Temporary Event Notices (TENs) are an important feature of the licensing regime under the Licensing Act 2003. They provide a flexible and relatively straightforward process for individuals and premises to carry out licensable activities on a temporary basis without the need to obtain a full premises licence.
The TEN system was designed as a light-touch process to enable small-scale or one off events to take place while still promoting the four licensing objectives:
- The prevention of crime and disorder
- Public safety
- The prevention of public nuisance
- The protection of children from harm
TENs can be used for all a number of different events such as local community events, charity fundraisers, weddings, private parties, sporting celebrations, food festivals and temporary bars.
What is a Temporary Event Notice?
A Temporary Event Notice is a notification given to a local licensing authority by an individual who wishes to carry out licensable activities for a limited period.
Licensable activities include:
- The sale of alcohol by retail
- The supply of alcohol by or on behalf of a club
- The provision of regulated entertainment, such as live music, recorded music or dancing
- The provision of late-night refreshment between 11pm and 5am
A TEN may be used by a premises that does not have the benefit of a premises licence or where an event falls outside the scope of an existing premises licence.
A TEN can only be used where:
- No more than 499 people are present at any one time, including staff and performers.
- The event lasts for no more than 168 hours (seven consecutive days).
If either of these limits are exceeded, a premises licence or other authorisation may be required instead.
Who can apply?
Any individual aged 18 years or over may submit a Temporary Event Notice.
The applicant, known as the “premises user”, does not need to hold a personal licence. A non-personal licence holder may submit up to five TENs per year, however, personal licence holders are permitted to apply for up to fifty TENs each calendar year.
The Process
There are two types of Temporary Event Notice, a standard TEN which must be submitted at least ten clear working days before the event. This excludes the day the application is received and the day of the event itself and a late TEN, which may be submitted between five and nine clear working days before the event.
While Late TENs provide flexibility for organisers, they do carry greater risk. If either the local Police Licensing Team or Environmental Health Authority object to a Late TEN, the notice automatically fails and the event cannot proceed under that notice.
Once a TEN has been submitted, the Police and Environmental Health Authority have an opportunity to review the application. Objections can only be made where the responsible authority believes the event may undermine one or more of the licensing objectives.
Where an objection is received for a standard TEN, the Licensing Authority may hold a hearing to determine whether the event can go ahead, require conditions to be added to the notice or refuse the TEN.
Unlike a premises licence application, a TEN is not “granted” by the licensing authority. Instead, it is deemed accepted unless an objection is made.
Practical Uses of Temporary Event Notices
TENs are widely used to facilitate a variety of temporary activities.
Examples include:
- A village hall hosting a fundraising beer festival.
- A community centre holding a wedding reception with alcohol sales.
- A licensed premises wishing to extend its hours for a special or sporting event.
- A food festival offering alcohol sales from temporary bars.
- A charity event providing live entertainment and refreshments.
- A seasonal event such as a Christmas market, summer festival or New Years Eve.
The flexibility of the TEN process allows organisers to respond quickly to opportunities while ensuring appropriate safeguards remain in place.
Benefits of a TEN
The Temporary Event Notice process offers several advantages:
- Reduces the administrative burden compared with a full premises licence application.
- Significantly lower application costs (£21).
- Greater flexibility for small businesses and community groups.
- The ability to test new events before committing to a permanent licence or change in an existing licence.
The system has become an essential tool for event organisers, particularly where events are infrequent or temporary in nature.
Temporary Event Notices play a vital role within the licensing framework. They provide a practical and proportionate means of authorising licensable activities while maintaining safeguards to protect the surrounding local area, businesses residents.
By balancing flexibility with regulation, the TEN regime enables a wide range of events to take place safely, with the necessary permissions. For event organisers, understanding the scope, limitations and requirements of a Temporary Event Notice is essential to ensuring successful and compliant events.