When you need a Temporary Event Notice
If you wish to hold an occasional event that includes a ‘licensable activity’ on unlicensed premises, you will need 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
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.
Eligibility criteria
A TEN 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.
Apply
You can only apply for a TEN as an individual, not an organisation.
You must apply at least 10 working days before your event.
Working days do not include:
- the day we receive your application
- the day of the event
- bank holidays, a Saturday or Sunday
Late TEN
You can apply for a late TEN between 5 and 9 working days before your event.
Please be aware this does not include the day you submit the notice or the day of the event.
If we receive an objection notice from either the police or environmental health to a late TEN, you will not be able to hold your event.
Event name | Event date(s) | Apply for a TEN by |
---|---|---|
St Patrick's Day | 17 March | 3 March 2024 |
Easter | 29 March - 1 April | 14 March 2024 |
St George's Day | 23 April | 8 April 2024 |
May Bank Holiday | 6 May | 21 April 2024 |
Spring Bank Holiday | 27 May | 12 May 2024 |
August Bank Holiday | 26 August | 11 August 2024 |
Halloween | 31 October | 16 October 2024 |
Guy Fawkes | 5 November | 21 October 2024 |
St Andrew's Day | 30 November | 15 November 2024 |
Christmas Eve | 24 December | 9 December 2024 |
Christmas Day/Boxing Day | 25-26 December | 10 December 2024 |
New Year's Eve | 31 December | 12 December 2024 |
Application form
Please complete the TEN application form and return to us by email.
If your form is returned to us by post, you must also send a copy of your application to:
- the police licensing officer
- planning enforcement
This must be done at least 10 days before your event.
Please see the responsible authority contacts for further information.
Fee
£21.
After you’ve applied
You will be granted the TEN as long as all criteria is met and no objections are raised.
Tacit consent will apply. This means you can act as though your TEN notice is granted if you have not heard from us after 10 working days.
If your TEN application is rejected, we will contact you.
Number of TENs granted
If you hold a personal licence
Holding a personal licence means you can have no more than 50 TENs per calendar year – 10 of these can late TENs.
If you don’t hold a personal licence
Without a personal licence you can have no more than 5 TENs per calendar year – 2 of these can be late TENs.
A single premises
One single premises can have up to 20 TENs, which cannot add up to more than 26 days, in one year.
The 26-day limit includes part days. This means an event running from 6pm on one day until 6am the next is counted as a 2-day event.
There must be at least 24 hours between 2 TENs at the same premises.