Unlike other sports, boxing and wrestling is licensable whether held indoors or outdoors.

Any exhibition of moving pictures except where its sole or main purpose is to demonstrate a product, advertise goods or services or provide information, education or instruction, or if it consists or forms part of an exhibit put on show for any purposes of a museum or art gallery. The use of television or radio receivers is not licensable, except for the showing of pre-recorded programmes.

A sporting event is defined in the Licensing Act 2003 as any contest, exhibition or display of any sport in which physical skill is the predominant factor, and any form of physical recreation which is also engaged in for purposes of competition or display which takes place wholly inside a building, and at which the spectators are accommodated inside that building. This includes any roofed structure and could be a vehicle, vessel or moveable structure. A venue with a roof that opens and closes is regarded under the Act as being an outdoor event and sporting activities in such venues are not licensable under the Act. But note that other activities at such venues (such as the sale of alcohol or live music) are licensable.

Music includes vocal or instrumental music or any combination of the two. Live music requires a licence regardless of the number of participants. The performance of live music, if it is incidental to some other activity, which is not in itself regulated entertainment, is not licensable.

Morris dancing or any dancing of a similar nature is not licensable, nor is the performance of unamplified live music as an integral part of such dancing.

A performance of any dramatic piece, (including rehearsal), whether involving improvisation or not, which is given wholly or in part by one or more persons present and performing in which the whole or a major proportion of what is done by the person(s) performing, whether by way of speech, singing or action, involves the playing of a role.

A licence does not have to cover the playing of recorded music if it is incidental to some other activity which is not itself regulated entertainment, as this would be exempt. For example, background music in a supermarket is likely to be considered to be incidental. If an applicant has a jukebox or a disc jockey at the premises they will need to consider whether, in their particular case, this is incidental music or whether it is a licensable activity.

Entertainment of a similar description to that falling within live music, recorded music or performance of dance.