Licence summary

If you wish to hold an ad-hoc event in England or Wales, you must give a temporary event notice (TEN) to your local licensing authority no later than ten working days before the event. You can do this below at "Apply Online". If the premises where the event is to be held is in areas governed by two or more local authorities, applications must be made to each.

Unless you submit an electronic application you must also give a copy of the notice to both the Police and to Environmental Health at the Council no later than ten working days before the event.

You must be 18 years or older to give a TEN and can give a maximum of five TENs per year. If you are a personal licence holder, you can give a maximum of 50 TENs per year.

Your event must involve no more than 499 people at any one time and last no more than 168 hours with a minimum of 24 hours between events. 

If 10 working days notice cannot be given you may be able to submit a Late TEN.

Eligibility Criteria 

An activity that can be licensed must be carried out as detailed in the required notice.

The notice must be in a prescribed statutory format and must be made by someone over 18 years of age.

The notice should contain:

• if alcohol is to be supplied, a statement confirming that it is a condition of using the premises that the supplies are made under the notice giver's authority
• a statement relating to certain matters
• any other required information

The matters referred to above are:

• details of the licensable activities

• the event period

• the times when during that period the activities will take place

• the maximum number of people proposed to be allowed on the premises

• any other required matters

Regulation Summary 

Summary of the eligibility criteria for this licence:

2005 Regulations

2012 Regulations Update

Application Evaluation Process 

The TEN must be given in writing (including by electronic means), in duplicate, to the local authority at least ten working days before the event. A fee is payable with the notice.

A “working day” is any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday, Christmas Day, Good Friday, or a day which is a bank holiday.  “Ten working days” notice means ten working days exclusive of the day on which the event is to start, and exclusive of the day on which the notice is given.

The local authority will acknowledge receipt of the notice by giving a notice to the premises user before the end of the first working day it was received or before the end of the second working day if the day the notice was received is not a working day.

Unless an application has been submitted electronically, the premises user must also give notice to both the chief officer of the local police department and Environmental Health department no later than ten working days before the event period.

The chief officer of police/Environmental Health who receives a notice and believes that the event would undermine the licensing objectives can serve an objection notice on the licensing authority and the premises user. This notice must be served within three working days of receipt of the temporary event notice.

The local licensing authority must hold a hearing if an objection notice is served. They may issue a counter notice if it considers it necessary for the promotion of crime prevention objective. A decision must be made at least 24 hours before the beginning of the event.

The chief officer of police/Environmental Health may modify the TEN with the consent of the premises user. In such a case an objection notice will be deemed to have been withdrawn.

Counter notices may be provided by the licensing authority if the number of permitted TENs has been exceeded. 

If 10 working days notice cannot be given you may be able to submit a Late TEN.

Will Tacit Consent Apply? 

Yes. This means that you will be able to act as though your application is granted if you have not heard from the local authority by the end of the target completion period of 10 working days

Apply online (You will need Version 9 (or higher) of Adobe Reader) 

Please read the Guidance Notes before you begin.

You can apply online now using the Authority’s own e-form. 

Apply online for a temporary event notice 

You can also download a copy of the temporary event notice and complete it.

The facility also exists for you to apply online using the UK National Portal.

Failed Application Redress

Please contact your Local Authority in the first instance.

If a counter notice is given in relation to an objection notice the applicant may appeal against the decision. Appeals must be made to the local Magistrates' court within 21 days. An appeal may not be brought later than five working days from the day of the planned event

Licence Holder Redress

Please contact your Local Authority in the first instance

Consumer Complaint

We would always advise that in the event of a complaint the first contact is made with the trader by you - preferably in the form a letter (with proof of delivery). If that has not worked, if you are located in the UK, Consumer Direct will give you advice. From outside the UK contact the UK European Consumer Centre

Other Redress

If a licensing authority decides not to issue a counter notice in relation to an objection notice the chief police officer can appeal the decision. Appeals must be made to the local Magistrates' court within 21 days. An appeal may not be brought later than five working days from the day of the planned event

Trade Associations

National Outdoor Events Association (NDEA) 

Society of Event Organisers (SEO)

Event Supplier and Services Association (ESSA)

TSNN Online Directory