Events · Licensing
Temporary Event Notice (TEN) — do you need one?
Free interactive tool that works out whether your event needs a TEN, when the standard and late deadlines fall, and what to do if a TEN won't work. England & Wales — Licensing Act 2003, Part 5.
Last updated 17 May 2026·6 min read
Work out whether you need a TEN
Answer four questions. We’ll tell you whether a Temporary Event Notice is required, when it has to be submitted, and what to do if a TEN won’t work for your event. England & Wales only — Scotland and Northern Ireland use different regimes.
No TEN needed
You haven't told us about any licensable activity. A TEN is only required for the sale of alcohol, regulated entertainment, or late-night refreshment (hot food/drink between 11pm and 5am) at premises that don't already have a premises licence covering them.
You may still need other things in place — public liability insurance, a hire agreement, music licensing (PPL PRS), and a written risk assessment. Licensing is one piece of event planning.
What is a TEN, in plain English?
A Temporary Event Notice is a notification — not a licence — that lets you do a one-off licensable thing at premises that don’t already have a premises licence covering it. The classic case is a village hall hosting a charity fundraiser with a paid bar.
Because it’s a notification rather than a permission, the council doesn’t “approve” or “refuse” it as such. What can stop you is an objection from the police or environmental health within the notice window. For standard TENs that triggers a hearing where you make your case. For late TENs there is no hearing — the objection is final.
When you don't need a TEN
People over-apply for TENs because licensing language sounds scary. You don’t need one if:
- The venue already has a premises licence covering what you’re doing (most pubs, hotels, registered wedding venues; many village halls have a premises licence for alcohol and music)
- You’re not selling alcohol — providing it free as part of a ticket-price package usually doesn’t count as a “sale”, but the line is fact-specific; check with your council if in doubt
- You’re playing music to a small audience (under 500) in a workplace or already-licensed premises between 8am and 11pm, under the Live Music Act 2012 exemption from the entertainment licensing requirement (this exempts you from licensing — you still need TheMusicLicence for the music copyright)
- You’re running a private event with no sale of alcohol and no late-night refreshment — a community AGM, a coffee morning, a children’s party
The statutory limits at a glance
| Limit | Value |
|---|---|
| Attendees at any one time (incl. staff) | 499 |
| Duration of a single TEN | 168 hours (7 days) |
| Minimum gap between events at same premises | 24 hours |
| TENs per premises per calendar year | 15 (max 21 days total) |
| TENs per non-personal-licence-holder per year | 5 (max 2 late) |
| TENs per personal licence holder per year | 50 (max 10 late) |
| Standard fee | £21 |
| Standard notice period | ≥10 working days before the event |
| Late TEN notice window | 5–9 working days before the event |
Scotland and Northern Ireland are different
Scotland uses an occasional licence under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005, issued by the local Licensing Board. Application periods are longer (typically 6 weeks) and there is no “late” equivalent. Apply via your council’s Licensing Board pages.
Northern Irelandhas a more restrictive regime under the Licensing (Northern Ireland) Order 1996. Occasional licences for unlicensed premises are granted by a magistrates’ court on application by a person who already holds a premises licence, not directly to the event organiser. NI community organisers should speak to a solicitor or to a licensed local venue early.
Once the TEN is sorted, the next things to think about
Licensing is one piece of running an event. The two most commonly missed adjacent requirements are:
- Public liability insurance.The hall’s annual policy almost certainly does not cover you as event organiser. See our guide to one-day event insurance — typical cost £60–£250 for a small community event.
- TheMusicLicence (PPL PRS). Any public performance of music — live or recorded — needs a copyright licence separate from the entertainment licensing exemption. PPL PRS operates a discretionary Charity and Community Discount; apply ≥14 days before the event.
We may earn a commission from event-insurance links above — see our affiliate disclosure. It does not change our editorial recommendations. We do not earn anything from the TEN tool itself or from your council licensing fee.
Frequently asked
When is a Temporary Event Notice required?
Any time you want to carry out a 'licensable activity' at premises not already licensed for it — sale of alcohol, regulated entertainment (live or recorded music, plays, films, indoor sport, dance), or late-night refreshment (hot food or drink served 11pm–5am). A TEN is not needed for events with none of these activities, however large.
Do I need a TEN for a wedding?
Only if alcohol is being sold (not just provided as part of a private package), or if amplified music will be played late at a venue without an existing premises licence. Most weddings at licensed venues (hotels, registered wedding venues, licensed village halls) need no TEN. A village hall wedding with a paid bar and a DJ until midnight at premises with no premises licence is the textbook case that does need one.
How long can a TEN cover?
Up to 168 hours — seven consecutive days — at a single set of premises. Maximum 499 attendees including staff and performers at any one time. There must be at least 24 hours between successive events under separate TENs at the same premises.
What if both the standard and late TEN deadlines have passed?
A TEN cannot legally cover the event. Options are: (1) drop the licensable activity — e.g. don't sell alcohol, end music by 11pm, serve cold food only; (2) move the event date; (3) if the premises has a licence holder, ask whether their licence can cover what you need. A premises licence application takes at least 28 days and includes a public consultation, so it's not a same-week fix.
How much does a TEN cost?
£21. Set by the Licensing Act 2003 (Fees) Regulations 2005 and applied consistently across all English and Welsh councils. There is no discount for charities, non-profits or small community events.
How many TENs can I give in a year?
If you are not a personal licence holder: 5 TENs per calendar year, of which no more than 2 can be late TENs. If you are a personal licence holder: 50 TENs per year, of which no more than 10 late. Separately, each set of premises can host no more than 15 TENs per calendar year totalling no more than 21 days.
What's the difference between a standard TEN and a late TEN?
Notice period and objection rights. Standard TEN: at least 10 working days before the event. Police and environmental health can object, but objections trigger a hearing where you can make your case. Late TEN: 5–9 working days before the event. If police or environmental health object, the event is automatically cancelled — there is no hearing and no right of appeal. Always submit standard if possible.
Do I send the TEN anywhere other than the council?
Yes. Within the same notice period, you must also send copies to the police and to the council's environmental health department. Most councils' online portals handle the council copy; the police and environmental health copies are still typically the applicant's responsibility. Check your council's portal — some now handle all three.
Related guides
One-day event insurance — what community organisers actually need →
Real published prices from the specialist brokers, what the hall's policy doesn't cover, and the volunteer/EL trap.
Village hall hirers' liability — when the hall's policy applies →
The detail on whether the hall's annual policy covers your event, or whether you need your own one-day cover.
Events & activities — the cluster hub →
All our event-related guides on one page.
Sources
- Licensing Act 2003, Part 5 (Temporary Event Notices) — England & Wales statutory framework
- Licensing Act 2003 (Fees) Regulations 2005 — £21 statutory TEN fee
- Live Music Act 2012 / Legislative Reform (Entertainment Licensing) Order 2014 — amplified-music exemption under 500 attendees
- Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 — occasional licence regime, Scotland
- Licensing (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 — occasional licence regime, NI
- Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 — bank holiday definitions for “working day” calculations
- gov.uk and individual council licensing pages — TEN application processes and council-by-council interpretation of “clear working days”
General information, not legal advice. Council interpretation of “clear working days” varies slightly; for events close to a deadline, contact your council’s licensing team to confirm.