Temporary event notice
If you wish to hold an occasional or ad-hoc event for up to 499 people, where licensable activities are to take place, you must apply for a Temporary Event Notice (TEN).
WHAT IS A TEMPORARY EVENT NOTICE?
A Temporary Event Notice (TEN) is a notification given by an individual to Cotswold District Council giving notice of an event that is to take place.
Temporary Events are events that take place in any premises, open space or temporary structure and:
- Consist of one or more Licensable Activities;
- The event is for a period of no longer than 168 hours (7 days);
- No more than 499 people will attend the event (this includes all staff, performers and guests) at any one time;
- Can be used for locations not covered by an existing Licence or Certificate granted under the Licensing Act 2003 or to extend hours for premises that hold a Licence or
WHAT ARE LICENSABLE ACTIVITIES?
- The sale by retail of alcohol
- The supply of alcohol by or on behalf of a club to a member or to a guest of a member
- Provision of regulated entertainment (see below)
- Provision of late-night refreshment (hot food or drink between 23:00 and 05:00)
WHAT IS REGULATED ENTERTAINMENT?
- Performance of a play
- Exhibition of a film
- Indoor sporting event
- Boxing or wrestling
- Performance of live music
- Playing of recorded music
- Performance of dance
WHO CAN APPLY FOR A TEMPORARY EVENT NOTICE?
The person applies for the Temporary Event Notice is known as the ‘premises user’.
- Any person who is over 18 years old can apply for a A TEN is treated as being from the same person if it is given by an ‘associate’. The Act defines ‘an associate’ as being a spouse, child, parent, grandchild, grandparent, brother or sister or their spouses or agent or employee of that person or their spouse, or a business associate where the business involves licensable activities.
TEMPORARY EVENT NOTICE RESTRICTION
- Your event must not last longer than 168 hours (7 days in total).
- There must be at least 24 hours between events covered by TENs submitted by you for the same location.
- Any premises can have no more than 15 TENs per calendar year (Jan-Dec), authorising events on no more than 21 days in total.
- No more than 499 people can attend your event at any one time (including staff, performers, )
If you are likely to exceed the above limits, you will need to apply for a Premises Licence instead.
STANDARD TEMPORARY EVENT NOTICES
A Standard TEN must be received at least 10 working days before the event. Please note that the 10 working days do not include the day the Council receives the application, the day of the event, public holidays or weekends.
- Non-Personal Licence holders may only give up to 5 TENs per calendar year
- Personal Licence holders may give up to 50 TENs per calendar year
LATE TEMPORARY EVENT NOTICES
You can submit a late TEN, but it must be received at least 5 working days before the event begins. Please note that the 5 working days do not include the day the Council receives the application, the day of the event, public holidays or weekends.
- Non-Personal Licence holders may only give up to 2 Late TENs per calendar year
- Personal Licence holders may only give up to 10 Late TENs per calendar year
PLEASE NOTE: These allowances are not in addition to standard TENs and form part of your overall allowance (Non personal licence holder 5 of which 2 can be late – Personal licence holder 50 of which 10 can be late). Also, remember that each premise can only be covered by a TEN on a maximum of 15 occasions per calendar year, amounting to no more than 21 days in total.
WHAT IS EXEMPT FROM NEEDING A TEMPORARY EVENT NOTICE?
There are a range of exemptions for Regulated Entertainment which means there is no requirement for a TEN.
Please see section 16 of the Revised guidance issued under Section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003 for a full list of exemptions. Revised guidance issued under section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003 (February 2026) (accessible version) - GOV.UK
HOW TO APPLY
You can apply online or by downloading an application form using the following link
Application Form - cdc-temporary-event-notice.docx
Online - Temporary Event Notice from Cotswold District Council Downloaded application forms should be returned to:
Post: Cotswold District Council, Trinity Road, Cirencester, Gloucestershire. GL76 1PX
Email: ers@costwold.gov.uk
FEE
A fee of £21 will be payable to validate your application. This fee is non-refundable once the application is processed.
Payment can be made by calling Customer Services on 01285 623000 or attaching a cheque with your application, made payable to Cotswold District Council. If you are applying online, please ensure that you have your card details ready to submit when requested.
WHEN IS A TEMPORARY EVENT NOTICE INVALID OR VOID
A TEN is invalid if:
- The notice is not received by the Licensing Authority at least 10 working days before the event for a ‘standard’ TEN or at least 5 working days before the event for a ‘late’ TEN;
- The form has not been fully
- The fee of £21 has not been received
A TEN is void if:
- You have exceeded any of the limits for
- An invalid or void TEN will not count towards your allocation of TENs for the calendar
Please note, the fee of £21 is not refundable if a TEN is invalid or void.
It is recommended that if you do not apply online, you obtain proof of postage. This will enable you to prove postage to the Licensing Authority in the event that a notice is not received.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
When we receive your Temporary Event Notice, provided it is valid and not void, we will email or send you an acknowledgement letter. If you have not received an objection from either the
Police or Environmental Health within the time limit set out below, your event can go ahead.
OBJECTIONS TO A STANDARD TEMPORARY EVENT NOTICE
If the Police or Environmental Health believe that allowing your event will undermine the
licensing objectives, they must, no later than 3 working days starting from the day after rbeing given a copy of your TEN, give you and the Licensing Section an objection notice.
The Police and or Environmental Health, with the agreement of the premises user, can modify your TEN in which case the objection notice will be withdrawn.
If the objection is not withdrawn Cotswold District Council must hold a hearing to consider your TEN at least 24 hrs before the event, following which a decision may be made to issue a counter notice, which prevents the event from taking place. To allow time for this hearing, we advise that TENs are submitted as far in advance of the proposed event as possible. There is right of appeal.
OBJECTIONS TO A LATE TEMPORARY EVENT NOTICE
If the Police or Environmental Health believe that allowing your event will undermine the
licensing objectives, they must, no later than 3 working days starting from the day after being given a copy of the Late TEN, give you and the Licensing Section an objection notice.
On receipt, the Licensing Section will issue a counter notice immediately and the event cannot take place. There will not be a hearing and there is no right of appeal.
WITHDRAWAL OF A TEMPORARY EVENT NOTICE
If your event is cancelled, a TEN can be withdrawn, provided that notification is received by Cotswold District Council in writing at least 24 hours before the beginning of the event period specified in the TEN. Once a TEN is withdrawn, it will be not be counted towards the limits allowed for the Premises and you as the Premises User. The fee for a withdrawn TEN is non-refundable. TENs cannot be withdrawn after the event period has passed.
DISCUSSIONS BEFORE SUBMITTING A TEN
Where it is proposed to hold a major event, organisers are asked to contact the Cotswold
District Council at an early stage before a formal notice is made. This will enable the Police to consider and discuss with organisers their operating schedule and avoid potential objections and hold ups.
PLANNING LAWS
The giving of a temporary event notice does not relieve the premises user from any requirements under planning law for appropriate planning permission where it is required.
CHILDREN
Under the Act it will be unlawful to allow any unaccompanied child under the age of 16 to be present on premises where the TEN is exclusively or primarily used for the supply and consumption of alcohol. It will also be unlawful to permit children under 16 not accompanied by an adult between midnight and 5 a.m. into any premises operating under a TEN supplying alcohol for consumption.
