Fees and how to apply
Temporary Event Notice (TEN)
What is licensable activity
- 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.
The process of applying is formally known as ‘serving’ a Temporary Event Notice.
You’ll also need a TEN if a particular licensable activity is not included in the terms of your existing licence, for example holding a wedding reception at a community centre.
Restrictions
Your event must:
- have fewer than 500 people at all times – including staff running the event
- last no more than 168 hours (7 days)
You must be at least 18 to apply for a TEN.
Number of notices you can apply for
You need a TEN for each event you hold on the same premises.
You can get up to 5 TENs a year. If you already have a personal licence to sell alcohol, you can be given up to 50 TENs a year.
A single premises can have up to 15 TENs applied for in one year, as long as the total length of the events is not more than 21 days.
If you’re organising separate but consecutive events, there must be at least a 24 hour gap between them.
The application must be made at least 10 clear working days in advance of the event.
‘Late TENs’
The latest you can apply for a ‘late TEN’ is 5 clear working days before the event (but not earlier than 9 clear working days). This does not include the day of submission or the day of the event.
If you do not hold a personal licence, you can serve up to 2 late TENs per year. If you hold a personal licence, the limit is 10. Late TENs count towards the total number of permitted TENs.
Temporary Event Notice fees
- Temporary Event Notice: £21 - Statutory
- Application for copy of lost or stolen Temporary Event Notice: £10.50 (each copy) - Statutory
To apply
- Search the postcode of the premises you want to use on the Gov.uk site to check we are the correct local authority for your application.
- Make the £21 payment using our online payments system.
- Check the Temporary Event Notice guidance notes to help you with your application.
- Fill the Temporary Event Notice application form - payment instructions will be given once you submit the form.
Objections
The council cannot refuse a notice unless the police or environmental health object to it. They must do this within 3 working days of receiving it. They can only object if they think your event could:
- lead to crime and disorder
- cause a public nuisance
- be a threat to public safety
- put children at risk of harm
If there’s an objection, your council’s licensing committee will hold a meeting (called a ‘hearing’) no later than 24 hours before the event (unless all parties agree that a hearing is not needed).
At the hearing, the committee will either approve, add conditions or reject the notice.
If the police or environmental health object to a late TEN, the notice will not be valid and you cannot hold the event.
Appeals
If you disagree with the licensing committee’s decision, you can appeal to your local magistrates’ court. You must do this within 21 days, and at least 5 working days before the date of your event.
Displaying your notice
You must keep your TEN in a safe place where the event is held.
You must also display a copy of the notice where it can be easily seen.
Fines and penalties
You could be fined if you make any false statements in your application, or face prosecution if you breach the terms of the notice.
If you do not have a TEN and carry out an activity that you should have a licence for (or allow your premises to be used for one), you can be fined, sent to prison for up to 6 months, or both.