Guidance notes for venues

 

This document sets out the expected standards for City of London venues licenced for marriage and civil partnership ceremonies. Please contact our District Surveyors Office for any specific queries you may have at district.surveyor@cityoflondon.gov.uk.

 

  1. STRUCTURAL SUITABILITY OF THE PREMISES

Temporary structures (such as marquees) that are included as areas for ceremonies to take place should ensure they have been granted a licence for the structure under Section 30 London Building Acts (Amendment) Act 1939, and submit this with their application.

 

  1. ADEQUATE PRECAUTIONS AGAINST FIRE

Building Regulations Approved Documents B2 and B3

Any curtains, drapes or other textile hangings and any decorations shall be non-flammable.  If there are curtains and drapes, they should have been protected with a fire retardant treatment.

 

  1. MEANS OF ESCAPE IN CASE OF FIRE

The number of persons accommodated at any one time in the approved room or linked outdoor area shall not exceed the number specified on the licence document. The premises must be provided with adequate means of escape for this number of persons.

All doorways and any corridors, staircases or external passageways intended for exit purposes shall be kept entirely free from obstruction.

All exit doors shall be kept immediately available for use and those not fitted with panic bolts shall be kept unfastened.

All floor coverings or surfaces shall be so maintained that they will not be likely to ruck or to be in any way a source of danger. This includes surfaces in a linked outdoor area.

When considering the seating layout for ceremonies, venues should consider the guidance for safe seating in Appendix D of BS 9999:2017.

All gangways shall be kept free from obstruction.

 

  1. EXIT SIGNS

Exits shall be clearly marked so that the occupants of the premises can readily see where the exits are and where to go in an emergency.

 

  1. ESCAPE LIGHTING

Adequate escape lighting should be provided within the venue/ linked outdoor area. An escape lighting battery certificate dated within the last 12 months should be submitted with your application.

 

  1. ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION

A satisfactory electrical safety certificate dated within the last 3 years should be submitted with your application.

 

  1. FIRE FIGHTING APPLIANCES

Adequate manual firefighting equipment should be provided within the venue/ linked outdoor area. A fire extinguisher installation certificate dated within the last 12 months should be submitted with your application.

If a suppression system is in place, an inspection certificate dated within the last 12 months should be submitted with your application.

 

  1. ACCESS FOR DISABLED PEOPLE

The City expects that all venues applying to be a licenced venue will have:

(i) at least one parking space reserved for disabled badge holders (where on-site parking is provided);

(ii) an accessible entrance into the property from the public footway and parking area;

(iii) at least one accessible ceremony room/ linked outdoor area and one accessible interview room;

(iv) an accessible route through the building to the ceremony room(s)/linked outdoor area(s), the interview rooms and accessible bathrooms;

(v)  adequate accessible toilet facilities;

(vi) a hearing induction loop or other hearing enhancement system in the marriage/civil partnership room(s) or linked outdoor area(s);

(vii) suitable emergency evacuation arrangements for disabled people.

 

Other issues which will be considered include colour and visual contrast and lighting, plus staff training in disability awareness.

To help the City of London Corporation assess the accessibility of your venue, you are asked to supply with your licence application:

  • an access strategy document, outlining how your venue meets the above points and describing the journey a disabled person attending a ceremony would use to access the licensed parts of the premises and the sanitary facilities. Please click here to see a template of the document required;
  • a plan of each ceremony room/ linked outdoor area showing the layout of seating if the maximum numbers of guests were present.