Apply for a Temporary Events Notice (TEN)

If you want to carry out a 'licensable activity' on unlicenced premises your will need to apply for a Temporary Events Notice (TEN). The process of applying is formally known as 'serving' a Temporary Events Notice.

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

You will also need a TEN if a particular licensable activity is not included in the terms of your existing licence, for example holding a wedding reception at a community centre.

You can only apply for a TEN as an individual, not an organisation.

You must be at least 18 to apply for a TEN

If you are not experienced in the submission of licence applications, you may wish to consider contacting a licensing solicitor or licensing agent to carry out this work on your behalf.

How to apply

  • Fill in our simple online form
  • You should apply at least 10 working days before the event.
  • The date of submitting the TEN and the day of the event are not included in the total number of working days before the event.
  • The cost for this licence is £21.00
  • If applications are submitted incorrectly or are not of the required standard, they may be rejected, and you will lose your fee.
  • If you are not experienced in the submission of licence applications, you may wish to consider contacting a licensing solicitor or licensing agent to carry out this work on your behalf.
  • Please note that the licensing authority are only able to provide basic guidance, which is published on our website

Clock Completing this form takes around 10 minutes

Apply for a TEN notice

After you've applied

  • We will give you written acknowledgement of the receipt of the notice.

Restrictions, objections, appeals and displaying your notice

Restrictions to a Temporary Events Notice

Your event must:

  • have fewer than 500 people at all times, including staff running the event
  • last no more than 168 hours (7 days)

Number of notices you can apply for

You need a TEN for each event you hold on the same premises.

You can get up to 5 TENs a year. If you already have a personal licence to sell alcohol, you can be given up to 50 TENs a year.

A single premises can have up to 15 TENs applied for in one year, as long as the total length of the events is not more than 21 days.

If you're organising separate but consecutive events, there must be at least a 24-hour gap between them.

Late 'TENs'

The latest you can apply for a 'late TEN' is 5 working days before the event (but not earlier than 9 working days).

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.

Objections to a Temporary Events Notice

The council can't refuse a notice unless the Police or Environmental Health object to it. They must do this within 3 working days of receiving it. They can only object if they think your event could:

  • lead to crime and disorder
  • cause a public nuisance
  • be a threat to public safety
  • put children at risk of harm

If there's an objection, we will hold a meeting (called a 'hearing') no later than 24 hours before the event (unless all parties agree that a hearing isn't needed).

At the hearing, the committee will either approve, add conditions or reject the notice.

If the police or Environmental Health object to a late TEN, the notice won't be valid and you can't hold the event.

How to appeal

If you disagree with the licensing committee's decision, you can appeal to your local magistrates' court. You must do this within 21 days, and at least 5 working days before the date of your event.

How to display your notice

You must keep your TEN in a safe place where the event is held.

You must also display a copy of the notice where it can be easily seen.

Contact Licensing

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