Planning a one-off event, a late night, or a pop-up bar? In England and Wales, a Temporary Event Notice (TEN) is often the quickest legal route. It is simple on paper, but the deadlines and limits catch out even experienced operators. Here is what you need to know.
What is a TEN?
A TEN lets you carry out licensable activities for a short period without a full premises licence. It is a notice, not a licence application: you tell the council, police and environmental health what you plan to do, and the event can go ahead unless there is a valid objection.
Licensable activities are:
- selling alcohol
- regulated entertainment, such as live or recorded music and dancing (some low-level entertainment is exempt)
- late night refreshment: hot food or hot drink served between 11pm and 5am
When do you need one?
- Your premises has no licence, for example a shop, an empty unit, a marquee or a community hall.
- You want to go beyond your existing licence, for example staying open later for a special occasion or adding live music.
- You are running an event somewhere else, such as a market, festival stall or private venue hire.
The key limits
- People on site at any one time: 499 maximum, including staff and performers
- Length of one event: 168 hours (7 days) maximum
- TENs per premises per calendar year: 15 maximum
- Days covered per premises per calendar year: 21 days maximum
- TENs per person per year (personal licence holder): 50, of which up to 10 can be late TENs
- TENs per person per year (no personal licence): 5, of which up to 2 can be late TENs
- Gap between events by the same person at the same premises: at least 24 hours
- Fee (council's application fee): £21 per notice
The premises limits apply to everyone using that address. If a previous tenant or an event organiser has already used TENs there this year, they count against your allowance.
Deadlines: standard and late TENs
- Standard TEN: must be received at least 10 clear working days before the event.
- Late TEN: received between 5 and 9 clear working days before the event.
"Clear working days" exclude weekends, bank holidays, the day the council receives the notice and the day the event starts. Counting this wrongly is the single most common reason a TEN is rejected. If in doubt, submit earlier.
What happens after you submit?
The police and environmental health have 3 working days to object, if they believe the event would undermine one of the licensing objectives: crime and disorder, public safety, public nuisance or the protection of children from harm.
- Standard TEN with an objection: the council holds a hearing. It can allow the event, refuse it with a counter notice, or, if the premises already has a licence, add some of that licence's conditions.
- Late TEN with an objection: there is no hearing. The event cannot go ahead.
This is why late TENs are risky. Use them only when you have no choice.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Miscounting working days and submitting too late.
- Forgetting that staff count towards the 499 limit.
- Not checking how many TENs have already been used at the premises this year.
- Describing the event too vaguely. A clear description of the activities, times, numbers and safety measures reduces the risk of objection.
- Forgetting other permissions, such as landowner consent for outdoor sites or event safety requirements.
- Assuming a TEN fixes a long-term problem. If you regularly need later hours, a premises licence variation is usually the better route.
Frequently asked questions
How do you get a temporary event notice?
Give the notice to your local council, usually online, at least 10 working days before the event and pay the £21 fee. The police and environmental health also receive a copy.
What do you need a temporary event notice for?
To sell alcohol, provide regulated entertainment or serve hot food or drink between 11pm and 5am on a one-off basis, where the premises has no licence or the activity goes beyond its licence.
How much is a temporary event licence?
A Temporary Event Notice costs £21. The fee is not refunded if the notice is withdrawn or cancelled.
How many temporary event notices can you have in a year?
A premises can have up to 15 TENs per calendar year, covering no more than 21 days in total. Personal licence holders can give up to 50 TENs a year, and other people up to 5.
Do you need a personal licence for a temporary event notice?
No. Anyone aged 18 or over can give a TEN, but without a personal licence you are limited to 5 a year, including no more than 2 late TENs.
What is a late temporary event notice?
A TEN given between 5 and 9 working days before the event. If the police or environmental health object, the event cannot go ahead and there is no right of appeal.
Do you need help?
Anka Group prepares and submits TENs for restaurants, bars, shops and event organisers across England and Wales. We check the dates, the limits and the event plan before anything is sent, and we speak with the police and council if questions come up. We also work in Turkish.
Get in touch or see our Temporary Event Notice service.
Rules correct as of October 2026. The government is reviewing TEN limits as part of wider licensing reform, so check for updates before you apply.