Apply for a Temporary Event Notice

Applicants for a TEN must be 18 or over. There are limits to events covered by temporary events notices:

• events covered by a temporary event notice can last up to 168 hours
• events must involve no more than 499 people
• anyone over 18 can apply for a maximum of 5 temporary event notices a year

You can apply for more temporary events if you're a licence holder or venue:

• personal licence holders can apply for a maximum of 50 temporary event notices a year
• both licensed and unlicensed venues can hold up to 15 temporary events notices a year or 21 days, whichever is the greater

The powers to regulate and issue licences are contained in the Licensing Act 2003

You must supply the following details when you apply for your TEN:

• details of the licensable activities, for example if alcohol is to be supplied and regulated entertainment provided
• the event period
• the times when during that period the activities will take place
• the maximum number of people proposed to be allowed on the premises
• any other required matters
• if alcohol is to be supplied, a statement confirming that it is a condition of using the premises that the supplies are made under the premises user’s authority

If you wish to hold an ad-hoc event in England or Wales, you must apply for a standard temporary event notice (TEN) no later than ten working days before the event or there is limited provision to give a late TEN no later than 5 working days but no earlier than 9 working days before the event.

If the premises where the event is to be held is in areas governed by two or more local authorities applications must be made to each.

You must also give a copy of the notice to the police and environmental health on the same day that the notification is given to the licensing authority.

You can apply for a TEN online, or by post.

If you apply online, we will notify the Police and other responsible authorities for you.

If you apply by post, you will need to post a copy of the TEN to the Local Chief of Police and a copy to Environmental Health.

Apply online

To apply online, fill in our online form and pay online. It costs £21 to submit a TEN application; this fee is non-refundable.

Apply for a Temporary Event Notice online

If you apply and pay online then you do not need to send paper copies of the form to the Council or the Police: we will notify the responsible authorities for you.

You will then in due course receive an email acknowledgment of the notice from  the Licensing Team. You  do not need a paper copy of the notice at the event, however you need to have a digital copy available  to show if asked.

Apply by post

If you would prefer to complete a paper version of the Temporary Event Notice application please call our Licensing team on 01403 215407/215525 to be sent a standard form or download a Word document version from GOV.UK.

• Complete and sign all copies of the TEN (We accept original signatures only, not a photocopy)
• Send two copies of the TEN, including the original and the statutory and your non-refundable application fee of £21 to:
  
  The Licensing Officer
  Horsham District Council
  Albery House
  Springfield Road
  Horsham
  West Sussex
  RH12 2GB

• At the same time, send a copy of the TEN to both:
  
  The Local Chief Officer of Police
  Neighbourhood Licensing Team,
  Centenary House
  Durrington Lane
  Worthing
  BN13 2PG
  
  and
  
  The Local Environmental Health Officer
  Horsham District Council
  Albery House
  Springfield Road
  Horsham
  West Sussex
  RH12 2GB

Sussex Police will not accept any written communication unless the full postage has been paid. If there is insufficient postage the letter is returned to the post office unopened.

Unless the authority receive an acknowledgment from the Police that they have been served a copy of the notice the event can not go ahead.

After you apply, your application will be evaluated.

We will issue a written acknowledgement of the TEN to the premises user before the end of the first working day it was received or before the end of the second working day if the day the notice was received is not a working day.  The police and environmental health do not have to acknowledge receipt.

Either the police or environmental health may intervene to:

• prevent an event covered by a TEN taking place
• agree a modification of such an event or
• request that conditions be imposed by the licensing authority on the TEN if a premises licence or club premises certificate is currently in force in respect of the same premises to which the TEN applies.

An objection to a TEN can be made in respect of any of the four licensing objectives:

• the prevention of crime and disorder
• public safety
• prevention of public nuisance
• protection of children from harm

This notice must be given by no later than 3 working days after the police and environmental health are provided with a copy of the TEN.

The licensing authority must hold a hearing to consider the objection notice in relation to a standard TEN.  If the licensing authority considers it appropriate for the promotion of the licensing objectives it may either:

• give a premises user a counter notice, stating the reasons for its decision.  The effect of the counter notice would be to stop the event from taking place; or
• impose conditions on the standard TEN in those circumstances where it considers it appropriate for the promotion of the licensing objectives.  Any conditions applied should also have been previously imposed on a premises licence or club premises certificate that is in effect for the same premises as the TEN and must ensure that the conditions would not be inconsistent with the carrying out of the licensable activities under the TEN
• where the licensing authority decides not to give a counter notice or impose conditions, it must give the premises user, police and environmental health notice of this decision and the event can take place as notified

If either the police or environmental health makes an objection to a late TEN, the licensing authority must give the premises user a counter notice.  As a consequence, this will mean that the late TEN will be ineffective and there is no right to a hearing or appeal.

A decision must be made at least 24 hours before the beginning of the event.

The police or environmental health may modify a standard TEN with the consent of the premises user. In such a case an objection notice will be deemed to have been withdrawn.

Counter notices may be provided by the licensing authority if the number of permitted TENs has been exceeded.

Will tacit consent apply?

Yes. This means that you will be able to act as though your application is granted if you have not heard from us by the end of the target completion period as set down in the Act.

If you have not heard from us within a reasonable period, please contact Licensing.

Consumer complaint

We would always advise that in the event of a complaint the first contact is made with the trader by you – preferably in the form a letter (with proof of delivery). If that has not worked, if you are located in the UK,  Adviceguide (external link) will give you advice. From outside the UK contact the UK European Consumer Centre (external link).

Other redress

If a licensing authority decides to issue a counter notice in relation to a standard TEN, a premises user can appeal against the decision.  Equally, if a licensing authority decides not to issue an objection notice in relation to a standard TEN the police or environmental health can appeal the decision. Appeals must be made to the local Magistrates’ court within 21 days. An appeal may not be brought later than five working days from the day of the planned event.