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Zoos

The Zoo Licensing Act 1981 came into force in 1984. This law requires the inspection and licensing of all zoos in Great Britain.

It aims to ensure that, where animals are kept in enclosures, they are provided with a suitable environment to provide an opportunity to express most normal behaviour.

What does the law cover?

A zoo is defined in the act as being 'an establishment where wild animals are kept for exhibition... to which members of the public have access, with or without charge for admission, on more than seven days in any period of twelve consecutive months'.

The wide scope of this definition means that licensed zoos range from traditional urban zoos and safari parks to small specialist collections such as butterfly houses and aquaria.

The law recognises this wide range of establishments by allowing dispensations to be granted for small zoos.

Dispensations for these types of collections reduce the number of inspectors to a reasonable level for a small establishment, and do not in any way weaken a zoo's obligation to achieve the levels of animal welfare and modern public safety set out in the Secretary of State's standards.

The law does not extend to circuses, or to pet shops, both of which are covered by other legislation.

Apply by post

Before you apply you are strongly encouraged to contact our licensing team on 01905 822799 or by email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

document Download Notice of Intention to Apply for a Zoo Licence application form (203 KB)

document Download Zoo Licence Application form (176 KB)

document Download Zoo Licence Renewal Form (177 KB)

You will need to complete an application form, and send it with the appropriate fee and any documents referred to on the form to: Licensing, Wychavon District Council, The Civic Centre, Queen Elizabeth Drive, Pershore, Worcestershire, WR10 1PT

The current fee to apply for a zoo licence can be found on our Licensing Fees and Charges page.

You must also meet the costs of the vet inspection that is required as part of the application process.

You can find further information on zoos on the GOV.UK website.

Will tacit consent apply?

No. It is in the public interest that we must process your application before it can be granted. If you have not heard from us within a reasonable period, please get in touch.

Temporary Event Notices

Temporary event notices (TENs) are a way that you can get permission to sell alcohol or provide entertainment or late night refreshment on a temporary basis.

To get permission the person organising an event needs to give us a TEN no later than 10 working days before the day on which the event is to start alongside the fee of £21. A copy of the TEN also needs to be sent to the police and the environmental health officer.

Whilst the minimum notice you have to give is 10 working days (do not count Saturdays and Sundays or any Bank Holidays), we would encourage you to serve your TEN as soon as possible during the process of arranging the event to make sure you can get the permission you want.

When calculating the 10 working days notice period, please note that this does not include the day the notice is received by the licensing authority or the day of the event.

TENs can be used to allow activities at relatively small events held at any premises where no more than 499 people (including staff and performers) will be present at any one time.

Anyone aged 18 or over can give a maximum of five TENs each calendar year. If you are a personal licence holder, you can give a maximum of fifty TENs each calendar year.

TENs are subject to other rules too:

  • Each event covered by a TEN can last up to a maximum of 168 hours.
  • No more than fifteen (15) TENs can be given in respect of any particular premises each calendar year.
  • TENs can only be used to permit activities to take place at a premises on 21 days each calendar year.
  • There must be a minimum of 24 hours between any two events organised by the same person and taking place at the same premises.

As long as the above rules are followed, only the police or the environmental health officer can intervene to stop an event covered by a TEN from taking place, or to agree changes to the arrangements for the event. 

The police and environmental health can only intervene where they believe that the event would undermine one or more of the licensing objectives.

More information on temporary event notices can be viewed on the GOV.UK website

Apply online

You can apply and pay online and this is the fastest way for us to receive and process your application.

Apply

Apply by post

You can apply by post by completing the form below and returning it with the fee of £21 (cheques made payable to Wychavon District Council) to:

Licensing, Wychavon District Council, The Civic Centre, Queen Elizabeth Drive, Pershore, Worcestershire, WR10 1PT

Copies of your application must also be sent to the following two addresses:

  • Environmental Health, Worcestershire Regulatory Services, Wyre Forest House, Kidderminster, Worcestershire, DY11 7WF.
  • West Mercia Police, Worcester Police Station, Castle Street, Worcester, WR1 3QX.

Download a document Temporary Event Notice Application form (69 KB)

Will tacit consent apply?

Yes. This means that you will be able to act as though your notice is granted if you have not heard from us after 10 working days.

Club Premises Certificates

Club Premises Certificates are licences which authorise qualifying clubs to use club premises for qualifying club activities which are:

  • The supply of alcohol by or on behalf of a club to a member for consumption on the premises
  • The sale by retail of alcohol by or on behalf of a club, to a guest of a member for consumption on the premises
  • The provision of regulated entertainment by or on behalf of a club for its members and guests.

See the pages below for more information.

Gambling for Good Causes

Those involved in fundraising for good causes often organise events involving types of gambling as a means to raise money. Typical fundraising activities that involve gambling include:

  • Lotteries (such as raffles and tombolas).
  • Race nights.
  • Casino nights.
  • Bingo.

Gambling laws allows most such gambling activities to be provided on a non-commercial basis, without the need for permission from the local authority or the Gambling Commission, provided that relevant rules are followed.

Lotteries

A simple advice leaflet on running a lottery, including raffles, tombolas and sweepstakes has been produced by the Gambling Commission.  pdf Read leaflet from the Gambling Commission (258 KB) .

pdf Download a more detailed guide on running small lotteries (238 KB) .

If your lottery cannot be run in such a way as to fall within the definition of an exempt lottery you may decide to register with us to provide small society lotteries. Read about small society lotteries

Race Nights, Casino Nights etc.

A simple advice leaflet on running a race night, casino night or similar event for a good cause has been produced by the Gambling Commission. pdf Read leaflet. (405 KB)

Bingo

pdf Read the 'Organising Bingo for a good cause' leaflet. (506 KB)

Further Information

pdf Visit the Gambling Commission guide (88 KB) for more detailed information on organising non-commercial prize gaming and non-commercial equal chance gaming, including any conditions that must be complied with.

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