Temporary Event Notice (TEN): what you need to apply
Written by Sam Allcock · Last updated 23 August 2026 · Facts checked against GOV.UK guidance on the date above
A Temporary Event Notice (TEN) lets you sell alcohol, provide late-night refreshment, or put on regulated entertainment at a one-off event for fewer than 500 people.
It costs £21, and it must reach your council at least 10 clear working days before the event (GOV.UK, temporary events notice, checked 23 August 2026).
It's a lighter-weight route than a full premises licence, designed for one-off events at venues that don't already hold one - a village hall function, a one-off festival, or a pop-up bar.
This is general information, not legal advice. For anything specific to your event, contact your council's licensing team directly. If you're planning something ongoing rather than a single event, see our alcohol licences hub for the other routes.
What is a Temporary Event Notice?
A TEN is notice you give your council, the police and environmental health that you intend to carry out a licensable activity at a specific event, rather than a full licence application.
It covers the same three licensable activities as a premises licence - selling alcohol, late-night refreshment, and regulated entertainment - but only for that one event.
Events run under a TEN must have fewer than 500 people present at any time, including staff, and can last no more than 168 hours, or 7 days (GOV.UK, checked 23 August 2026).
Who can apply for a TEN?
You must apply as an individual aged 18 or over, not as a business or organisation.
This is different from a premises licence, which a business can hold - a TEN is always given by a named person.
If you already hold a personal alcohol licence, you're entitled to considerably more TENs each year than someone who doesn't - see "how many TENs can you have in a year," below, and our personal licence guide for what that involves.
Standard TEN vs late TEN
A standard TEN needs at least 10 clear working days' notice, and a late TEN needs at least 5 clear working days, but a late TEN comes with a lower annual limit and no safety net if it's objected to.
| Standard TEN | Late TEN | |
|---|---|---|
| Notice needed | At least 10 clear working days before the event | At least 5 clear working days before the event |
| Annual limit (no personal licence) | 5 a year | 2 a year |
| Annual limit (personal-licence holder) | 50 a year | 10 a year |
| If police or environmental health object | Goes to a hearing before the council | Notice is not valid - event cannot go ahead |
"Clear working days" exclude both the day your council receives your application and the day of the event itself (GOV.UK, checked 23 August 2026).
There's also a per-premises cap on top of your personal limit: up to 15 TENs a year can be given for the same premises, provided the combined length of all those events doesn't exceed 21 days (GOV.UK, checked 23 August 2026).
How to apply for a TEN, step by step
You give notice to your council, who pass it to the police and environmental health, and there's no way to shorten the statutory notice periods.
- Check your event qualifies - fewer than 500 people at any time, lasting no more than 168 hours.
- Confirm you're applying as an individual, not a business, and that you're 18 or over.
- Apply to your council at least 10 clear working days before your event (5 for a late TEN) and pay the £21 fee.
- Send a copy of the TEN to the police and environmental health at least 10 working days before the event - if you apply online, your council does this for you automatically.
- Watch for objections - the police or environmental health have 3 working days from receiving your TEN to object.
- If there's no objection, your event goes ahead as notified; if there is one, see "what happens if someone objects," below.
What does a TEN cost?
The statutory fee is £21 per notice, whatever the size or length of your event, up to the 500-person and 168-hour limits.
You don't have to use our service - most applicants give notice directly to their council for £21. The free official route on GOV.UK →
✓ Fee verified against GOV.UK, 23 August 2026
There's no separate fee for sending the copy to the police and environmental health - it's included, and if you apply online your council forwards it on your behalf.
How many TENs can you have in a year?
Without a personal licence, you can give up to 5 standard TENs and 2 late TENs a year; with one, that rises to 50 standard and 10 late TENs (GOV.UK, checked 23 August 2026).
On top of your personal limit, no more than 15 TENs a year can be given for the same premises, and the total length of those events can't exceed 21 days.
If you run events regularly at the same venue, it's worth checking whether a full premises licence would suit you better than repeatedly using TENs.
What happens if someone objects to my TEN?
Only the police or environmental health can object, they must do so within 3 working days of receiving your notice, and what happens next depends on whether it's a standard or late TEN.
They can only object on specific grounds - that your event could lead to crime and disorder, cause a public nuisance, threaten public safety, or put children at risk of harm (GOV.UK, checked 23 August 2026).
For a standard TEN, an objection triggers a hearing before the council's licensing committee, held no later than 24 hours before your event unless everyone agrees otherwise, where the committee can approve it, approve it with conditions, or reject it (GOV.UK, checked 23 August 2026).
For a late TEN, there's no hearing - if the police or environmental health object, the notice simply isn't valid and the event can't go ahead under it (GOV.UK, checked 23 August 2026).
If you disagree with a standard TEN hearing decision, you can appeal to your local magistrates' court within 21 days, provided it's at least 5 working days before your event (GOV.UK, checked 23 August 2026).
Where our optional help fits
Most one-off event organisers are perfectly able to give notice directly to their council for £21.
Our optional £49 fee is for people who'd rather have someone check their eligibility, count the working days correctly, and confirm they haven't exceeded their annual TEN limit before they submit - see how it works - and it's always shown separately from the statutory fee, never bundled in.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Temporary Event Notice cost?
The statutory fee is £21, paid directly to your council, whatever the size of your event within the 500-person and 168-hour limits.
How much notice do I need to give for a TEN?
A standard TEN needs at least 10 clear working days' notice; a late TEN needs at least 5 clear working days, but comes with a lower annual limit and no hearing if objected to.
How many TENs can I give in a year?
Without a personal licence, up to 5 standard and 2 late TENs a year; with a personal licence, up to 50 standard and 10 late TENs a year, with a further cap of 15 TENs and 21 days total per premises.
Can a business apply for a TEN?
No - a TEN must be applied for by an individual aged 18 or over, not a business or organisation, even if a business is running the event.
What happens if the police object to my TEN?
For a standard TEN, an objection goes to a council hearing that can approve, approve with conditions, or reject it; for a late TEN, an objection simply makes the notice invalid, with no hearing.
apply for licence is an independent guide and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to GOV.UK, your local council, the police or any government body. This page is general information, not legal advice - for anything specific to your event, including an objection or a hearing, contact your council's licensing team directly.