Requirements for approval as a venue for civil marriages and civil partnerships
Premises that wish to be used as a venue for civil marriages and civil partnerships must be approved by the local authority in whose area they are situated.
An application for an approval must be made by the proprietor or trustee of the premises. When the application is made on behalf of a limited company or partnership, a separate statement of the names and addresses of all the directors / partners must be provided.
The premises must be a permanently immovable structure comprising at least a room, or any boat or other vessel which is permanently moored.
Before an approval can be granted the premises must fulfil the requirements set out in the relevant legislation. Full details of these are provided in the guidance notes that accompany the application form.
Following recent legislation changes it is now possible for religious buildings to be approved as venues for civil partnership ceremonies. The application process is slightly different for religious buildings.
Applying for approval for a venue which is in Manchester
If you wish to apply for approval as a venue for civil marriages and civil partnerships, and believe that you are able to meet the requirements set out in the guidance notes, then you need to submit an application to the Manchester Register Office.
Where can the public view notices of current applications
As part of the approval process, all applications have to be advertised. The public notice can be placed in a local weekly publication or, following recent changes in legislation, through this website. For details of current applications advertised through this website please see the link below.