I contacted the IOW council and got this from their licensing department:

Busking now comes under the definition of regulated entertainment, and is therefore a licensable activity. If you intend to do this on a regular basis then you will need to apply for a premises licence. If the intention is for only for short period then you may be able to use a temporary event notice.


And when I asked for details …

Unfortunately, each location will need a separate application, and within that application you need to specify the days and times that you wish to be able to provide entertainment. Just because you are granted a licence, this will not mean that you have to provide such entertainment for the whole of the licensed times.

The cost of each licence is set by central government, and based on the non domestic rateable value, where there is no rateable value, the fee is set at band A, (the lowest) which is currently £100.00

Penalties for not having the correct licence, can be expensive, fines not exceeding £20,000 and the option of a short holiday at one of her Majesty's holiday camps.


Not what you'd call encouraging, is it? And I have to get a premises license even when there are no premises…! My birthday party's going to be a problem, then.