A Temporary Event Notice (TEN) is one of the most commonly used licensing tools for event organisers in England and Wales. It allows you to carry out licensable activities at a premises for a short period without needing a full premises licence. However, the rules are precise, and getting them wrong can leave you unable to sell alcohol or provide entertainment at your event.
Disclaimer: This guide applies to England and Wales under the Licensing Act 2003. Scotland uses a different system called Occasional Licences under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005. Northern Ireland has its own regime. Always verify the current rules with your local authority and seek professional legal advice for your specific event.
What can you do with a TEN?
A TEN authorises the same licensable activities as a premises licence: the sale of alcohol, the provision of regulated entertainment, and the provision of late-night refreshment. It is a notification rather than an application, which means the local authority does not need to "approve" it. You give notice, and unless the police or environmental health object, you can proceed.
Key limits and restrictions
TENs are subject to strict numerical limits set out in the Licensing Act 2003:
- Maximum attendance: 499 people at any one time, including staff, performers, security, and any other person present on the premises. This is not just ticket holders.
- Maximum duration: 168 hours (seven days) for a single TEN.
- TENs per premises: A maximum of 15 TENs per calendar year for a single premises, and the total number of days covered by TENs at a single premises must not exceed 21 days per year.
- TENs per person: A personal licence holder can give up to 50 TENs per calendar year. A non-personal licence holder can give up to 5 TENs per calendar year.
- No overlapping TENs: TENs for the same premises must not overlap or follow on from each other with less than 24 hours between them (unless they are given by the same person and the total number of days covered does not exceed the annual maximum).
How to give a TEN
You must serve the TEN on both the local authority licensing team and the chief officer of police for the area. Many local authorities now accept electronic submissions. The statutory fee is £21 per notice. You must provide details of the premises, the licensable activities, the dates and times, the maximum number of people expected, and your contact details.
Standard TENs
A standard TEN must be served at least 10 clear working days before the event begins. "Clear working days" means you exclude the day of service and the day of the event, and you exclude weekends and bank holidays. In practice, this means giving considerably more than 10 calendar days' notice. For example, if your event is on a Saturday, you need to count back 10 working days from the Friday before your event, skipping any weekends and bank holidays.
Late TENs
A late TEN can be given with at least 5 clear working days' notice. However, late TENs carry a significant risk: if the police or environmental health object, the TEN is automatically refused with no right to a hearing. With a standard TEN, you at least get the opportunity to argue your case before the licensing sub-committee. Use late TENs only as a last resort.
What happens if the police or environmental health object?
The police and environmental health are the only parties who can object to a TEN (unlike premises licence applications, where any person can make representations). They have three working days from the date they receive the notice to issue an objection notice.
For a standard TEN, an objection triggers a hearing before the licensing sub-committee. The committee can allow the TEN to proceed, add conditions (if the premises already has a premises licence), or issue a counter notice that prevents the event from going ahead. For a late TEN, any objection means an automatic counter notice with no hearing.
Practical tips for event organisers
First, keep meticulous records of how many TENs have been given for your premises and how many you have personally given in the calendar year. Exceeding the limits is a common and easily avoidable mistake. If you are running regular events, you may find that a premises licence is more practical and cost-effective than relying on multiple TENs.
Second, engage with the police licensing team before submitting your TEN. An informal conversation about your event plans, your security arrangements, and your approach to managing alcohol can head off objections before they arise. This is especially important if the premises has a history of problems or is in an area with high crime or antisocial behaviour.
Third, plan your capacity management carefully. The 499 limit is absolute and includes everyone on the premises. If you are running a popular event and expect to be close to that number, consider whether a premises licence might be more appropriate. Accidentally exceeding 499 is a criminal offence, not an administrative oversight.
Fourth, keep a copy of the TEN on the premises during the event. This is a legal requirement, and licensing enforcement officers can ask to see it. If you are also selling tickets for the event, make sure your online ticket sales reflect any capacity restrictions imposed by the TEN.
TENs and existing premises licences
You can give a TEN for premises that already hold a premises licence. This is commonly done to extend licensed hours for a special occasion or to authorise additional licensable activities not covered by the existing licence. When you do this, the TEN operates alongside the premises licence, not as a replacement for it.
If the premises has a premises licence with conditions, and the police object to a TEN, the licensing sub-committee can impose those existing conditions on the TEN. This cannot happen with premises that do not have a premises licence.
Record keeping and enforcement
Local authorities maintain a register of all TENs given for premises in their area. This register is publicly accessible. Licensing enforcement officers, police, and environmental health officers can visit your event to check compliance. If you are found to be operating outside the terms of your TEN, for example by exceeding the attendance limit or selling alcohol outside the notified hours, you could face prosecution.
For a full breakdown of the statutory requirements, refer to Part 5 of the Licensing Act 2003 and the associated Home Office guidance under section 182. Your local authority licensing team can also provide advice tailored to your event and location. Building a good working relationship with these teams is one of the most valuable steps you can take as a regular event organiser.
