Temporary Events

Page Rating

1 2 3 4 5

01903 221068

licensing.unit@adur-worthing.gov.uk

A Temporary Event

Temporary Event Notices

The Licensing Act 2003 utilises a 'light touch' system to permit temporary activities. This replaces the old occasional licences and occasional permissions previously granted in connection with short-term alcohol and public entertainment licensing.

The system involves an event organiser, or premises user, simply giving a Temporary Event Notice (TEN) to the licensing authority. For Southwick, Shoreham & Lancing this is Adur District Council and for the borough of Worthing this is Worthing Borough Council. Copies of the Notice must be served on the same day on Sussex Police and Adur & Worthing Council Services Environmental Protection Team.

This system allows relatively small-scale 'ad hoc' events to be held at venues where no premises licence is in place or where the terms of a premises licence would not normally allow the event. A TEN can only be used where less than 500 people are likely to attend, and which lasts for less than 168 hours or 7 days. Any venue, in doors or outdoors, can host 12 such events, or an aggragate of 21 days, per calender year. There must be a minimum of 24 hours between events notified by a premises user, or associates of that premises user, in respect of the same premises.

The fee for a TEN is £21. Anyone aged 18 or over can serve a TEN.

Someone who holds a personal licence is able to serve up to 50 TENs a year, including up to 10 late TENs, at a variety of premises. A non-personal licence holder is able to serve up to 5 TENs, including up to 2 late TENs, a year. The notice includes details of the event, the applicant and the licensable activities proposed.

As stated above there are two types of TEN.

The standard TEN has to be served on the authorities at least 10 clear working days before an event. Sussex Police and the Environmental Protection Team have the right to serve a notice of objection if they have concerns. This can result in a hearing by the Licensing Committee. At such a hearing the committee will hear the case of all parties and may approve the event, refuse the event, or where a licensed premises is being used - impose some or all of the conditions present on the premises licence onto the TEN.

The late TEN can be served not less than 5 clear working days before the event but if Sussex Police or the Environmental Protection Team make objection to a late TEN then the notice will not be valid and the event cannot go ahead. There is no right to a hearing in such circumstances. 

Back to Navigation - Back to the top of this article