Premises for Marriages and Civil Partnerships

The Marriages and Civil Partnerships (Approved Premises) Regulations 2005 enable premises approved by local authorities, such as hotels and stately homes, to be used for the solemnisation of civil marriages and the formation of civil partnerships.

 

 

 

Under the regulations, “premises” means a permanently immovable structure comprising at least a room, or any boat or other vessel which is permanently moored.

 

 

The premises must, in the opinion of the authority, be a seemly and dignified venue for the proceedings.

 

The premises must be regularly available to the public for the solemnisation of marriages and the formation of civil partnerships.

 

The premises must have the benefit of such fire precautions as may be reasonably required by the authority, having consulted with the fire authority.

 

The premises must not be a religious premises or a Register Office.

 

The room or rooms in which the proceedings are to take place if approval is granted must be identifiable by description as a distinct part of the premises.  The conditions which approved premises must adhere to can be downloaded at the bottom of the page.

 

 

An application must be made to the Licensing General Section by the proprietor or trustee of a premises.

 

You can download the application form and the declaration form at the bottom of the page.  These forms must be completed giving the details of the premises and the rooms in which the ceremonies will be held.

 

The application must also include 3 copies of a plan of the premises which clearly identifies the rooms in which the proceedings will take place.

 

You must also advertise your application in the local press and display a notice on the premises advising the public of the application made to us. A template for the notice can be downloaded at the bottom of the page. The notice must be displayed at the premises for 21 days.

 

As soon as possible after the application is received, we will contact you to arrange an appointment to inspect the premises along with the Superintendant Registrar.

 

 

The fee is £670 and must be submitted on application.

 

 

Approval is valid for a period of three years.