Temporary Event Notice (TEN)
A short-form licensing notice under the Licensing Act 2003 authorising a one-off licensable activity at a premises that is not normally licensed.
A Temporary Event Notice (TEN) is a short-form authorisation under the Licensing Act 2003 that allows licensable activities (alcohol sales, regulated entertainment, late-night refreshment) at a premises that is not normally licensed, or at a premises that wants to do something its existing premises licence does not authorise. TENs are designed for one-off events: a marquee at a wedding, a pop-up bar at a festival, an extended hours event at a venue with shorter standard hours. They are notification-based, not application-based, and only the police and environmental health can object.
Key Points
- A TEN authorises one-off licensable activities at a venue without standard licensing.
- Up to 15 TENs per premises per year, totalling 21 days.
- Personal licence holders can give 50 TENs a year; non-holders, 5.
- Standard notice: at least 10 working days before. Late notice: 5 to 9 working days before, vulnerable to objection.
- Only the police and environmental health can object to a TEN.
When you need a TEN
You need a TEN whenever you carry out a licensable activity at a venue without the appropriate authorisation. Common triggers: a community hall hosting a one-off ticketed event with alcohol; a pub extending its hours for a wedding; a private event with paid bar where no premises licence exists; a regulated entertainment activity (such as live amplified music between 11pm and 8am) at a venue without the right authorisation. If your existing premises licence already covers the activity, no TEN is needed.
Volume and time limits
A premises can host up to 15 TENs per calendar year, totalling no more than 21 days. An individual personal licence holder can give up to 50 TENs a year; a non-personal-licence-holder can give 5 a year. Each TEN can run for up to 168 hours (7 days). Standard TENs are notified at least 10 working days before the event; late TENs (notified between 5 and 9 working days before) carry restrictions and can be objected to and refused outright.
How to apply
Submit the notice to the licensing authority where the event will be held, with the fee (£21 standard) and copies to the police and environmental health. Standard notices are deemed granted unless objected to within the consultation period. Late notices can be refused by either responsible authority (police or EH). Objections are considered at a counter-notice hearing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many TENs can I do per year?
A premises can host up to 15 TENs per calendar year, totalling no more than 21 days. An individual personal licence holder can give up to 50 TENs a year; a non-personal-licence-holder can give 5.
How much does a TEN cost?
The application fee is £21. There is no separate per-day fee.
Can the council refuse a TEN?
Only the police and environmental health can object. They must do so within 3 working days of receiving the notice. Objections trigger a counter-notice hearing where the licensing committee decides.
Do I need a personal licence to give a TEN?
No, but personal licence holders can give 10 times as many TENs per year as non-holders (50 versus 5). For commercial event organisers running multiple events a year, a personal licence is effectively essential.
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