Giving Temporary Event Notice

If you want to carry out a licensable activity on unlicensed premises you will need to give a Temporary Event Notice (TEN).

Licensable activity includes:

• Selling alcohol
• Serving alcohol to members of a private club
• Providing entertainment, such as music, dancing or indoor sporting events
• Serving hot food or drink between 11pm and 5am

About Temporary Event Notices 

A TEN can be used to authorise events on a one-off or occasional basis involving no more than 499 persons.

They can be used to carry out activities at unlicensed premises such as community, school and charity fundraising events for example to have a pay bar or the performance of a play.

They may also be used to increase the scope of the licence at existing licensed premises such as allowing additional activities or to extend the hours of existing activities.

No permission is required for these types of events. However, we must be notified of the event in the form of a TEN.

Eligibility criteria

TENs are subject to the following personal restrictions:

• You must be aged 18 years or older to give a TEN
• You can give a maximum of 5 TENs per calendar year of which 2 can be late TENs
• If you hold a personal licence under the Licensing Act 2003, you can give a maximum of 50 TENs per calendar year of which 10 can be late TENs
• Restrictions apply where the applicant is an 'associated person' of someone who has already held a TEN, including spouses, close relations, agents and employees, and their spouses. The word 'spouse' also includes someone living with the notice giver 

TENs are also subject to other maximum limits:

• The scale of the event in terms of the maximum number of people attending at any one time (including staff and performers); must be fewer than 500
• The length of time an event can last; no more than 168 hours (7 days)
• The number of times a temporary event notice may be given for any particular premises; cannot exceed 15 times per calendar year
• The maximum total duration of the periods covered by TENs at any particular premises; cannot exceed 21 days in any calendar year. Note: a day means a period of 24 hours beginning at midnight (and cannot be taken as any 24 hour period). A calendar year begins on 1 January and ends on 31 December
• There must be a minimum of 24 hours between an event you organise and the start or finish of another TEN you organise at the same premises 

The Police and our Environmental Team may object to a TEN on the grounds of the four licensing objectives 

If an event is expected to attract more than 499 persons, or last longer than 168 hours, or if it is intended to use the same premises to provide licensable activities on more than 15 occasions or 21 days per year, a premises licence will be required.

Fee

The notification must be accompanied by the prescribed fee.

How to give a Temporary Event Notice

TENs must be given, in the prescribed format, to us and the police.  

The notice must be received:

• At least 10 full working days before the first day of the proposed event for the notice to be treated as a standard TEN. We and the police must receive the notice at least 10 working days before the start of the event. You should note that the 10 working days do not include the day of receipt or the day of the event. A working day is classed as any day other than a Saturday, Sunday, or a day which is a bank holiday in England. 
• At least 5 full working days before the first day of the proposed event for the notice to be treated as a late TEN. This does not include the day of receipt or the day of the event. A working day is classed as any day other than a Saturday, Sunday, or a day which is a bank holiday in England. If an application is received less than 5 working days before the event it will be rejected. 

The event organiser (also known as the premises user) can make their application in one of two ways:

• Complete the form online
• Save a copy of the completed form for your own records 
• Make the payment using a debit or credit card 
• You do not need to send additional copies to us or the police when you make an online application, as we will fulfil these requirements. 

OR

• Download and complete the application form
• Keep a copy of the completed form for your own records
• A copy of your application must be sent to:

• Choose your method of payment

You should note that the application process will not start until the fee is received.

You are advised wherever possible to give at least 28 days notice.

What happens next

We will validate the TEN to ensure that the notification is completed correctly and within the prescribed limits. We will acknowledge the receipt of your TEN. However the police or our Environmental Team can object to your TEN if they consider the event would undermine any of the four licensing objectives. To object they must give an objection notice within 3 working days to the licensing authority and you the applicant.

In the case of a 'standard TEN', if the police or our Environmental Team objects, we must hold a hearing to consider the objection notice, unless we, the premises user and the police all agree that a hearing is not necessary. We may issue a counter notice prohibiting the event if it considers it necessary for the promotion of the four licensing objectives. A decision must be made at least 24 hours before the beginning of the event.

In the case of a 'late TEN' if an objection is received a counter notice prohibiting the event will be served and the event will not go ahead.

The police and our Environmental Team may modify the TEN with the consent of the premises user. In such a case an objection notice will be deemed to have been withdrawn. We may also issue a notice prohibiting the event if the prescribed limits have been exceeded.

Will tacit consent apply?

Yes. This means that you will be able to act as though your application is granted if the above timescales have not been met.

What to do if the application is refused

If, as a result of an objection from the police or our Environmental Team, we issue a counter notice prohibiting an event, the premises user has the right to appeal within 21 days. Appeals must be made to:

• Email: gl-swesternmcenq@hmcts.gsi.gov.uk 
• Telephone: 020 7805 1447

However, an appeal may not be brought later than five working days before the day of the planned event.

There is no right of appeal where a counter notice has been issued because limits have been exceeded. If you are unhappy about the decision you can contact the Safety and Licensing Team. 

Right of appeal by police and our Environmental team

If we decide not to issue a counter notice in relation to an objection notice, the police and our Environmental Team can appeal the decision to the local Magistrates' Court (details above) within 21 days. An appeal may not be brought later than five working days before the day of the planned event.

Additional considerations

All events held under Temporary Event Notices must also comply with a number of other legal and regulatory requirements.