Applying for Temporary Event Notices

Thinking about hosting a one-off event where you’ll sell alcohol, provide entertainment, or serve late-night refreshments? In the UK, you’ll almost certainly need a Temporary Event Notice (TEN). This guide walks you step-by-step through everything a small business owner must know to apply for, manage, and comply with TENs. You’ll get detailed rules, practical tips, real deadlines, and the pitfalls that catch out many first-timers—so your event goes smoothly and stays legal.

A Temporary Event Notice, or TEN, is a legal authorisation that allows you to carry out licensable activities on premises that aren’t already licensed, or to temporarily extend the activities of a licensed venue. Under the Licensing Act 2003, a TEN is most commonly required if you plan to sell alcohol, provide regulated entertainment (like live music or a disco), or serve hot food or drink between 11pm and 5am. This applies whether you’re running a pop-up bar, holding a community festival, or organising a corporate function.

The key point: you must have a TEN if your event includes any licensable activity and the venue does not already have a premises licence for that activity at that time. Even for private events, if you’re selling alcohol (not just giving it away) or charging for entry to see entertainment, you need a TEN. The rules apply whether you’re operating as a sole trader, partnership, or company.

TENs are designed for small-scale, infrequent events. They’re not a backdoor to running a permanent bar or club—there are strict limits on the number of attendees, frequency, and the amount any individual can apply for each year. Local authorities, police, and environmental health must be notified, and they can object if they believe the event could cause problems. Understanding when you need a TEN, and what it covers, is crucial to avoid unintentional breaches of the law.

• Selling alcohol (cash bar, ticket includes drink, etc.)
• Providing live or recorded music to the public
• Supplying hot food or drink between 11pm and 5am
• Hosting a film screening for an audience
• Running a dance, play, or performance

There are two types of Temporary Event Notices: the standard TEN and the late TEN. The difference isn’t just about timing—it affects your options if something goes wrong. A standard TEN must be submitted at least 10 clear working days before your event (not including the day you submit or the day of the event). A late TEN can be submitted between 5 and 9 clear working days before the event. However, if the police or environmental health object to a late TEN, the event must be cancelled—there’s no right of appeal or hearing.

There are strict national limits on how many TENs can be given per person and per premises in each calendar year. As of 2026, an individual (the ‘premises user’) can give up to 5 TENs per year, or 50 if they hold a personal licence to sell alcohol. Each premises can have up to 15 TENs per year, covering no more than 21 days in total. These limits are enforced by your local licensing authority, and exceeding them can result in rejection of your application or prosecution.

Each TEN can last up to 168 hours (7 consecutive days), but there must be at least 24 hours between events at the same premises by the same user. The maximum number of attendees at any time is 499, including staff and performers. If your event will be larger or more frequent, you’ll need to apply for a premises licence instead.

Applying for a TEN isn’t complicated, but it does require careful attention to detail—and timing is critical. Most applications are now online via your local council’s website, though paper forms are still accepted in some areas. You must give notice to the relevant licensing authority, the police, and environmental health. The process is fairly standard across England and Wales, but Scotland and Northern Ireland have slightly different rules (not covered in this guide—check with your local council if outside England/Wales).

You’ll need to provide details about the event, the licensable activities, timings, number of people, and the premises. The person applying (the ‘premises user’) must be at least 18. Payment is required with the application—currently £21 per TEN as set by the government. It’s wise to download guidance from GOV.UK and your local council before starting, as local authorities may have additional requirements or online systems.

After you submit your application, there’s a short period when the police or environmental health can object (usually on crime prevention or public nuisance grounds). If they do, you may be called to a hearing for a standard TEN, but for a late TEN, the event is automatically blocked. Most applications go through with no objections, but don’t assume it’s automatic—mistakes and missing information are common reasons for refusal.

• Apply at least 10 working days in advance for a standard TEN
• Have your payment card and event details ready for online applications
• Double-check the premises address and postcode—this is a common error
• If you need more than 499 people, a TEN is not sufficient—apply for a premises licence

The majority of rejected TENs are due to simple errors or missing information. Councils have little flexibility to accept late or incorrect applications, so getting it right first time is vital. The most common mistakes include missing the deadline, providing an incomplete premises address, failing to specify all licensable activities, and not sending copies to the police or environmental health (if applying by post).

Be thorough in your event timings: include set-up and clear-down times if you’ll be carrying out licensable activities (like playing music or serving alcohol) during those periods. If your event runs over midnight, make sure you state the correct dates and times—many events are accidentally cut short by errors here. Be realistic about the number of attendees; exceeding 499 at any time (including staff) invalidates the TEN and can result in prosecution.

If you plan to serve both alcohol and food between 11pm and 5am, you must tick both boxes on the form. Forgetting one means you are not covered for that activity. For events at licensed premises, clearly state whether you are using the existing licence or extending hours/activities with the TEN. Always check your local authority’s guidance—some councils require additional information or supporting documents.

• Clearly state the start and finish times (including overnight events)
• List all licensable activities (alcohol, entertainment, late-night food)
• Include all rooms/areas where activities will occur (not just main hall)
• Double-check the premises address and applicant’s contact details

Once you’ve submitted your TEN (and payment), the council will acknowledge receipt and notify the police and environmental health. These authorities have three working days to object, but most TENs proceed without issue. Objections are usually only raised on grounds of crime prevention, public safety, public nuisance, or protection of children from harm.

If there is an objection to a standard TEN, the council must hold a hearing (usually within 7 working days) where you’ll have a chance to respond. The licensing sub-committee will decide whether to allow the event, allow it with conditions, or issue a counter-notice (cancelling the event). For late TENs, any objection results in an automatic counter-notice—there’s no hearing or appeal, so late applications always carry more risk.

If your TEN is approved, you must display the notice at the premises during the event, and ensure all licensable activities strictly comply with the details you submitted. Police or council officers can inspect your event at any time, and breaches can result in fines, prosecution, or being barred from future TENs. Good event management is essential: manage noise, prevent underage sales, and stick to your maximum numbers.

• Police objections commonly relate to alcohol sales or public order risks
• Environmental health may object due to noise or nuisance concerns
• Conditions may be imposed (e.g., no glass outdoors, music cut-off times)
• You must comply with any licence conditions attached to the premises

The fee for each TEN is set by the government at £21 (as of 2026), payable to the local authority. This is non-refundable, even if your application is refused or the event is cancelled. Each TEN is for a specific event, time, and place—you cannot transfer or amend it once submitted. If you need to change details, you must submit a new TEN and pay the fee again.

There is no formal renewal process for TENs—they are strictly for temporary, one-off, or occasional use. If you plan to run a series of events at the same venue, you must submit a separate TEN for each one and ensure you don’t exceed the annual limits. For events spanning multiple days (up to 7), you can use a single TEN, but the total must be within the 21-day annual maximum for that premises.

If you need to host more frequent, regular, or large-scale events (over 499 people), a full premises licence is required. This is a much more involved process, with public consultation, higher fees, and ongoing compliance obligations. For many small businesses, TENs are a flexible, low-cost option for pop-ups, festivals, community events, or seasonal trading, but they are not a substitute for regular operations.

Once your TEN is granted, your legal responsibilities don’t end. You must keep a copy of the notice at the event premises and make it available for inspection by police or authorised officers. Failing to produce your TEN on request is an offence and can result in immediate closure of your event or fines.

You are responsible for ensuring that all licensable activities are conducted as described in your application. This includes sticking to the approved hours, not exceeding the 499-person limit, and following any conditions imposed by the council. If you’re selling alcohol, you must prevent sales to under-18s and intoxicated persons—failure to do so is a criminal offence. If you’re providing entertainment, manage noise levels, especially in residential areas, to avoid public nuisance complaints.

Enforcement can be swift and severe. Police or licensing officers can enter your event without notice. If you are found in breach—such as by exceeding numbers, running after hours, or serving alcohol without proper authority—you risk fines up to £20,000, imprisonment, or being barred from holding future TENs. Good record-keeping (attendance lists, staff briefings, incident logs) helps demonstrate compliance if challenged.

• Keep your TEN and any conditions on-site at all times
• Monitor attendee numbers continuously
• Brief staff or volunteers on legal requirements and refusals
• Log any incidents, refusals, or police visits for your records

Getting a TEN covers the licensing side—but you also have responsibilities under health and safety, food safety, and public liability law. The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and associated regulations apply to all events, even temporary or small ones. You must carry out a risk assessment, identify hazards (such as crowd control, fire exits, trip hazards), and put in place proportionate controls. If you’re serving food, register with your local environmental health team and comply with food hygiene regulations.

Insurance is not a legal requirement for a TEN, but strongly advised. Public liability insurance protects you if an attendee is injured or property is damaged during your event. Many venues require proof of insurance as a condition of hire. If you employ staff (even temporarily), you must have employers’ liability insurance as required by law.

If your event involves children, vulnerable adults, or large crowds, extra precautions are needed. You may need to carry out Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks for staff or volunteers, and ensure adequate safeguarding measures. Noise, litter, and antisocial behaviour are common triggers for objections or enforcement—plan ahead to minimise risk and keep neighbours informed.

• Complete a written risk assessment for all hazards
• Register with environmental health if providing food
• Take out public liability insurance for the event
• Brief staff on emergency procedures and crowd safety
• Put up clear signage for exits and emergency contacts