Sex establishment licence

A sex establishment can either be a sex shop or a sex cinema:

• a sex shop is a premises used for business which consists to a significant degree of selling sex articles
• a sex cinema is any premises used for showing of films which are concerned primarily with, or relate to, or are intended to stimulate sexual activity 

Apply

Your can apply for a sex establishment licence online.

Fees

From 1 April 2026:

• SEV (Sexual entertainment venue) application - £3530
• SEV renewal - £2115
• Sex Shop/Cinema application - £3530
• administrative fee - £35

Change of licence

You can apply to change a sex establishment licence online.