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Temporary Event Notice (TEN)

Give a Temporary Event Notice to your local authority to carry out licensable activities at a temporary event. Covers eligibility limits, the notice process, police and environmental health objections, and late TENs.

Guide summary

Give a Temporary Event Notice (TEN) to your local authority at least 10 working days before your event. Pay £21 and check you stay within the limits – 499 people, 7 days, and 5 TENs per year (or 50 if you hold a personal licence). The police or environmental health can object within 3 working days.

  • Submit TEN to local authority at least 10 working days before event
  • Pay £21 fee per event
  • Maximum 499 people at any one time
  • Maximum event length 7 days (168 hours)
  • Personal limit: 5 TENs per year without a personal licence, 50 with
  • Premises limit: 15 TENs per year, 21 days total
  • Late TEN (5-9 days notice): 2 per year without licence, 10 with
  • Send copies to police and environmental health on same day
  • Police or environmental health have 3 working days to object
  • Standard TEN allows a hearing if objected; late TEN is automatically refused
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A Temporary Event Notice (TEN) lets you carry out licensable activities - selling alcohol, providing regulated entertainment, or serving hot food and drink between 11pm and 5am - at a temporary event without needing a premises licence.

TENs are designed for small, short-duration events. Unlike a premises licence application, a TEN is a notification rather than an application - you are telling the licensing authority what you plan to do, and it will go ahead unless the police or environmental health formally object.

When you can use a TEN

You can use a TEN for events such as:

  • A charity fundraiser with a bar
  • A wedding reception at an unlicensed venue
  • A food festival selling alcohol
  • A pop-up event with live music or late-night food
  • A village fete with a beer tent

However, if your event will have 500 or more people at any time, or will last longer than 7 days, you cannot use a TEN. You will need a premises licence instead.

Fee per TEN
£21
Maximum attendance
499 people at any one time
Maximum duration
168 hours (7 days)
Standard TEN notice period
At least 10 working days before the event
Late TEN notice period
5 to 9 working days before (limited numbers)
Personal licence holder limit
50 TENs per calendar year
Non-licence holder limit
5 TENs per calendar year
Premises limit
15 TENs per calendar year
Premises days limit
21 days total per calendar year
Minimum gap between events
24 hours between TENs by the same premises user
Late TENs per personal licence holder
10 per calendar year
Late TENs per non-licence holder
2 per calendar year
  1. 1

    1. Check your eligibility and limits

    Before giving a TEN, check that you have not exceeded your personal limits (50 per year if you hold a personal licence, 5 if you do not) and that the premises has not exceeded its limits (15 TENs and 21 days per calendar year). These limits apply across all licensing authorities in England and Wales, not just one council area.

  2. 2

    2. Complete the TEN form

    Fill out the prescribed TEN form. You will need to provide details of the event (dates, times, activities), the premises (address and description), the maximum number of people at any one time (up to 499), and your personal details. If you hold a personal licence, include your licence number.

  3. 3

    3. Submit the TEN to the licensing authority

    Send the completed TEN to the licensing authority for the area where the event will take place, along with the £21 fee. You must submit at least 10 working days before the event (for a standard TEN) or 5 to 9 working days before (for a late TEN). Many councils accept online submissions.

  4. 4

    4. Send copies to the police and environmental health

    On the same day you submit to the licensing authority, send copies of the TEN to the chief officer of police and the local environmental health authority for the area. Some councils forward copies automatically, but you should check.

  5. 5

    5. Wait for the objection period

    The police and environmental health have 3 working days to object (this applies to both standard and late TENs). They can only object on the grounds that the event would undermine one or more of the four licensing objectives. If no objection is received, the event can go ahead as notified.

  6. 6

    6. Attend a hearing if an objection is made (standard TEN only)

    If an objection is made to a standard TEN, the licensing authority will arrange a hearing before the event. The sub-committee can allow the TEN, impose conditions (only if the premises already has a premises licence), or issue a counter notice preventing the event. For late TENs, any objection results in automatic refusal with no hearing.

Standard TENs vs late TENs

There are two types of TEN:

  • Standard TEN: Submitted at least 10 working days before the event. If objected to, a hearing is held and the event may still go ahead with conditions.
  • Late TEN: Submitted 5 to 9 working days before the event. If objected to, the TEN is automatically refused with no hearing. Personal licence holders can give up to 10 late TENs per year; non-licence holders can give up to 2.

In practice, you should always aim to give a standard TEN with as much notice as possible. This gives you the safety net of a hearing if there is an objection.

What counts towards the limits

TENs given by an associate (business partner or spouse/civil partner) count towards your personal limit. A TEN that is withdrawn before the event still counts towards your limits. Counter notices issued by the licensing authority also count.

Penalty risk
Penalty:
Carrying on licensable activities at a temporary event without giving a valid TEN is treated the same as operating without a licence. You can also be prosecuted for making a false statement in a TEN.

Official guidance and resources