If you want to provide street entertainment by way of ‘busking’ in Portsmouth then you must hold a Street Entertainment Permit issued to you by Portsmouth City Council.
You are likely to be ‘moved on’ from the pedestrian precinct area by the council or the police if you busk without a permit.
Buskers are encouraged to perform at street markets but must do so in agreement with, and with the permission of, the market organiser. Contact details for market organisers can be found on our Market Stalls page.
The Act of Parliament utilised to licence and regulate street entertainers is contained within Section 145 of the Local Government Act 1972. This Act allows the council to arrange for the ‘provision of entertainment’.
You can apply by downloading the application form below and sending by email to licensing@portsmouthcc.gov.uk or post to Portsmouth City Council, Licensing Office, Civic Offices, Guildhall Square, Portsmouth, Hants, PO1 2AL.
Alternatively, you can apply using a separate PDF form available on gov.uk.
Our target completion time for application is 28 days.
Tacit consent applies to applications for Street entertainment authorisations.
This means that you may act as though your application is granted if you do not hear from us by the end of the target completion period – which is a maximum of 28 days.
If you have not heard from the council within a reasonable period, please email us at licensing@portsmouthcc.gov.uk or phone us on 023 9283 4607.
For failed application or licence holder redress, please contact us in the first instance by emailing licensing@portsmouthcc.gov.uk or phoning 23 9284 1464.
We would always advise that in the event of a complaint the first contact is made with the trader by you – preferably in the form a letter (with proof of delivery). If that has not worked, if you are located in the UK, Adviceguide will give you advice. From outside the UK contact the UK European Consumer Centre.
Permits will be issued to street entertainers giving the Council’s consent to busk at designated areas subject to conditions. These conditions will apply to all holders of Street Entertainment Permits and the Council may also impose further special conditions if considered appropriate.
It is the entertainer(s)’ responsibility to familiarise himself or themselves with the conditions regulating street entertainment. Permits will be withdrawn should any entertainer fail to comply with the conditions or any reasonable request made by officers of the Council. Occupation of a designated area is on a “booking” basis only and entertainers must vacate such areas if a charitable or other organisation has authority from the Council to operate at the authorised areas.
Definitions
A Street Entertainment Permit entitles the Entertainers to provide street entertainment in the area authorised subject to these conditions.
Although ‘busking’ permits allow for persons to provide street entertainment in the precinct area(s) you should note that various other statutes and powers are available for the Council or police to control other activities as follows:
Once you have completed steps 1-2 previously mentioned in ‘What information must you provide us’ we will be in a position to issue your permit which will expire on 31 December annually. You must provide:
It is our policy to allow permit holders to busk in these areas only. You must “book” your slot for the designated area of your choice before attending the precinct area(s). Please ring us on 023 9283 4830 or 023 9283 4073.
This is an information page and not a statement of law or how we will deal with each individual application.
