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  10. Temporary Event Notices

Temporary Event Notices

A Temporary Event Notice (TEN) is required if you intend to carry out a licensable activity on unlicensed premises, or wish to operate outside the terms of your existing Premises Licence or Club Premises Certificate.

Persons giving Temporary Event Notices will be required to declare if the licensable activities at their event will include 'relevant entertainment'. Relevant Entertainment is certain types of adult entertainment including lap dancing and pole dancing.

The TEN can be acknowledged by South Holland District Council to permit small scale events in the South Holland District that will:

  • include a licensable activity
  • be attended by no more than 499 people at any time (including any stewards, staff, organisers and performers)
  • be held for a period of 168 hours or less.

Temporary event notice criteria

The following criteria must be met in order for a TEN to be granted:

  • you must be over 18 years of age to apply for a TEN
  • a premises can host no more than 15 TEN's per calendar year
  • the aggregate duration of TEN's on any premises cannot exceed 21 days in any year
  • there must be a minimum of 24 hours between events at the same premises
  • if you do not hold a Personal Licence you are only permitted to hold a maximum of five TEN's per calendar year (inclusive of a maximum of two Late TEN's)
  • please note, a TEN is treated as from the same person if it is submitted through a spouse, agent, employee, civil partner, child, grandparent, brother or sister
  • if you hold a Personal Licence you are permitted to hold a maximum of 50 TEN's per calendar year (inclusive of a maximum of ten late TEN's).

South Holland District Council, the Police and Environmental Health must be in receipt of the completed application and non-refundable fee of £21 no later than 10 clear working days before the day on which the event is due to start. You can either pay on our website here and select 'Other Payments' then 'Licences (Other)' and select 'Temporary Event Notice' or call customer services on 01775 761161. Please be advised paying by cheque is discouraged as this will delay the application process.

Please note your application will only be processed once payment is received.

Please note it is an offence to carry out a Licensable Activity without the appropriate licence which carries the penalty of a fine of any amount or up to six months imprisonment or both.

Apply for a temporary event notice

Please complete and return temporary event notice application form (PDF, 301 KB)(opens new window) and return to licensing@sholland.gov.uk. We will forward a copy to the Police and Environmental Health (PDF, 6 KB)(opens new window) for consideration.

Completed applications can be returned by post or in person at our Council Office in Spalding, however it will be your responsibility to provide a copy of your application to both the Police and Environmental Health (PDF, 6 KB)(opens new window). Copies must be shared with them for consideration at least 10 clear working days before the proposed start date of the event. 

Apply for a late temporary event notice

A late TEN can be applied for between nine and five clear working days before the day of the event. Please see the limits stated above as to the maximum number of late TEN's that can be applied for.

South Holland District Council, the Police and Environmental Health must be in receipt of the completed application and non-refundable fee of £21, not before nine clear working days and no later than five clear working days before the day on which the event is due to start.

Completed applications can be returned by post or in person at our Council Office in Spalding, however it will be your responsibility to provide a copy of your application to both the Police and Environmental Health (PDF, 6 KB)(opens new window). Copies must be shared with them for consideration at least 10 clear working days before the proposed start date of the event. 

The premises is still subject to all other relevant legal requirements. For example, the premises must still meet all relevant health and safety standards.

TEN handling

On receipt of the completed application form and payment, subject to all conditions being met, our Licensing Team will acknowledge receipt. Only the Police and Environmental Protection (not members of the general public) can object to a TEN or Late TEN on the grounds of any of the four licensing objectives:

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

If a valid objection is received on a TEN there may be a hearing, or conditions may be attached to the TEN. If a valid objection is received on a Late TEN then the event will be prevented from going ahead. Once a TEN or Late TEN has been acknowledged by us and no objection had been received you can proceed with the event. You must ensure a copy of the TEN, acknowledged by us, is prominently displayed at the premises.

If you wish to withdraw your TEN or Late TEN at any time during the application process, you must confirm to South Holland District Council in writing at least 24 hours before the start of the event. A cancelled event will not count towards your annual limits. There is no refund of the £21 fee.

For further information on Temporary Event Notices please refer to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport website (opens new window).

For the full Licensing Act 2003, which regulates Alcohol and Entertainment, please visit the legislation.gov.uk website (opens new window)

If you are unable to find the information you need, please contact us.

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