Temporary event notices

Licence summary

Temporary Event Notices (or TENs) can be used to allow licensable activities to be carried out on a one-off or occasional basis. They are the most appropriate type of authorisation for small-scale, one-off events, such as community, school and charity fundraising events, at which it is intended to sell or supply alcohol, provide regulated entertainment, or sell hot food/drink between 11pm and 5am.

TENs may also be used by licensed premises to increase the scope of their licence for a one-off event, for example, to allow the hosting of a live music event in a venue not usually permitted live music, or to allow an extra hour for the supply of alcohol on a special occasion.

Eligibility criteria

There are some restrictions on how TENs may be used.

• TENs can only be given by persons over the age of 18.
• TENs can be used for events where up to 499 people are expected to attend, including staff and performers.
• TENs can be used for an event lasting a maximum of 168 hours (7 days) from start to finish
• For a standard TEN, you must give at least 10 clear working days' notice between submitting the TEN and the first day of the event.
  • Clear working days do not include the day we receive your application or the day of the event.
• An individual (or a group of associates, business partners or family members) may only give five TENs per calendar year - unless they hold a Personal Licence, in which case they may give 50.
• No more than two of the five TENs (or ten of the 50 for Personal Licence holders) can be given as late TENs (see below for more information on late TENs)
• A premises can use up to 15 TENs in a calendar year covering a maximum total of 21 calendar days in that year* (a calendar day starts at midnight, so a TEN running from 11pm to 1am would count as two days).
  • If an event is expected to attract more than 499 people, or last longer than 168 hours, or if it is intended to use the same premises to provide licensable activities on more than 15 occasions or more than 21 days per year, a Premises Licence will be required.
  • There must be at least 24 hours between the end of one TEN and the start of another.

2022 and 2023 notice increases

In 2022 and 2023 limits will increase to a maximum of 20 TENs per year for the same premises. There will be an overall limit of no more than 26 event days.

These will return to the pre-Covid limits as stated in the eligibility criteria from 31 December 2023. 

Submitting your notice

To submit a TEN you can:

• give notice online
• or download a form to complete

Before you give notice, we recommend that you read the guidance notes.

Will tacit consent apply?

Yes. This means that you will be able to act as though your TEN has been approved if you have not heard from the local authority by the end of the target completion period.

Notice evaluation process

Late TENs

Licensing authorities can accept a limited number of late TENs after the normal 10 clear working day cut-off. Clear working days do not include the day we receive your notice or the day of the event.

TENs served on any party (licensing, police or environmental health) 5-9 clear working days before the start of the event will be classed as late TENs and will be subject to special provisions. The late TENs rules will apply even if two of the three parties received their copies on time.

Only 2 late TENs per person per calendar year can be given (or 10 with a Personal Licence). Any further late TENs given beyond this limit will be rejected. This limit applies nationwide - if you have given your late TENs to another licensing authority, you will not be able to give any in Cheltenham.

If police or environmental health noise officers object to a late TEN, the event will be immediately vetoed. There is no provision for a hearing, nor to appeal against the decision.

There remains no discretion to accept any TEN which has not been given to all parties at least 5 full working days before the start of the event.