Patron participation entertainment endorsement

On this page:

• Overview
• Why is an application required?
• The application process
• LCRB considerations
• Preparing your application
• Policy documents

Related pages

• Change a Food Primary licence

Overview

This information applies to food primary licences which must focus on the service of food. If liquor is available to buy, licensees must ensure that entertainment and games do not take the focus away from food service.

There are two categories of entertainment:

• Patron non-participation entertainment
• Patron participation entertainment
  • If entertainment takes place in a licenced area, you must have an endorsement on the licence 

Patron non-participation entertainment

Patron non-participation entertainment means customers are not actively involved or stay seated. No patron participation entertainment endorsement is needed for this type of entertainment. In addition, games that are patron initiated and played while patrons are seated do not require a patron participation entertainment endorsement.

Examples of patron non-participation entertainment include:

• Live music or DJs
• Stage performances

Other forms of entertainment that do not need a patron participation entertainment endorsement include:

• Recorded music     
• Live radio/television broadcasts
• Patron initiated card games and board games 
• Contests and draws (see the terms and conditions handbook for more details)

Patron non-participation entertainment must end by 1:00 am.

Patron participation entertainment

Patron participation entertainment includes live entertainment, where customers are actively involved or leave their seats, and games where customers leave their seats.

Examples of entertainment that need a patron participation entertainment endorsement include:

• Dancing
• Karaoke or sing-alongs
• Paint nights
• “Amateur nights”, including open mic nights, in which customers are invited to sing, dance or perform stand-up comedy routines  

Patron participation entertainment is typically permitted until midnight. If you have a patron participation entertainment endorsement, all entertainment (both patron participation and patron non-participation) in your food primary licensed area must end at midnight (or earlier if required by your local government/Indigenous Nation).

There are some types of entertainment that are not permitted in a food primary establishment, even with an endorsement:

• Gaming (gambling), except for licensed ticket raffles
• Tournaments
• Live, on-premises prize fighting, kickboxing and all other similar contact sports
• Adult entertainment
• Games that require the patron to get up from the food service area and are likely to shift the focus away from the service of food

You must apply to the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch (LCRB) and receive an endorsement before you can offer patron participation entertainment.

There are two types of patron participation entertainment endorsements: temporary and permanent.

Your application will also be reviewed by your local government/Indigenous Nation, and any entertainment offered must comply with local bylaws and be suitable for minors.

Note that this information applies to any food primary licence including hotel banquet rooms, conference halls, multipurpose rooms and similar spaces. For example, if a food primary licensee wishes to host a wedding with dancing, the patron participation entertainment endorsement is required. 

Why is an application required?

The LCRB must ensure that entertainment and games don’t shift focus away from food service when liquor is served. The application helps assess how entertainment may impact the licensee’s ability to control the establishment and any effects on the community (e.g., noise, nuisance).

Please note that the application review and approval process for a permanent endorsement can take several months.

For a temporary endorsement, submit the complete application (including all supporting documentation) at least three weeks in advance.

The application process

The following is a high-level overview of the process.

1. Contact your local government or Indigenous Nation to learn about requirements before applying. Local governments or Indigenous Nations may restrict or prohibit types of entertainment or games in licensed establishments.
2. Submit the application through the online licensing portal.
   • The application is automatically sent via the licensing portal to the appropriate local government or Indigenous Nation for review.
3. Local government and Indigenous Nation options:
   • If the local government or Indigenous Nation accepts the application, they will gather the views of local residents and provide comments to the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch (LCRB) via the licensing portal within 90 days.
   • If the local government or Indigenous Nation opts out of commenting on the application or does not complete the full public input process and provide comment, the LCRB will work with the applicant to gather the views of local residents.
   • If the local government or Indigenous Nation rejects the application, they will provide reasons and the process will end here.
4. If the local government or Indigenous Nation accepts or opts out of commenting on the application, the licensee will be prompted via email to pay for the application in the portal.
5. Once the application fee is received, the application will join the queue for LCRB review.
   • A Case Manager may contact the applicant if further information is needed.
6. Once the application is processed and a decision is made, the applicant will receive an email notification.
7. If successful, the endorsement is added to the licence, and the licensee may then offer patron participation entertainment.

LCRB considerations

When deciding whether to issue a Patron Participation Entertainment Endorsement, the LCRB considers:

• If the entertainment will remove the focus from the service of food?
• If the entertainment will affect the licensee’s ability to effectively manage and control the establishment. E.g. will staff be able to observe and control the behaviour of customers?
• What the potential for noise disturbance is?
• What other potential impacts to the community could arise?
• If the entertainment impacts the physical safety of staff and customers?
• If the entertainment requires structural alterations (e.g. construction of a stage), and how this could impact staff’s ability to observe and supervise customer conduct?

Preparing your application

Before you apply, check with your local government or Indigenous Nation to learn about their requirements.

To apply for the endorsement, log into the liquor and cannabis licensing portal. In the “Licences and Authorizations” dashboard, find your licence and select the “patron participation entertainment endorsement” application.

The application fee is $330 with no yearly renewal fee.

Apply online

Policy documents

Food Primary Terms and Conditions Handbook (PDF, 599KB)

Liquor Policy Manual (PDF, 1.7MB)