Licensing Act 2003 (alcohol, entertainment etc.)

Q. What is a temporary event notice?

A. A Temporary Event Notice (TEN) can be used to authorise relatively small-scale ad hoc events held in or on any premises involving no more than 499 people at any one time. The premises user must apply for a TEN no later than 10 working days before the day on which the event is to start, although we would advise applicants to submit their applications at least three weeks before the event, to ensure they are received by the Licensing Office in good time.  Each event covered by a TEN can last up to 96 hours and no more than twelve TENs can be given in respect of any particular premises in any calendar year, subject to a maximum total of 15 days in any year. There must be a minimum of 24 hours between events notified by a premises user or associates of that premises user in respect of the same premises.

Only the police may intervene to prevent an event covered by a TEN taking place or agree a modification of the arrangements for such an event and then only on crime prevention grounds.

Q. Who can apply?

A. Anyone aged 18 years or over can give a maximum of five TENs per calendar year. Personal licence holders can give a maximum of fifty TENs per calendar year.

Q. How do I apply?

A. In order to apply for a TEN you need to submit an application form to the licensing authority within whose area the premises is situated. If the premises are in the Ribble Valley the licensing authority is the Ribble Valley Borough Council. Please read carefully the guidance notes attached to the form. When you have completed and signed the form you must send it, in duplicate, together with fee of £21 to The Administration & Licensing Officer, Ribble Valley Borough Council, Council Offices, Church Walk, Clitheroe, Lancashire BB7 2RA. 

You must also send a copy of the application to: The Licensing Officer, Lancashire Constabulary, Clitheroe Police Station, King Street, Clitheroe, Lancashire BB7 2EU.

Q. What information should be included in a TEN?

A. The notice must be in the prescribed form and contain the following:

• the licensable activities that will take place;
• the period during which it is proposed to use the premises for those activities;
• the times during the event period when licensable activities are to take place;
• the maximum number of persons to be allowed on the premises at any one time (not exceeding 499);
• if the supply of alcohol is involved, whether the supplies will be for consumption on or off the premises or both;
• where the licensable activities include the supply of alcohol, the condition that all such supplies are made by or under the authority of the premises user;
• the correct fee (£21).

Q. Can a TEN be given in respect of an outdoor event?

A. A TEN can be given in respect of both indoor and outdoor events. "Premises" for the purposes of the Act means any place, whether indoors or outdoors. For example, it could cover a town square, part of a park, or a street. But remember the limits in relation to permitted temporary activities (for example the number of people who can be on the premises at any one time) will apply.

Q. What is the procedure once a TEN has been given?

A. If the TEN is within the limits of permitted temporary activities, and the police have not intervened to prevent the event happening, or have agreed a modification of the arrangements for the event, the licensing authority must issue acknowledgement of the TEN. There is no requirement for the police to acknowledge the notice as well.

If the temporary event notice exceeds the permitted limits the licensing authority must give the premises user a counter notice, copied to the police, preventing the event from taking place.

If the police are satisfied that allowing the premises to be used in accordance with the TEN would undermine the licensing objective on preventing crime and disorder, they must, no later than 2 working days after being given a copy of the TEN, give the premises user and the licensing authority an objection notice. The authority must then hold a hearing to consider the notice no later than 24 hours before the beginning of the event period specified in the TEN (unless all parties agree this is unnecessary) and, having regard to the notice, will issue a counter notice if it considers it necessary for the promotion of the crime prevention objective to do so. Again, this will mean that the event cannot go ahead.

The TEN can be modified by the police with the agreement of the premises user prior to the consideration of the objection notice by the licensing authority, in which case the objection notice is to be treated as having been withdrawn and the 2003 Act will apply to the TEN as modified.

Q. Can a TEN be withdrawn?

A. A temporary event notice may be withdrawn by the premises user by giving the licensing authority notice to that effect no later than 24 hours before the beginning of the event period specified in the temporary event notice.

Q. Does the premises user have to display the TEN at the event?

A. The premises user must either:

• secure that a copy of the TEN is prominently displayed at the premises being used for the permitted temporary activity;
• secure that the TEN is kept at the premises in his custody;
• secure that the TEN is kept at the premises in the custody of a person who is present and working at the premises and whom he has nominated for this purpose (and if this is the case, secure that a notice specifying this fact and the position held at the premises by that person is prominently displayed at the premises).

Licensing Section

For further information and advice on Temporary Event Notices please contact:
Administration & Licensing Officer
Ribble Valley Borough Council
Council Offices
Church Walk
Clitheroe
Lancashire
BB7 2RA

Direct line: 01200 414454
Fax: 01200 414488
e-mail: catherine.moore@ribblevalley.gov.uk

Related downloads
Application for temporary event notice
Fees