Temporary Event Notices Applications (TEN)

Giving a Temporary Event Notice (TEN) to your local Licensing Authority under the Licensing Act 2003 allows individuals or organizations to hold one-off or occasional events that involve Licensable Activities, such as selling alcohol, providing regulated entertainment, or serving hot food or drinks between 11 pm and 5 am, without the need for a full premises license.

Key aspects of a TEN include:

1. Eligibility: Anyone over the age of 18 can submit a TEN.
2. Licensable Activities: A TEN covers events involving:

• • The sale of alcohol.
  • The provision of regulated entertainment (e.g., live music, dance, films).
  • The provision of late-night refreshments (hot food/drinks between 11 pm and 5 am).

3. Limitations

• • An individual can submit up to 5 TENs per year (or 50 if they hold a personal license to sell alcohol).

  • A venue can host up to 15 TENs per year, but the combined duration must not exceed 21 days in a calendar year.
  • Events cannot last for more than 168 hours (7 days) at a time.

  • No more than 499 people, including staff, can be present at the event at any one time.

  • There must be a 24 hour gap between any two TENs.

4. Notification Period

• •  A “Standard TEN” must be submitted 10 working days before the event.
  •  A “Late TEN” can be submitted between 5 and 9 working days before the event, but there’s a higher risk of rejection.

5. Police/Environmental Health Objections
   The police or the local authority’s environmental health department can object to a TEN if they believe the event could compromise licensing objectives, such as public safety or prevention of crime. If this happens, a hearing may be arranged.

In summary, a TEN allows small-scale events to legally include activities that would otherwise require a premises license, offering flexibility for temporary or occasional functions.

Under a Temporary Event Notice (TEN), you can have up to 499 people in attendance at your event. This number includes all attendees, such as guests, staff, and performers. If the number of people exceeds 499, you would need to apply for a premises license rather than using a TEN.

Only two authorities can object to a TEN:

1. • The police
   • The local environmental health authority

They can object if they believe the event could undermine one or more of the four licensing objectives:

1. • Prevention of crime and disorder
   • Public safety
   • Prevention of public nuisance
   • Protection of children from harm

If the police or environmental health object to your TEN, the process depends on the type of TEN you submitted:

1. • Standard TEN (submitted at least 10 working days before the event):
     • If there is an objection, a hearing will be held by the local licensing authority. After the hearing, the authority can either allow the event to go ahead, apply conditions, or issue a counter-notice to stop the event.
   • Late TEN (submitted between 5 and 9 working days before the event):
     • If there is an objection to a Late TEN, there is no opportunity for a hearing, and the event will be automatically cancelled with a counter-notice.

No, you do not need a premises license to submit a TEN. A TEN is designed for one-off or occasional events and allows you to carry out licensable activities (like selling alcohol or providing entertainment) without needing a full premises license. However, a premises license may be required if you regularly host events or exceed the limitations set by a TEN (e.g., more than 499 attendees or events exceeding 168 hours).

Yes, you can use a TEN for outdoor events as long as the location of the event is specified in the application. The same rules regarding licensable activities, attendee limits, and objections apply to outdoor events under a TEN. You’ll also need to ensure that other local regulations, such as noise control or land permissions, are adhered to if holding the event outdoors.

Let our team of licensing professionals take the stress out of the application process. With years of experience in securing TENs for events of all types, we ensure your application is completed correctly and submitted on time. From small private gatherings to larger community festivals, we handle it all.

We’ll liaise directly with the local authorities to resolve any issues, ensuring your event proceeds smoothly. If any objections arise, we guide you through the necessary steps to address concerns and secure approval.

If you submit a “Late TEN” (between 5-9 working days before the event), it carries a higher risk of being rejected if any objections arise, and there’s no hearing process.

We recommend applying at least 4-6 weeks before your event to ensure enough time for review and adjustments.

No, a TEN cannot be modified after submission. If changes are needed, a new application must be made.

Private events that do not include licensable activities like selling alcohol or charging for entertainment do not require a TEN.