Temporary Event Notices
Temporary Event Notices (TENs) are not a licence, but a system for self-authorisation of any or all of the licensable activities (sale or supply of alcohol, regulated entertainment and late night refreshment) at a small event for a short period of time.
In consequence, the Licensing Authority does not "grant" TENs and has no opportunity to intervene unless objection is made by the Police or Environmental Health.
Types of Temporary Event Notice
- Standard Temporary Event Notice: must be received by the Licensing Authority, Police and Environmental Health at the addresses in the guidance at least ten clear working days before the event starts
- Late Temporary Event Notice: must be received by the Licensing Authority, Police and Environmental Health at the addresses in the guidance no earlier than nine clear working days and no later than five clear working days before the event starts
The calculation of the required period of notice therefore excludes Saturdays, Sundays, Christmas Day, Good Friday, bank holidays, the day of service of the notice and the day (or first day) of the event. This period of notice is specified in law and there is no discretion to accept a shorter period of notice in any circumstances. "Working day" is clearly defined in section 193 of the Licensing Act 2003
Remember: When submitting an electronic temporary event notice via the below tab, the applicant is required to check there are sufficient working days notice of application as per section 104 (1) of the Licensing Act 2003. This does not include the date the application is submitted, the start date of the event or bank holidays.
Last Submission Dates for Standard Temporary Event Notices
2024
- May Bank Holiday (6 May) - 21 April 2024
- Spring Bank Holiday (27 May) - 12 May 2024
- August Bank Holiday (26 August) - 11 August 2024
- Halloween (31 October) - 16 October 2024
- Guy Fawkes (5 November) - 21 October 2024
- Christmas Eve (24 December) - 9 December 2024
- Christmas Day/Boxing Day (25/26 December) – 10 December 2024
- New Year’s Eve (31 December) – 12 December 2024
Restrictions on the temporary event notice
The legislation restricts several important aspects of Temporary Event Notices these include:
- No more than 499 people at any one time (including performers, staff etc.) may attend an event authorised by a Temporary Event Notice
- Each Temporary Event Notice may only last for maximum period of 168 hours
- No more than 15 Temporary Event Notices may be given in a calendar year for particular premises
- Temporary Event Notices may only authorise events at particular premises for a maximum of 21 days per calendar
- There must be an interval of not less than 24 hours between temporary event notices at particular premises
- The individual giving the Temporary Event Notice must be over 18
- An individual may not give more than five Temporary Event Notices in one calendar year, of which no more than two may be late TENs
- If an individual holds a personal licence for the sale of alcohol, the limits are 50 Temporary Event Notice of which no more than 10 may be late TENs
- On receipt of a Temporary Event Notice, if the proposed event is not within the restrictions, a counter notice will be issued and the event will not be authorised
It is possible to give a Temporary Event Notice for any premises, including those which already have premises licences or club premises certificates. The Temporary Event Notice will need to state the dates and times when licensable activities are to take place.
Who must be aware of the notice?
A copy of the notice must also be served to the Police Licensing Team and to the Environmental Health Service.
You also need to notify the owner of the premises you are using that you are giving a Temporary Events Notice and obtained any necessary public liability insurance for your event. The city council's events team has provided excellent advice on organising events - available on Visit Southampton.
Costs
You will be asked to make a payment of the fee of £21 when you submit your notice online, which will be copied to the police and Environmental Health. If you fail to provide any of the information required, the notice will be rejected. No refunds will be provided for rejected notices.
Applying for a temporary event notice
Please read the prescribed forms and guidance below carefully for detailed information on giving Temporary Event Notices before completing the online form.
Before you fill in this form
You won't be able to save this form to complete later, so please allow yourself 10-15 minutes to fill in the form.
Please note our Guidance on uploading an image.
You will need to have the following things to hand:
A payment card, Apple Pay or Google Pay*
If your notice is for an event wholly or partly outdoors, please submit a detailed map of the area (to scale). It must clearly show the location of the event and the area to be used (in red if possible)
Making an objection
Only the Police and Environmental Health may object to a TEN, and only on grounds related to one or more of the licensing objectives - crime and disorder, public safety, prevention of public nuisance or the protection of children from harm.
They have three working days to do so after the service of the TEN on them (see the definition of "working days" above).
An objection to a standard TEN, which cannot be resolved by agreed modification of the notice, will involve a hearing by the council's Licensing Sub-Committee to be arranged. The Sub-Committee can decide to uphold or dismiss the objection and can impose conditions.
An objection to a late TEN by the police or Environmental Health requires the Licensing Authority to issue a counter notice and the late TEN will be of no effect. There is no right to a hearing by the Licensing Sub-Committee or any appeal.
Appeals
If following a hearing, the Licensing Authority decides to issue a counter notice in relation to a standard TEN, a premises user can appeal against the decision.
Equally if the Licensing Authority decides not to issue a counter notice in relation to a standard TEN the police or Environmental Health can appeal the decision.
Appeals must be made to the West Hampshire Magistrates' Court within 21 days. An appeal may not be brought later than five working days before the day of the planned event. No appeal is possible against a counter notice resulting from an objection to a late TEN by the police or Environmental Health.
Temporary event notices forms and guidance
| Document | Type | Size |
|---|---|---|
| Licensing Act 2003 Guidance - Fees | docx | 36.8 KB |
Documents for temporary event notices
| Document | Type | Size |
|---|---|---|
| Temporary Event Notice | docx | 49.0 KB |
| Guidance - Temporary Event notices | docx | 45.3 KB |
| LA03 Guidance - Regulated Entertainment | 182.3 KB |
