Temporary Event Notice

If you wish to hold an ad-hoc event in England or Wales, you must give a temporary event notice (TEN) to your local licensing authority no later than ten working days before the event. If the premises where the event is to be held is in areas governed by two or more local authorities applications must be made to each.

Unless you submit an electronic application you must also give a copy of the notice to the police no later than ten working days before the event.

You must be 18 years or older to give a TEN and can give a maximum of five TENs per year. If you are a personal licence holder, you can give a maximum of 50 TENs per year.

Your event must involve no more than 499 people at any one time and last no more than 96 hours with a minimum of 24 hours between events.

Section 193 of the Licensing Act defines “working day” as any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday, Christmas Day, Good Friday, or a day which is a bank holiday under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 in England and Wales. “Ten working days” notice means ten working days exclusive of the day on which the event is to start, and exclusive of the day on which the notice is given. Click here (Opens in a new window) for guidance on how to calculate working days.

An activity that can be licensed must be carried out as detailed in a notice that must be given.

The notice must be in a specific format and must be made by someone over 18 years of age.

The notice should contain:

• if alcohol is to be supplied, a statement confirming that it is a condition of using the premises that the supplies are made under the premises user's authority
• a statement relating to certain matters
• any other required information

The matters referred to above are:

• details of the licensable activities
• the event period
• the times when during that period the activities will take place
• the maximum number of people proposed to be allowed on the premises
• any other required matters

A summary of the regulation relating to this licence (opens new window)

The TEN must be given in writing (including by electronic means) to the local authority at least ten working days before the event. A fee is payable with the notice.

The local authority will acknowledge receipt of the notice by giving a notice to the premises user before the end of the first working day it was received or before the end of the second working day if the day the notice was received is not a working day.

Unless an application has been submitted electronically, the premises user must also give notice to the chief officer of the local police department no later than ten working days before the event period.

The chief police officer who receives a notice and believes that the event would undermine crime prevention objectives can serve an objection notice on the licensing authority and the premises user. This notice must be served within 48 hours of receipt of the temporary event notice.

The local licensing authority must hold a hearing if an objection notice is served. They may issue a counter notice if it considers it necessary for the promotion of crime prevention objective. A decision must be made at least 24 hours before the beginning of the event.

A police chief 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.

Counter notices may be provided by the licensing authority if the number of permitted TENs has been exceeded.

Yes. This means that you will be able to act as though your application is granted if you have not heard from the local authority by the end of the target completion period

OR

No. It is in the public interest that the authority must process your application before it can be granted. If you have not heard from the local authority within a reasonable period, please contact it. You can do this online if you applied through the UK Welcomes service (opens new window) or use the contact details below.

  Apply online

or

Print out a Temporary Event Notice application form (pdf) (opens new window)

Please contact your Local Authority in the first instance.

If a counter notice is given in relation to an objection notice the applicant may appeal against the decision. Appeals must be made to the local Magistrates' court within 21 days. An appeal may not be brought later than five working days from the day of the planned event.

Please contact your Local Authority in the first instance.

We would always advise that in the event of a complaint the first contact is made with the trader by you - preferably in the form a letter (with proof of delivery). If that has not worked, if you are located in the UK, Consumer Direct (opens new window) will give you advice. From outside the UK contact the UK European Consumer Centre (opens new window).

If a licensing authority decides not to issue a counter notice in relation to an objection notice the chief police officer can appeal the decision. Appeals must be made to the local Magistrates' court within 21 days. An appeal may not be brought later than five working days from the day of the planned event.

National Outdoor Events Association (NDEA) (opens new window)
Society of Event Organisers (SEO) (opens new window)
Event Supplier and Services Association (ESSA) (opens new window)
TSNN Online Directory (opens new window)