Civil Marriage and Partnership Venue Licence

How to apply for a licence

Before applying for a licence, the venue has to be inspected by the Registrar's Office to meet the suitability criteria. Download the Venue Licence application form. Please print out the form and return it to:

Solihull Registration Service Manager
Solihull Register Office
Homer Road
Solihull
West midlands
B91 3QZ

If you are unable to print the form, contact us on telephone number 0121704 8002 and we will post or email one to you.

Please send your completed form along with 3 copies of plans and a cheque or postal order for £1650.00 made payable to Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council. We will contact you to arrange an inspection of your premises once your application has been received.

Advertising your application

Following the inspection we will advertise your application in the form of a notice placed in a local newspaper that is available in newsagents in the Solihull area so that local residents and businesses can have the opportunity to comment on it.

Once the newspaper has published your notice, your licence will be issued 3 weeks after provided there are no objections. If your application is refused, you may appeal. 
 
Remember, it is an offence to operate without a licence or to breach the terms of the licence.

Licence conditions

The premises where you plan to hold the ceremonies will be inspected before a licence will be issued, to ensure it meets health and safety standards.

The following conditions must also be satisfied before a licence will be issued

1. The holder of the approval must ensure that there is at all times an individual with responsibility for ensuring compliance with these conditions "the responsible person" and that the responsible person's occupation, seniority, position of responsibility in relation to the premises or other factors, his "qualification", indicate that he is in a position to ensure compliance with these conditions
2. The responsible person or, in his absence, an appropriately qualified deputy appointed by him shall be available on the premises for a minimum of one hour prior to each marriage ceremony and throughout each marriage ceremony
3. The holder must notify the authority of their name and address immediately upon becoming the holder of an approval under regulation 7(2) and of the name, address and qualification of the responsible person immediately upon the appointment of a new responsible person
4. The holder must also notify the authority immediately of any change to any of the following
   • The layout of the premises, as shown in the plan submitted with the approved application or in the use of the premises
   • The name or full postal address of the approved premises
   • The description of the room or rooms in which marriages are to be solemnised
   • The name or address of the holder of the approval
   • The name, address or qualification of the responsible person
5. The approved premises must be available at all reasonable times for inspection by the authority
6. A suitable notice stating that the premises have been approved for the Solemnisation of marriages in pursuance of section 26(1)(bb) of the Marriage Act 1949 and identifying and giving directions to the room in which a marriage ceremony is to take place must be displayed at each public entrance to the premises for one hour prior to the ceremony and throughout the ceremony
7. No food or drink may be sold or consumed in the room in which a marriage ceremony takes place for one hour prior to that ceremony or during that ceremony
8. All marriage ceremonies must take place in a room or rooms approved by the council for the solemnisation of marriages on the plan submitted with the approved application
9. The room in which the marriage is solemnised must be separate from any other activity on the premises at the time of the ceremony
10. The arrangements for and content of each marriage ceremony must meet with the prior approval of the Superintendent Registrar of the district in which the approved premises are situated
11. Any reading, music, words or performance which forms part of a ceremony of marriage must be secular in nature; for this purpose any such material used by way of introduction to, or any interval between parts of, or by way of conclusion to the ceremony shall be treated as forming part of the ceremony
12. Public access to any ceremony of marriage solemnised in approved premises must be permitted without charge
13. Any reference to the approval of premises on any sign or notice, or on any stationery or publication, or within any advertisement may state that the premises have been approved by the authority as a venue for marriage in pursuance of section 26(1)(bb) of the Act, but shall not state or imply any recommendation of the premises or its facilities by the authority, the Registrar General or any of the officers or employees of either of them.