Temporary Event Notice

Temporary Event Notices (TENs) may be submitted to permit the following licensable activities on a temporary basis, whether they are within a premises or outside, in an open space:

• Regulated entertainment: plays, films, recorded music, indoor sporting events, live music, boxing or wrestling entertainment, and performance of dance
• Late night refreshment: provision of hot food and/or hot drinks between 11pm and 5am
• Sale by retail of alcohol
• Supply of alcohol by or on behalf of a club to a member, or to the order of a member

It is an offence to carry out licensable activities on or from any premises without the appropriate authorisations in place. A person guilty of an offence of this type is liable, on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to a fine not exceeding £20,000, or both.

Types of Temporary Event Notices

• Standard Temporary Event Notices: notices which are served at least 10 clear working days before the event (not including the day that the notice is served or the day of the event). 
• Late Temporary Event Notices: have been introduced for event organisers to serve less notice than standard TENs in exceptional circumstances, by providing between 5 and 9 clear working days' notice (not including the day that the notice is served or the day of the event). For example, if you have an event on Saturday 14 October, the latest a late TEN can be submitted is Friday 7 October to give 5 clear working days to process the application. If there is a Bank Holiday within those 5 working days, then the application needs to be submitted earlier.

Guidance and Restrictions

• Premises users must be over the age of 18
• The maximum number of TENs that you can apply for per calendar year is 5 standard TENs (of which 2 may be late TENs)
• If you are a Personal Licence holder, the maximum number of standard TENs is 50 (of which 10 may be late TENs)
• TENs must not involve more than 499 people at any one time and last no more than 168 hours
• There must also be at least 24 hours between notice periods

There are also restrictions on the number of TENs per premises:

• The maximum number of events per ‘place’ within a calendar year is 15
• You are permitted 21 days, or part days, of temporary events per place

Objections

You are advised that by serving a TEN or a late TEN you run the risk that your event may not be able to take place.

The system of permitted temporary activities gives police and Environmental Health the opportunity to consider whether they should object to a TEN on the basis of any of the licensing objectives:

• The Prevention of Crime and Disorder
• Public Safety
• The Prevention of Public Nuisance
• The Protection of Children from Harm

Where a standard TEN was given, the licensing authority must consider the objection at a hearing.

At the hearing, the police, Environmental Health and the premises user may make representations to the licensing authority. Following the hearing, the licensing authority may decide to impose conditions which already apply to an existing premises licence or club premises certificate at the venue.

There is no scope for hearings, in respect of late TENs, and if objections are raised by the police or Environmental Health in relation to a late TEN, the notice will be invalid and the event must not go ahead. 

Fines and penalties

You could be prosecuted and fined if you make any false statements in your application, or face prosecution if you breach the terms of the notice.

If you don’t have a TEN and carry out an activity that you should have a licence for (or allow your premises to be used for one), you can be fined, sent to prison for up to 6 months, or both.

Apply

Please apply using the below online form. An application fee of £21 is required. Payment is taken at the end of the form via a credit or debit card. 

Apply online for a Temporary Event Notice

A copy of your application will be sent to the Chief of Police at Cambridgeshire Constabulary for you.