Temporary Event Notice

A Temporary Event Notice (TENs licence) authorises the temporary use of a premises for licensable activities not covered by an existing premises licence.

Licensable activities include:

Selling alcohol.
Serving alcohol to members of a private club.
Providing entertainment, such as music, dancing or indoor sporting events.
Serving hot food or drink between 11pm and 5am.

A Temporary Event Notice is issued under the Licensing Act 2003. It gives organizations and individuals the flexibility to hold events without obtaining a full premises licence. TENs are typically used for one-off parties, weddings, community gatherings and small-scale concerts.

Premises that are already licensed may use a Temporary Event Notice to extend the hours of licensable activities but it is not a requirement to have a premises licence to apply for a TEN.

How do you apply for a Temporary Event Notice?

You can apply for a TENs licence by contacting the local authority in the area where your event will take place, but why add chasing the council to your task list? When you are planning an event you have enough on your plate!

At Innpacked, we can take care of the whole process on your behalf. This includes completing the Temporary Event Notice application form, serving a copy of your application to responsible authorities, and ensuring your application is submitted in accordance with legal timeframes.

With us the process is smooth and stress free. We make sure your TENs application meets specific local authority requirements and that correct procedures are followed. In special policy areas it may also be a requirement to provide conditions to demonstrate your ability to hold your event in accordance with the licensing objectives. Our licensing specialists are here to help.

How long does a Temporary Event Notice last?

Usually, a Temporary Event Notice lasts for a maximum of 168 hours, which is equivalent to 7 days. This includes the time it takes to set up and pack up the event.
Your local authority may impose specific start and end times within the 168-hour period, depending on local regulations. Our licensing experts at Innpacked can review the specific conditions granted in the TEN to ensure you understand your legal obligations.
A TENs licence cannot be extended beyond the 168-hour limit, so if you need longer-term permissions or you plan to hold regular events it is worth considering obtaining a full premises licence.

How close to an event can you apply for a Temporary Event Notice?

You must apply for a TENs notice at least 10 clear working days before your event.
If you miss the deadline you can apply for a ‘late TEN’. The latest you can apply for a ‘late TEN’ is 5 clear working days before the event (but not earlier than 9 clear working days).

Is there a restriction on the number of TENs a premises can have?

An individual without a personal licence can have up to 5 TENs in one calendar year. However, if you have a personal licence to sell alcohol you can have up to 50 TENs a year.
You can apply for up to 20 TENs a year for a single premises/ location if the total length of the events is not more than 26 days.
If you’re organizing separate but consecutive events, there must be at least a 24-hour gap between them.

Is there a limit to the number of late TENS you can serve?

If you don’t hold a personal licence you can serve up to 2 late TENs per year. If you hold a personal licence, the limit is 10.
Late TENs count towards the total number of permitted TENs.

How many people can attend an event under a Temporary Event Licence?

The event must have fewer than 500 people at all times. This number includes staff running the event.

At what age can you apply for a Temporary Event Notice?

-You must be at least 18 years old to apply for a TENs licence.

Can a company apply for a TENs licence?

-No. You can only apply for a TEN as an individual, not an organisation.

Who can object to a TEN?

-The police or environmental health can object to a TEN. They must do this within 3 working days of receiving it.

-They can only object if they think the event may lead to or cause:

Crime and disorder
A public nuisance
A threat to public safety
Children being placed at risk of harm.

Can I defend a TEN if there are objections?

If there is an objection to your TENs application, your council’s licensing committee will hold a meeting, unless all parties agree that a hearing isn’t needed.
At the hearing, the committee has the power to approve, add conditions or reject the notice.If a late TEN is objected to by police or environmental health, the notice will be invalid and you will not be allowed to hold the event.

Can I appeal if a TEN is refused?

You can appeal to your local magistrates’ court if you disagree with the licensing committee’s decision to refuse your application. You must appeal within 21 days, and at least 5 working days before the date of your event.

At Innpacked, we will advise you if there are likely to be objections to your application before you apply, and we will take every possible step to ensure your application is successful.

If you do need to appeal, we can manage the entire process on your behalf and support you throughout.

Do you have to display the TENs notice at the event?

You must display a copy of the TENs licence where it can easily be seen by those attending your event and enforcement officers. Keep the original in a safe place where the event is held.

Failure to clearly display a TENs licence is non-compliance with licensing regulations and can lead to enforcement action.

Are there any fines or penalties related to Temporary Event Notices?
You could face prosecution if you breach the terms or conditions of your Temporary Event Notice. You could also be fined if you make any false statements in your application.

Carrying out a licensable activity or allowing a premises to be used for a licensable activity without a TEN can result in a 6-month prison sentence and a fine.

Would you like help applying for a Temporary Event Notice?

For a fixed fee we can manage your TENs application from start to finish, so you get it right first time and comply with the law.
With us you will:

Save time and money: Temporary Events Notices can be delayed due to basic errors. We help to ensure the process will not need to be re-started.

Have peace of mind: We make sure your TEN is correctly completed within legal timeframes and your TEN is served on responsible authorities (including the police and environmental health).

To talk about applying for a Temporary Event Notice, please call our friendly team of experts today on 08000 786 056 or contact us here.