Temporary Event Notices

Permission summary

If you wish to provide a licensable activity (Sale of alcohol, regulated entertainment or late night refreshment) and don't hold a premises licence or club premises certificate under the provisions of the Licensing Act 2003 you may submit a notice to the licensing authority for temporary permission.  These notices are call temporary event notices (TEN). 

The Licensing Authority must receive your temporary event notice (TEN) no later than ten working days before the event.  Unless you submit an electronic online application the Police and Environmental Health Department must also be served a copy of your notice and receive it no later than ten working days before the event.  Please note that ten working days start on the day after the day the authority receives the TEN.  It does not include the day of the event. 

You must be 18 years or older to give a TEN and can only give a maximum of five TENs per year of which 2 can be late TEN's.  If you do hold a personal licence under the Licensing Act 2003, you can give a maximum of 50 TENs per year of which 10 can be late TEN's, however you are limited to a maximum number of TEN's per premises.

Your event must involve no more than 499 people at any one time and last no more than 168 hours with a minimum of 24 hours between your event and the start or finish of another Temporary Event Notice.  Premises are limited to a maximum total duration of the periods covered by temporary event notices of 21 days per calendar year or 12 TENs per Calendar year.  

Guidance to applicants

The Council has produced a guidance document for those wishing to submit a temporary event notice.  This guidance notice explains the eligibility criteria, timescales, statutory requirements and deadlines for submissions. 

The council's guidance covers the changes that took effect on the 25th April 2012 concerning standard and late TEN's, the change to the limitation on hours and number of TEN's, new statutory Notice form and enabling Environmental Health as a responsible authority for TEN's

Regulation Summary

A summary of this regime relating to this Notice can be found by clicking here.   On the 25th April 2012 some of the changes to the Licensing Act 2003 from the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 came into effect.  The Temporary Event Notice requirements also changed.  The Home Office has produced a fact sheet relating to these changes. 

Application Process

The TEN must be given in writing (including by electronic means) to the Licensing Authority and received at least ten working days before the event (please note that ten working days starts from the day after the notice is received by the authority and does not include the day of the event). A fee of £21 is payable with each notice.  This fee covers the cost of processing the Notice.  If the application is withdrawn or is issued a counter notice this fee is non refundable.

The Licensing Authority will acknowledge receipt of the notice by giving a notice to the premises user before the end of the first working day following the 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.

Unless an application has been submitted electronically, the premises user must serve a copy of the notice to the chief officer of the Metropolitan Police Licensing Team and Environmental Health Service.  The notice must be received by both responsible authorities no later than ten working days before the event period (please note that ten working days starts on the day after receipt of the notice and does not include the day of the event).

The Police and Environmental Health Service, as responsible authorities may oppose a TEN if there are concerns that the event may not promote the licensing objectives.  The Licensing Authority must hold a hearing if an objection notice is served on it by one of these responsible authorities. The authority may issue a counter notice to the temporary event notice if it considers it necessary for the promotion of the licensing objectives.

The authotiy may issue a counter notices if the number of permitted TENs has been exceeded.

Will Tacit Consent Apply?

No - As a Temporary Event Notice is a notification of intent to carry out a licensable event.  There is no tacit consent for TEN's.  The Licensing Authority does not give the permission to provide the event so therefore tacit authorisation cannot be granted.

Apply Online

You can apply for a Temporary Event Notice online by using the relevant link below.  You can also attach a completed Metropolitan Police Service - Promotion Event Risk Assessment Form if you wish to (please note that by completing this form the Police will be in a better position to assess the applicant's attempts to address the risks of crime and disorder associated with the event).

• Application for a Temporary Event Notice
• Metropolitan Police - Promotion Event Risk Assessment Form*

*If you do complete the Metropolitan Police Promotion Event Risk Assessment Form and intend to apply online then you will need to save the completed form and then upload where promted on the application page of the online system.

If you make an application online you are not required to send a copy of the application to the Police.  The Licensing Authority will serve a copy of the notice on the police and Environmental Health Service within 1 working day or receiving the notice.

NOTE: Please note that when you click on the application form link you will be redirected to the governments Business Link website.  If you don't have a Government Gateway account you will need to create one before you can proceed to the relevant form.  If you already have a Government Gateway account you will be invited to log in prior to completing the application.  This account is necessary as it will ensure that your details are pulled through to the relevant form and will enable you to track your applications once they've been submitted.

Apply Via Post

If you wish to apply for Temporary Event Notice and submit it to the Licensing Authority via post please download the application form by clicking on the link below.  You can also download and complete a Metropolitan Police Service - Promotion Event Risk Assessment Form if you wish to (please note that by completing this form the Police will be in a better position to assess the applicant's attempts to address the risks of crime and disorder associated with the event).

• Application for a Temporary Event Notice
• Metropolitan Police - Promotion Event Risk Assessment Form

Once the Notice has been completed two copies of the notice must be sent to the following address accompanied by the relevant fee (£21 per Temporary Event Notice period) and any other relevant documents:

Licensing Service, 4th Floor, Westminster City Hall, 64 Victoria Street, London SW1E 6QP.

Important Note. Unlike applicants that submit Temporary Event Notice applications online, applicants that submit applications as a hard copy must also send a copy to the Metropolitan Police Service and the Council's Environmental Health Service at the following address.

• Westminster Police Licensing Team, 4th Floor, Westminster City Hall, 64 Victoria Street, London SW1E 6QP.
• Environmental Health Consultation Team, 4th Floor, Westminster City Hall, 64 Victoria Street, London SW1E 6QP.

If you have any questions relating to the application process or how to complete the forms please contact the Licensing Service on 020 7641 1884 or email tens@westminster.gov.uk

Register

A public register is available online.  If you wish to view the register please click here.  You can also view a copy of the register at the Council's Offices during normal office hours.  To make an appointment to view the register please contact the Licensing Service on 020 7641 1884 or alterntively email tens@westminster.gov.uk

Failed Application Redress

If a counter notice is given in relation to an objection notice the applicant may appeal against the decision. Appeals must be made to the City of Westminster Magistrates' Court, 70 Horseferry Road, London SW1P 2AX court within 21 days. An appeal may not be brought later than five working days before the day of the planned event.

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, Consumer Direct will give you advice. From outside the UK contact the UK European Consumer Centre

The council operates a complaints procedure.  To view the complaints procedure or to make a complaint relating to the service you have received please click here.

Other Redress

If the Licensing Authority decides not to issue a counter notice in relation to an objection notice the chief police officer can appeal the decision. Appeals must be made to the City of Westminster Magistrates' Court, 70 Horseferry Road, London SW1P 2AX within 21 days. An appeal may not be brought later than five working days from the day of the planned event.

If there is a concern about noise, pollution, etc please contact Westminster City Council's Environmental Action Line on 020 7641 2000 (24 hrs) or email environmentalactionline@westminster.gov.uk.  Also should any person have a complaint relating to a licensed premises or suspect a premises is operating without the required licence please contact the Council's Licensing Inspectors on 020 7641 3385 or email premiseslicensinginspectorate@westminster.gov.uk.

Trade Associations

National Outdoor Events Association (NDEA)

Society of Event Organisers (SEO)

Event Supplier and Services Association (ESSA)

TSNN Online Directory