Information about Temporary Event Notices and who can submit one
Who can submit a notice?
Any individual over 18 can submit a Temporary Event Notice (TEN). You can submit a TEN to gain permission for the following activities (in a premises or open space which must be in this borough):
- regulated entertainment - plays, films, recorded music, indoor sporting events, live music, boxing or wrestling entertainment, 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
Please refer to our guidance for organising a small public event here.
How many TEN's can I submit?
An individual can submit five TEN's in a calendar year (or three standard and two late).
A personal licence holder can submit 50 TEN's in a calendar year (or 40 standard and ten late).
Standard TENS are those which are served at least ten working days before the event (not including the day of the event or the day you submit your application).
Late TENs are those served with less notice than standard TENs, by providing between five and nine working days' notice (not including the day of the event or the day you submit your application).
Timings between events
There must be at least 24 hours between each event at one premises. For example, if an event finished at 11:00pm on one day, another can’t start until after 11:00pm the next day.
Please check booking information direct with the venue. Ask what other events are booked near yours, to be sure there are 24 hours between events.
How to submit a Temporary Event Notice
You can submit a TEN online by completing a form.
Ensure that you double check all the information on the form before submitting it.
If you make a mistake on the form, or wish to change anything after submission, you will need to complete another form (this will incur a £21 fee). Temporary event notices are non-refundable.
To apply for a TEN online you'll need:
- an email address
- a credit or debit card to pay the fee of £21
- details of the event including where it will take place
If you're unable to apply online, you can download our TEN application form and send it to us with a cheque for £21 (you'll also need to send a copy of the form to the police and our Community Safety Team; their addresses are on the form).
What happens next?
If you apply online, you’ll receive an email confirmation. If you’ve sent in a paper application, you’ll usually receive an acknowledgement letter within two working days.
Both the police and our Community Safety Team and Food Health and Safety Team have three working days to object after they receive the application. If they object, there must be a hearing within seven days, and at least 24 hours before the event in question, unless an agreement can be reached.
If the TEN is a 'late' TEN, there is no time to hold a hearing. So an objection from the police or the Community Safety Team or Food, Health and Safety Team will result in the TEN being rejected.
Where there is an objection from the police or Community Safety Team or Food Health and Safety Team, conditions can be imposed on the Temporary Event Notice. These can be imposed on the whole premises or any part of the premises to which the Temporary Event Notice relates.
There is a right of appeal to the Magistrates' Court for the police and the applicant. But time constraints may prevent this if the TEN was made at the last minute.
A TEN is not an application. It's a notice telling the authorities that an event will go ahead. Should limits be exceeded or an objection received, then we'll issue a counter notice meaning the event can't lawfully go ahead. An unlawful event could result in prosecution. The maximum penalty is an unlimited fine, or six months imprisonment, or both.
Will tacit consent apply?
Yes. This means you’ll be able to act as though your application is granted if you’ve not heard from us by the end of our target completion period of three working days. However, it’s rare that you won’t get a response within this time frame.
Limitations on TENs
The event period can last for a maximum of 168 hours (seven days). This is the time during which licensable activities may take place, but they do not have to take place during the whole of that seven day period. Some activities may take place at different times to others.
No more than 499 people, including staff and performers may attend the event at any one time. If there are 500 people or more, you'll need to obtain a premises licence, even if it's for a one off event.
The same premises can’t be used under a TEN on more than 15 occasions in a calendar year (January to December), and for no more than 21 days in total. If you want further events to take place, you'll need to apply for a premises licence.