TEN licences 101: a quick guide when planning events
Image: A woman sitting on a sofa using a laptop on a coffee table. Her young son is sitting on the sofa in the background.
What is a TEN?
‘TEN’ stands for ‘Temporary Events Notice,’ and you’ll need one to:
- Supply alcohol
- Provide regulated entertainment, such as dancing, music or indoor sports events
- Serve hot food or drinks late at night
You’ll need to apply for a separate TEN licence for each event your PTA holds. An event covered by a TEN will need to have fewer than 500 people attending (including volunteers helping at the event) and last no more than 168 hours (seven days). If you’re planning an event with more than 500 people, you need to get advice from the licensing officer at your local council. You may need a premises licence for a larger event or hold it at a venue that already has a premises licence.
If you host an event requiring a TEN but don’t have one, you could face a fine or prosecution.
How do we get a TEN?
You can get a TEN licence through your local council, and anyone over 18 can apply for up to five per year. If your PTA is holding more than five licensed events in the year, committee members can take it in turns to apply, but the licence holder must always attend the event.
Once you’ve filled in the form, supply one copy (together with a payment of £21) to your local council and one copy to your local police department. Both must be received at least ten clear working days before the event. We recommend applying as soon as you know when you’ll need one as they can take a while to come through.
What about Northern Ireland?
The licensing system in Northern Ireland is not integrated, which means that rather than applying for one TEN licence to cover alcohol, entertainment and evening refreshments, you’ll need to apply for separate licences.
Alcohol must be served in licensed premises, but a licence holder for a pub, hotel or restaurant can apply for an occasional licence that authorises the sale of alcohol in unlicensed premises (but the sale of alcohol cannot be the sole purpose of the event).
You’ll need to apply for an entertainment licence to organise indoor events such as stage plays, circuses, indoor sports or musical performances, although some outdoor events and events for your school community may be exempt. Always check with your local council.
For more information, we’ve got a page on PTA Expert dedicated to the licences you’ll need for your events.
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