Licensing Act 2003 - Advice on Carol Singing

Most carol singing is either spontaneous, incidental to other activites or part of a religious service and is usually not, therefore, licensable.  However, some carol concerts may fall into the definition of regulated entertainment - for example, a concert with an audience.  If in doubt, organisers should contact their licensing authority.

If a carol service is organised, advertised and provided for an audience there would seem to be little doubt that this would be licensable.  However, a group of carol singers (players) outside a shop could be construed as incidental to the activity of people going about shopping and therefore exempt from the requirement for a licence.  It would make no difference whether or not they were seeking voluntary contributions to charity from passers by.  This is different from a scenario where a shopping centre or individual business has organised a carol performance for an audience in a shopping mall which would require a licence or temporary event notice. 

Under the 2003 Act, there is no distinction between the singing of religious or secular carols unless the carols were performed as part of a religious service or in a place of public religious worship, which would not then require a licence.