Licensing

Buying and selling game is more complicated than killing or taking game in that two licences are needed:

• a licence granted under Section 18 of the Game Act 1831
• an excise licence granted under Section 14 of the Game Licences Act 1860.

In practice both licences are issued together as a combined licence.

With certain exceptions, any person who is a householder or who keeps a shop or stall within Medway and who deals in game needs a licence under Section 18 of the Game Act 1831.

A licence cannot be granted to:

• inn-keepers (but they may sell game for consumption on their premises)
• victuallers (which means grocers)
• persons licensed to sell beer by retail
• owners, guards or drivers of any mailcoach or other vehicle employed in the conveyance of mails or any stagecoach or waggon, van or other public conveyance, carriers, higglers (which are types of pedlar or hawker) and those in the employment of such persons.

Any person who holds a licence under Section 18 of the Game Act 1831 also needs an excise licence under Section 14 of the Game Licences Act 1860.

Where an applicant has more than one premises for dealing in game, although a licence under the 1831 Act is needed for each of the premises, only one licence is needed under the 1860 Act, no matter how many premises are involved.

The council’s Licensing Unit can supply an application form which covers licences under both Acts. The licences last for a year and are concurrent.

The licence fee under the Game Licences Act 1860 is set by central government and is currently £4. The fee for a licence under the 1831 Act is set by the council.

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