Temporary event notice (TEN)

When you need a Temporary Event Notice, eligibility criteria, how to apply and more.

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.

Last submission dates for 2024

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.

Current list of issued TEN

Contact the licensing team