Temporary Event Notices and premises licences for events

When you need a TEN

A Temporary Event Notice lets you carry out licensable activities on premises that aren't licensed for them, or add activities your existing licence doesn't cover. GOV.UK lists licensable activities as selling alcohol, serving alcohol to members of a private club, providing entertainment such as music, dancing or indoor sporting events, and serving hot food or drink between 11pm and 5am.

The event must have fewer than 500 people at any one time, staff included, and last no more than 168 hours. Only an individual aged 18 or over can give a TEN, not an organisation.

Deadlines, fees and limits

Give the TEN to the council at least 10 clear working days before the event; the day it's received and the event day don't count, and nor do weekends, Christmas Day, Good Friday or bank holidays. The fee is £21. A late TEN is possible between 9 and 5 clear working days before, but it fails if the police or environmental health object.

You can give up to 5 TENs a year (50 with a personal licence), and a single premises can have up to 15 a year covering no more than 21 days. For more than 499 people, or regular events, you need a premises licence.

A worked example

A promoter plans a 350-capacity warehouse party with a bar, selling 350 tickets at £20.00 each, which is £7,000.00 of ticket revenue. Capacity is under 500 and the event lasts one night, so a TEN can work: the promoter pays £21 and gives notice well ahead. For 600 people, a TEN isn't available and the venue would need a premises licence. Scotland uses occasional licences under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005.

Timing matters as much as capacity. The police or environmental health can object within 3 working days on grounds such as crime and disorder, public nuisance or public safety, and a late TEN that draws an objection can't go ahead. Holding a licensable event without the right authorisation can mean a fine, up to 6 months in prison, or both.

Checklist

1. List every licensable activity: alcohol, music, dancing, late-night hot food or drink.

2. Check what the venue's premises licence already covers, including its hours.

3. Count capacity including staff, DJs, bar team and security, and cap ticket sales below it.

4. Give the TEN at least 10 clear working days ahead, and much earlier around bank holidays.

5. Leave at least 24 hours between consecutive events on the same premises.

6. Keep the TEN safe at the venue and display a copy where it can easily be seen.