Approval for marriage and civil partnership venues

Any venue used for the solemnisation of civil marriages and the registration of civil partnerships must be approved by the council, under the Marriages and Civil Partnerships (Approved Premises) Regulations 2005.

Requirements

Only permanent enclosed structures, comprising at least one room, or vessels which are permanently moored, can be approved as venues for marriage and civil partnership proceedings. Premises must also satisfy the authority in respect of the following matters:

• The premises must be a seemly and dignified venue for the proceedings.
• The premises must be regularly available for use for marriage and civil partnership ceremonies.
• The premises must have the benefit of such fire precautions as may reasonably be required, and such other reasonable provision for the health and safety of persons employed in or visiting the premises.
• The premises must have no recent or continuing connection with any religion or religious practice that would be incompatible with its use as a venue for civil marriage and civil partnership proceedings.
• The room or rooms in which the proceedings are to take place must not be approved already as part of a register office.
• The room or rooms in which the proceedings are to take place must be identifiable by description as a distinct part of the premises.

We will also expect premises seeking approval to offer suitable sanitary facilities for the type of proceedings it is intended to carry on, as well as facilities to assist disabled persons to access and utilise the premises.

Approved premises do not need to be able to offer facilities for receptions - some venues concentrate solely on ceremonies. Any premises that does wish to host receptions may need to be licensed to provide entertainment and supply alcohol - see our alcohol, entertainment and late night refreshment pages for further details.

The Register Office will provide the officials to conduct and register a marriage or civil partnership - the approved premises will be responsible for providing hosts and catering staff as appropriate.

Application process

Proprietors or trustees of a premises seeking approval to host marriage and civil partnership proceedings may apply using either our electronic application system or the printable application form, both of which are available below. Both types of application must be accompanied by a plan of the premises marked with all of the rooms where proceedings may occur, and payment of the application fee.

• Apply online for approval of premises as a marriage and civil partnership venue
• Application form for approval of premises as a marriage and civil partnership venue

Following receipt of an application, licensing officers will arrange to inspect the premises. This inspection will include checks of the fire precautions and safety provisions, and any associated paperwork (inspection certificates, test logs, etc).

The applicant will also be required to advertise their application by placing a public notice in a local newspaper or similar publication. A template for this notice is included with the application form.

Objections to an application for approval of a premises may be made by any person within 21 days of publication of the public notice in a newspaper. Objections must be made in writing, and should be sent to the address above, or by email to licensing@lambeth.gov.uk

Application fees

Our fees for marriage/civil partnership venues, as of April 2011, are as follows:

Determination of applications

After considering any objections received, if the premises satisfies the requirements set out above and any other issues raised during the application process, approval for the premises to be used for marriage and civil partnership ceremonies will be granted. Conditions will usually be imposed on an approval - these will include a number of standard conditions, as well as any other conditions necessary to ensure that the premises remain suitable, and that no nuisance of any kind is caused by ceremonies at the premises.

Approvals are valid for a period of 3 years, and an application to renew an approval can be made up to 12 months before it expires. The process to renew an approval is similar to that for a new approval.

Review of decision

If an applicant is unhappy with a decision to refuse an application for approval, or to attach non-standard conditions to an approval, or to revoke an existing approval, they may request a review of that decision. A written request must be sent to the authority to begin this process, accompanied by the appropriate fee (no fee is payable if the approval was revoked). A second hearing will then be convened to review the previous decision.

Can ceremonies take place before my application has been approved (will tacit consent apply)?

No. It is in the public interest that the authority must process your application before it can be granted. If you have not heard from the local authority within a reasonable period, please contact us. You can do this online if you applied through the Business Link service or use the contact details above.

Responsible person

If a premises is approved, an individual must then be nominated as its 'responsible person'. This individual should hold a position at the premises that will allow them to ensure that any conditions on the approval are being adhered to. The licensing authority must be notified if the individual in this role changes, and the form below can be used for this.

• Form for notification of responsible person

Register of approved premises

A register detailing all of the premises approved for marriage and civil partnership ceremonies in Lambeth is kept at the offices of the Licensing Section, at Blue Star House, 234-244 Stockwell Road, London, SW9 9SP, and can be inspected during our usual office hours.

Details of a selection of approved premises can also be viewed on the Register Office's web pages.

Arranging a ceremony at an approved premises

Marriage and civil partnership proceedings should be arranged in conjunction with the Register Office, to ensure that registrars will be able to attend on the day of your ceremony. The Register Office's web pages give further information on how to go about arranging your marriage or civil partnership ceremony.