Guidance on applying
Temporary event notices (TENs) may be submitted forthe following licensable activities on a temporary basis, whether they are inside or outside:
- regulated entertainment: plays, films, recorded music, indoor sporting events, live music, boxing or wrestling entertainment, and performance of dance
- late night refreshment: provision of hot food and/or hot drinks between 11pm and 5am
- sale by retail of alcohol
- supply of alcohol by or on behalf of a club to a member, or to the order of a member
It is an offence to carry out licensable activities on or from any premises without the appropriate authorisations in place. A person guilty of an offence of this type is liable, on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to a fine not exceeding £20,000, or both.
Types of temporary event notices
Standard temporary event notice: notices which are served at least 10 clear working days before the event (not including the day that the notice is served or the day of the event).
Late temporary event notice: these have been introduced for event organisers to serve less notice than standard TENs in exceptional circumstances, by providing between five and nine clear working days' notice (not including the day that the notice is served or the day of the event). For example, if you have an event on Saturday 24 June 2023, the latest a late TEN can be submitted is Friday 16 June 2023 to give five clear working days to process the application. If there is a bank holiday within those five working days, then the application needs to be submitted earlier.
Guidance and Restrictions
- premises users must be over the age of 18
- the maximum number of TENs that you can apply for per calendar year is five standard TENs (of which two may be late TENs)
- for Personal Licence holders, the maximum number of standard TENs is 50 (of which 10 may be late TENs)
- TENs must not involve more than 499 people at any one time and last no more than 168 hours
- there must also be at least 24 hours between notice periods
There are also restrictions on the number of TENs per premises:
- the maximum number of events per ‘place’ within a calendar year is 15, or 20 for TENs occurring wholly or partly in 2023 or 2024
- you are permitted 21 days, or part days, of temporary events per place, or 26 days for TENs occurring wholly or partly in 2023 or 2024
Objections
You are advised that by serving a TEN or a late TEN you run the risk that your event may not be able to take place.
The system of permitted temporary activities gives police and Environmental Health the opportunity to consider whether they should object to a TEN on the basis of any of the licensing objectives:
- the prevention of crime and disorder
- public safety
- the prevention of public nuisance
- the protection of children from harm
For a standard TEN, the licensing authority must consider the objection at a hearing.
At the hearing, the police, Environmental Health and the premises user may make representations to the licensing authority. Following the hearing, the licensing authority may decide to impose conditions which already apply to an existing premises licence or club premises certificate at the venue.
For late TENs there is no scope for hearings. If objections are raised by the police or Environmental Health in relation to a late TEN, the notice will be invalid and the event must not go ahead.
Fines and penalties
You could be prosecuted and fined if you make any false statements in your application, or face prosecution if you breach the terms of the notice.
If you don’t have a TEN and carry out an activity that you should have a licence for (or allow your premises to be used for one), you can be fined, sent to prison for up to 6 months, or both.