Approved venues

An old building which is an approved ceremony venue

Who can apply

If you manage or own a venue, you can apply for a licence to hold marriage and civil partnership ceremonies. Licensed venues, or 'approved venues', can include the building and the grounds of restaurants, public houses, hotels, stately homes and other similar venues.

Licensing a venue works as a partnership between Lincolnshire County Council and the venue. We support new and existing venues to ensure they are fully prepared to facilitate statutory ceremonies and provide updates on any changes to legalisation that may occur. A licence is valid for a three years period.

We offer the following ceremonies at approved premises:

civil marriages
civil partnerships
renewal of vows
naming ceremonies

Suitability criteria

a licensed venue must be a permanent, immovable structure of at least one room, boat, or other vessel that is permanently moored. Ceremonies and formations may occur in the licensed rooms and linked outdoor areas.
the venue must be in keeping with the solemnity and dignity of the marriage or civil partnership ceremony
the venue should comply with disabled access requirements where possible. However, it is accepted that this may not always be possible given the building’s age, construction, and style.
the premises must be regularly available for the solemnisation of civil marriages or the formation of civil partnerships
the public must be allowed unrestricted access to witness the marriages or civil partnerships, and or make an objection to or during the ceremony. No charge may be made to any member of the public attending a ceremony
the licence fee provides for one ceremony room. You can add additional rooms for a fee. There is no required minimum or maximum room or area size as this will vary between venues. The room should include a comfortable space where the couple and the registration officer will stand to conduct the ceremony.
a separate room or area must be available to allow for the registrars to meet with the couple before the start of the ceremony. Where possible the preliminary room should be a quiet and confidential space.

Outside areas

it is now legal for a couple to marry fully in an approved outside space. This area will need to fall within the boundary of the property with the licensed rooms, if you have a beautiful outdoor area that you would like to open for ceremonies, please include it on your floor plan. Do not include on your list of rooms to be licensed, or you will incur a charge.
there must be alternative venue arrangements if an outside ceremony needs to be moved due to weather etc. We always advise you to prepare a room should you have to move the celebration indoors.

Licensed venues are expected to

abide by conditions and requirements set by the local authority
show integrity and commitment in dealing with couples wishing to hold a ceremony at their venue
be fair, responsive, and courteous in the delivery of a quality service
be professional and have well informed employees who take pride in what they do
notify couples of any limitations or conditions applying to the venue in respect of civil marriage, civil partnership and other ceremonies

Evidence to support your application

You will need to ensure your premises meet the requirements to apply for a grant of approval. You will be able to upload copies of any documents supporting your application as part of the application process.

Safety, planning and insurance

when the premises first applies, we must officially consult with the fire authority. The fire authority may wish to inspect the premises, and any recommendations regarding fire precautions may need to be resolved before a licence is approved. We will ask the applicant for a copy of the fire risk assessment to confirm that one has been done.
we will deem the applicant to be the responsible person (or acting on their behalf) under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 to ensure that a fire risk assessment has been carried out on the premises.
applicants are advised to consult with their local planning authority (district council) to check whether use as a venue for civil ceremonies would constitute development or change of use. We reserve the right to contact the planning authority where any doubt occurs.
the building or structure to be licensed must have public liability(third party) insurance cover during the three years of the licence

Evidence you will need to provide

a room plan with the areas clearly marked out. This includes outside spaces within the boundary of your property. These will be included at no extra charge.
employer liability insurance certificate
public liability insurance certificate
planning permission. Contact your local District Council for further information. Where planning is not required written confirmation to be supplied at application.

Risk assessment

fire risk assessment and emergency evacuation plan
ongoing fire logbook checks
fire alarm service and testing records
fire extinguisher service and inspection records
fire safety signage

Responsible persons

name and contact telephone number of responsible person, who will be responsible for overseeing health and safety on day of celebration

The proposed room

a permanent and immovable structure
seemly, dignified, and free from anything that may compromise the occasion’s solemnity
available for frequent use
not used or affiliated with any religion
accessible and provide disabled access and facilities
have a quiet and private area for the preliminaries of the celebration

Terms and conditions

Your premises will be inspected by the relevant authorities. For applications to be granted, your premises must be deemed suitable.

public notice of the application will be given on our website. A period of 21 days will be allowed for objections.

The licence

the licence is valid for a period of three years. The licence fee is £1500 plus £50 for each additional room. We will contact Licensed Venues one year before expiry inviting them to reapply.

The licence notice

you must display the licence notice prominently and permanently at the main entrance to the venue. Additional copies can be provided for other parts of the venue or display in the ceremony room/area.

Refusal to approve a licence

if a licence is not approved the applicant will be given notice in writing and the reason for the decision.
an applicant who is aggrieved about our refusal to grant a licence, or the attachment of additional or special conditions to the grant of a licence may seek a review which will be carried out by the Appeals Sub Committee.

Promotion of the licence

licence holders may use the following words to describe the granting of a licence as a Licensed Venue: “Approved by Lincolnshire County Council as a venue for the solemnisation of Civil Marriages and the formation of Civil Partnerships”.

Revoking a licence

We may revoke a licence if:

any conditions attached to the granting of the licence have been broken.
the use or structure of the Licensed Premises has changed in that we no longer consider the premises a suitable venue for solemnising civil marriages and forming civil partnerships.
we are directed to do so by the Registrar General.
the licence holder may revoke the licence at any time within the three year licence period.

Transfer of licence

the licence is not transferable between premises. The licence, subject to our approval, may be transferred between licence holders. The transfer would generally apply to the sale of a venue or an appointment of a new manager. You will need to inform us of any changes by letter. A transfer fee of £150 will apply

Useful information

The Registrar General has issued the following guidance for England and Wales in accordance with their duties under the Marriage Act 1949 and the Civil Partnership Act 2004.

How to apply

You can apply using our online application system. We will keep you updated throughout the application process.

Our fees

The term of licence is three years in all instances.

licensing fees for new approved venue including one room - £1500
extra fees for additional rooms (at time of application) - £50 per room
amendment to licence: Change of holder (transfer or new business) - £150
amendment to licence: Rebrand (change of premises name) - £150
amendment to licence: Rooms added during term of licence - £200 includes one room and £50 for each additional room

How long it takes to process an application

Please allow approximately six to eight weeks for any application (without objection) to be completed. If you are applying to become an approved premises, you should not advertise or take bookings for any marriage and civil partnership ceremonies until the application is completed and approved premises status has been granted.

Making an application

You will need a credit or debit card to complete the application.

Apply to be an approved venue

After receiving your application we will be in contact with you to arrange a visit. Should you have an immediate query you can contact us online.