertainment proposed is suitable for public consumption; this includes matters such as public order and public nuisance.

“Public Entertainment” may be defined as any entertainment to which any member of the public may gain access with or without payment.

Religious meetings or services do not constitute public entertainment, nor do jumble sales, bazaars, sales of work, or sporting events.

Although the above do not require a Bailiff’s permit, if it is planned that they are to take place in non-purpose-built premises, for example, a marquee or agricultural shed, you are strongly advised to consult the Fire & Rescue Service (Tel. 445967). If you have any queries in this regard, please contact the Bailiff’s Chief Officer (Tel: 441100).

Notification to the Bailiff

The Bailiff’s Public Entertainment Panel (PEP) is the licensing authority for all public events except for sporting events in Jersey. Event organisers will be required to complete an Event Management Plan as soon as the Bailiff’s Chambers are made aware of the event. This will help determine the level of input it will be necessary for the PEP to have.

The panel is made up of representatives from:

States of Jersey Police
Jersey Fire and Rescue Service
Ambulance Service
Health and Safety Inspectorate
Public Health Department

The Connétable of the parish in which the event is planned to take place may also be involved.

The following notification periods are required:

Small events for less than 500 attendees – 2 months notice, unless the event involves a road closure in which case a minimum of 3 months notice is required. New events or new organisers will also require a minimum of 3 months notice.
Significant events for 500-1000 attendees require 3 months notification (even if the event does not include a road closure.)
Major events for 1000+ attendees require 6 months notification.

This will afford the PEP and relevant agencies with sufficient time to meet and properly consider its response to the proposed event. Any late notice civic or public events will be considered on an individual basis.

To apply for permission you need to complete the application form and submit an event plan.

Application form for permission to hold an event

The event plan should include:

the type of event
how the event is organised
a risk assessment, including the measures you'll take to make sure any potential and foreseeable risks are being addressed for those taking part or watching the event
how you'll lessen any effects that your event may have on other people, such as noise or other nuisance
a site map and event layout

The amount of information you need to give in your plan will depend on the type of event. For further guidance contact the Bailiff’s Chambers or see public events: health and safety guidance.

All permits are issued at the Bailiff’s discretion and subject to the following conditions (which form part of the permit when issued):

All Fire and Safety precautions are taken and maintained in conformity with any regulations set down from time to time by the States of Jersey Fire Service and the Health and Safety Inspectorate.
Any Officer of the States of Jersey Fire & Rescue Service, Health & Safety Inspectorate or Environmental Health may at all reasonable times, enter, inspect and examine the premises for the purpose of ensuring that all relevant safety and occupancy requirements are being complied with.
The permit does not absolve the permit holder from the obligation to obtain any other statutory provisions or consents which may be necessary in law whether for the event or the use of the property where it is to be held and to comply with all such conditions or requirements attached to such permissions and consents.
The event shall be run in conformity with the details set out in the event plan submitted, responsibility for which rests with the event organisers.

You'll need to show the panel that some heath or safety standards have been or will be met. For example, the Environmental Health Department requires that:

all caterers have a copy of food hygiene and event catering guide, and that they understand and implement this guidance.
a list of caterers is provided ideally 2 weeks before the event so that Public Health can contact them in advance and possibly inspect on the day.
a sufficient number of toilets are provided for the public - the quantity will depend on the number of people attending the event, as well as the time length of the event. See toilet numbers guidance for public events.
although one-off events are unlikely to be covered by the Statutory Nuisances (Jersey) Law 1999, it's recommended that you comply with the Code of Practice on Environmental Noise Control at Concerts.
it's recommended that you send a letter to local residents advising of who to contact out of hours in case of a noise complaint. You should have a complaint process or flow chart in place for complaints you may get, so that they can be recorded, acted on and dealt with appropriately at the time they were received
if your event involves any petting of animals you must be vigilant in ensuring children and adults can wash their hands afterwards and prior to eating. This can cause serious illness and kidney failure in children. Find further information on the farm safety checklist and preventing or controlling ill health from animal contact at visitor attractions.

Events on a road or public place

You also need to receive permission from the relevant highway authority to hold an event on a road or open public place.

Planning an event on the road or public place

Selling alcohol at your event

Alcohol can only be sold by a person authorised to do so under the Licensing (Jersey) Law 1974.

For events on unlicensed premises you'll need to contact an existing licence holder. They'll have to apply for a liquor licence transfer for the event. Contact the Bailiff’s Chambers for further information.

Liquor licence transfer application form

Busking

To apply to busk, you must collect a form from the Jersey Arts Centre in Phillips Street and arrange a brief audition. If successful, the Arts Centre will forward your application to the Bailiff’s Chambers and you will be issued with the relevant permit. There is an administrative fee.

For further details see busking on Jersey Arts Centre.

Walks, cycle rides, bed pushes and other events

If you want to hold a walking or cycling event in Jersey, you must first get permission from the Infrastructure, Housing and Environment (IHE) and the relevant parish.

If you intend to collect money as part of a charity event along the route, you'll need to also get permission from the Bailiff’s Chamber.

We will need to know the:

date
route
number of people taking part
start and estimated finish time
contact details of the organiser

Apply for permission to hold your event on planning an event on the road or public place.

Permission to hold an event in a park

If you want to hold an event, such as a concert, in one of the following parks you must first get permission from IHE:

Sir Winston Churchill Park
Coronation Park (Millbrook Park)
Howard Davis Park
Millennium Town Park
any other park or garden administered by IHE

A returnable deposit is needed for large events. The amount varies depending on the size of the event.

You may also need to get permission from:

the Bailiff, if your event will raise charitable collections
the Environmental Health Department, if food or drinks will be provided