Licensing for
Events UK

In England and Wales, the Licensing Act 2003 governs the sale of alcohol, the provision of regulated entertainment, and late-night refreshment. If your event involves any of these, you need a licence.

Sale of alcohol: Selling alcohol (including at a bar or as part of a ticket package) requires a licence. There is no exception based on event size. Even a small charity fundraiser with a bar needs proper licensing.

Regulated entertainment: Live music, recorded music (with some exceptions), dance performances, plays, and film screenings are all regulated entertainment under the Act. However, significant deregulation in recent years means many smaller events are now exempt.

Live music exemption: Since the Live Music Act 2012, unamplified live music is exempt from licensing requirements. Amplified live music is also exempt between 8am and 11pm at licensed premises (with a premises licence) for audiences up to 500, and at unlicensed venues for audiences up to 500.

Late-night refreshment: Serving hot food or hot drinks between 11pm and 5am requires a licence. This catches late-night events with food vendors.

Scotland and Northern Ireland have different licensing regimes. This guide covers England and Wales. Check the relevant regulations if your event is elsewhere.

There are two main routes to getting a licence for your event.

Premises licence: If your event is at a venue that already holds a premises licence (most pubs, bars, clubs, theatres, and established event venues), their licence covers the sale of alcohol and regulated entertainment within its terms. Check what their licence permits and ensure your event falls within those terms.

Temporary Event Notice (TEN): For events at unlicensed premises (community halls, outdoor spaces, private land), you need a TEN. This is the most common route for one-off events. A TEN allows you to serve alcohol, provide entertainment, and serve late-night refreshment for up to 499 people for up to 168 hours (7 days).

TEN requirements: You must be aged 18 or over, and each individual can submit a maximum of 50 TENs per calendar year (5 for non-personal licence holders). A single premises can have a maximum of 15 TENs per year.

Club Premises Certificate: For qualifying clubs (members' clubs, sports clubs), a CPC allows the supply of alcohol to members and their guests without a premises licence.

If your event is at an established venue, start by asking the venue manager about their licence conditions. They will know what is and is not permitted. For finding licensed venues, UK Venue Guide lists venues with their licensing details.

TENs are the most common licensing route for independent event organisers. Here is the application process.

Timing: Submit your TEN to the local council licensing team at least 10 working days before the event (this is the legal minimum). A late TEN can be submitted 5-9 working days before, but can be rejected by the police or environmental health without a hearing. Apply early. Three to four weeks before is ideal.

Application form: Complete the TEN application form, available from your local council website or gov.uk. You will need to provide: your personal details, the event location, dates and times, the maximum number of attendees (up to 499), the licensable activities (alcohol, entertainment, late-night food), and a brief description of the event.

Fee: The standard TEN fee is £21 (as of 2026). This is a flat fee regardless of event size.

Who receives it: Send copies of the TEN to the licensing authority (your local council), the police, and the environmental health team. Most councils now accept online submissions.

Objections: The police or environmental health can object to your TEN within 3 working days. If they object, a hearing is held. Objections are relatively rare for straightforward events but more common for late-night events in residential areas.

If your event involves alcohol, there are specific requirements beyond the TEN or premises licence.

Personal licence: At any event where alcohol is sold, at least one person must hold a personal licence. This person does not need to be behind the bar at all times, but they must authorise each sale. Personal licences are obtained through the local council after completing an accredited licensing qualification.

Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS): Premises with a premises licence must name a DPS who holds a personal licence. For a TEN, there is no DPS requirement, but the TEN holder is responsible.

Challenge 25 policy: You must have procedures to prevent underage sales. Challenge 25 means asking for ID from anyone who appears under 25. Acceptable ID is a passport, driving licence, or PASS-accredited proof of age card. Brief all bar staff on this policy.

Drink spiking prevention: Provide drink covers or anti-spiking products. Train bar staff to watch for suspicious behaviour. Have a clear policy for reporting incidents. This is increasingly expected by councils and police.

Responsible serving: Train bar staff to refuse service to intoxicated persons. This is a legal requirement and protects your licence.

Beyond alcohol and entertainment licensing, there are other permits you may need.

Street trading licence: If your event involves selling goods (food stalls, merchandise) on public land, you may need a street trading licence from the council.

Road closure order: For street events or events that affect traffic, you need a road closure order from the council or highways authority. Apply at least 12 weeks in advance.

PRS/PPL music licence: If you play recorded music or have live performances of copyrighted music, you need licences from PRS for Music and PPL. Most venues handle this under their own licences, but check with the venue manager.

Food hygiene: If you or your vendors serve food, the food business must be registered with the local council and comply with food hygiene regulations. Verify that all food vendors have appropriate registration and hygiene ratings.

Noise management: Particularly for outdoor events or events near residential areas, you may need to agree noise limits with the council's environmental health team. A noise management plan demonstrates responsible event management.

For a complete overview of event planning requirements including licensing, see our event planning checklist. Once licensing is sorted, focus on selling tickets with a platform like tickts that charges zero fees.