How to Apply for a Temporary Event Notice (TEN) in England & Wales
At The Licensing Guys we are often asked to help people to apply for a Temporary Licence. Well, it’s not actually a Licence at all. What you are effectively doing is giving Notice to your Licensing Authority – the Council where the event will take place – that you intend to conduct licensable activities on a Temporary Basis.
If you’re planning to hold an event in England or Wales that involves licensable activities, such as selling alcohol, providing entertainment, or serving hot food and drinks between 11 PM and 5 AM, you’ll need to apply for a Temporary Event Notice (TEN).
Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you through the process:
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Understand the Requirements
Before applying, ensure your event meets the following criteria:
- Fewer than 500 people at all times, including staff.
- Lasts no more than 168 hours (7 days).
- You must be at least 18 years old to apply.
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Application Process
Contact Your Local Council: Submit your application to the local council where the event will take place. If the event spans multiple council areas, you must apply to each one.
- Timing: Apply at least 10 clear working days before your event. Note that the day of submission and the day of the event do not count as clear working days.
- Fee: Pay a fee of £21 for each TEN application.
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Submission Details
Online Application: If you apply online, the council will notify the police and environmental health on your behalf.
Paper Application: If applying by paper, send copies of the TEN to the police and environmental health at least 10 working days before the event.
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Late TENs
You can apply for a late TEN between 5 and 9 clear working days before the event. However, the number of late TENs you can apply for is limited: up to 2 per year if you do not hold a personal licence, and up to 10 if you do.
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Objections and Hearings
The police or environmental health can object to your TEN within 3 working days if they believe the event could lead to crime, disorder, public nuisance, or pose a threat to public safety or children.
If there is an objection, a hearing will be held no later than 24 hours before the event to decide whether to approve, add conditions, or reject the notice.
By following these steps, you can ensure your event complies with the legal requirements and runs smoothly. For more detailed information, always check with your local council or visit the GOV.UK website.
Summary: It all sounds pretty complicated, right? Added to that is the extra worry that if you mess up the process, you will not receive your TEN and your event may well need to be cancelled. However, if you follow the above instructions, you can successfully obtain your own without help.
If you have any further questions or need assistance with your application, feel free to ask! It is a service which we charge for, but some events are too important to fail, and we’ll always be here for you if you need us. Just reach out to us at info@thelicensingguys.com to chat about your Temporary Event Notice (TEN) Licence requirements.
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