Alcohol and entertainment licensing – including TENs

You must have the correct licences in place before you start any “licensable activity.” You need a licence if you own or manage:

• Places that sell alcohol: Pubs, clubs, hotels, guest houses, off-licences, supermarkets, grocers, and corner shops.
• Late-night food businesses: Cafes, restaurants, and takeaways that stay open after 11pm.
• Entertainment venues: Nightclubs, sports venues, cinemas, theatres, and village or community halls.

Running a business from home? If you are starting a home business that includes selling or supplying alcohol, the same legal rules apply. You must apply for the relevant licences and you must not start selling alcohol until they are granted.

To sell alcohol from any location (including your home address), you must have both of the following licences:

A Personal Licence

This licence is granted to an individual. It gives you the right to sell alcohol (or authorise other people to sell it) at any licensed location.

• How to get it: This is usually granted automatically if you are properly qualified and have no relevant criminal convictions.
• Your responsibility: You do not have to be physically present at the premises for every sale, but you are legally responsible for any alcohol sold.

A Premises Licence

This licence is for the physical building or location where the alcohol is stored, distributed, or sold.

• The “Designated Premises Supervisor” (DPS): Every premises that sells alcohol must have a named DPS. The DPS can be yourself if you have a personal alcohol licence or anyone else that holds a personal alcohol licence. They must agree to be the DPS.

Regulation summary

A summary of the regulation relating to alcohol licensing

Who can apply?

You must be at least 18 years old to apply. The following people or groups are eligible:

• Anyone running a business at the premises
• A recognised club or charity
• A health service body
• A person registered under the Care Standards Act 2000 (for an independent hospital)
• A Chief Police Officer
• Anyone carrying out a statutory function or a function under the Royal Prerogative
• A person from an educational institute
• Any other permitted person

• Annual fee: There is an annual fee for the licence. To keep the licence ‘live’, you must pay the annual fee on time and in full.
• Lifespan: The licence lasts for the life of the business (when renewed yearly). However, it can be reviewed if the Police, responsible bodies, local residents, or other businesses make valid complaints.
• Location: A Premises Licence is only valid for one specific location. It cannot be moved from one premise to another.
• Closing down: If your business closes, you must tell us as soon as possible. You then have two choices for your licence:
  • Leave it open: You can leave the licence as it is. This makes it easy for the next person who takes over the premises to transfer it to their name.
  • Surrender (cancel) it: If you cancel the licence, the new owner has exactly 28 days to transfer it to themselves. If they miss this 28-day deadline, the licence ends, and they must apply and pay for a brand new one.f your business closes, you can surrender the licence. If you change your mind, a surrendered licence can be made “live” again within 28 days. After 28 days, you must apply and pay for a brand new licence.

Further information on applying for a Premises Licence is available via Applying for a premises licence. Please read this guidance carefully before you apply. Please note: Once you apply, the application fee is non-refundable.

What you need to submit

You must send your application and the correct fee to the licensing authority where your premises are located. Your application must include:

• A floor plan of the premises.
• A consent form from your Designated Premises Supervisor (if you are selling alcohol).
• An Operating Schedule. This schedule must clearly show:
  • The activities you plan to carry out and whether alcohol will be consumed on or off the premises (or both).
  • Your general opening hours and the specific times these activities will happen.
  • The details of your Designated Premises Supervisor.
  • How long you need the licence for (if you only need it for a limited time).
  • The exact steps you will take to promote licensing objectives, such as preventing crime, disorder, and public nuisance.

Submit and pay

Apply for a Premises Licence

Advertising your application

Giving notice: Formal notice of each application has to be given to the Police, Kent Fire and Rescue and other relevant bodies and notice displayed on the premises and in newspapers.

The decision process

• If there are no objections: We will grant your licence, though we may add certain conditions to it.
• If there are valid objections: If we receive genuine objections (that are not considered frivolous or vexatious), a Licensing Sub-Committee will hold a hearing. After this hearing, they can choose to grant the licence, add conditions, exclude certain activities, or reject the application entirely.

We will send a notice of our final decision to you, the Chief of Police, and anyone who made a valid objection.

(Note: You can also apply to vary or transfer an existing licence, or apply for an ‘interim authority notice’ if a licence holder dies, becomes incapacitated, or becomes insolvent).

Use the form to pay your annual licence fee online:  Pay your Premises Licence annual fee

If you have any questions or concerns about a licensing decision, please contact your Local Authority first.

If the issue cannot be resolved, all formal appeals must be made to the local Magistrates’ Court within 21 days of the decision notice.

For applicants and licence holders

You can appeal to the Magistrates’ Court if your application is refused, if you disagree with conditions attached to your licence, or if a variation or transfer is rejected.

• Fast-track police reviews: If the Police request an immediate review and interim steps are taken against your licence, you can object. A hearing must be held within 48 hours.

Reviews requested by the Police or the public

• Interested parties (like residents) or responsible authorities can ask us to review a Premises Licence or object to a new application. We will hold a hearing to consider this.
• The Police can request a review if a senior officer certifies the premises are associated with serious crime, disorder, or both. A hearing will be held where you and other parties can respond.
• Transfers: The Police have 14 days to object to a licence transfer if they believe it will undermine crime prevention.
• Appealing a review: Anyone who made a valid objection (including the Police or public) can appeal our final decision to the Magistrates’ Court.

Do you need a Personal Licence?

You do not need a Personal Licence just to work in a pub or a business that sells alcohol. However:

• Any business licensed to sell alcohol must have a Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) who does hold a Personal Licence.
• If you do not have a licence, you must be officially authorised to sell alcohol by someone who does.

(Exceptions: You do not need this authorisation to supply alcohol in a private members’ club. Also, community premises can apply to waive the DPS requirement under section 41D of the Act).

How to apply for a new Personal Licence

Please do not submit an application until you have completed your training course and gathered all your paperwork.

Step 1: Check your eligibility

To apply, you must be aged 18 or over.

Step 2: Get your qualification

You must pass an accredited training course (like the BIIAB Level 2 Award for Personal Licence Holders). This proves you understand licensing laws and your social responsibilities.

View the list of Home Secretary accredited qualification providers

Step 3: Gather your documents

You will need to provide:

• Proof of your right to work in the UK.
• A basic criminal convictions disclosure from Gov.uk. Important: This must be dated no more than one month before the date of your application. (Note: We will review any relevant criminal convictions to decide if you are suitable to hold a licence).
• Two passport-sized photos (you must sign the back of one of them).

Step 4: Submit and pay

Download the Personal Licence Application form

Download the Disclosure of Convictions form

Send your completed forms and photos to:

Thanet District Council, Licensing Dept, Cecil Street, Margate, Kent CT9 1XZ

The application fee is £37. You can pay this via BACS bank transfer:

• Bank: National Westminster Bank PLC
• Sort Code: 60-14-05
• Account: 67834000
• Payee: Thanet District Council

Manage your licence

Change of name or address

If your details change, you must update your licence. The fee is £10.50 (payable via the BACS details under apply for a Personal Licence).

1. Download and complete the Change of Name or Address form
2. Get a new passport photo and sign the back.
3. Send your completed form and photo to: Licensing Department, Thanet District Council, PO Box 9, Margate, Kent CT9 1XZ

Lost or damaged licence

If you lose or damage your licence or badge, the replacement fee is £10.50 (payable via BACS or by cheque).

• Email licensing@thanet.gov.uk to explain what changes are needed and to request your replacement. You will need to supply a new passport photo for the replacement badge.

Apply to transfer your Premises Licence

Apply to vary your Premises Licence

Tell us about a minor change to your premises

Manage your Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS)

Vary an existing premises licence to specify an individual as DPS

Tell us about a change to your existing consent to transfer

Other applications

Apply for a provisional statement

Notify us of an interest in premises under section 178

Tell us about a change to your existing interim authority notice

A Temporary Event Notice (formally known as “serving a TEN”) allows you to carry out “licensable activities” at a venue that does not already have a licence for those activities.

You also need a TEN if your event includes activities not covered by your existing Premises Licence (for example, hosting a wedding reception at a community centre).

Licensable activities include:

• Selling alcohol
• Serving alcohol to members of a private club
• Providing entertainment (like music, dancing, or indoor sports)
• Serving hot food or hot drinks between 11pm and 5am

Rules for your event:

• Capacity: You must have fewer than 500 people at all times (maximum 499). This includes all staff running the event.
• Length: The event can last no longer than 168 hours (7 days).
• Breaks: If you run back-to-back events, there must be at least a 24-hour gap between them.
• One per event: You need a separate TEN for each event you hold at the same premises.

Limits for you (the applicant):

• You must be at least 18 years old.
• You can only apply as an individual, not as a business or organisation.
• If you do not have a Personal Licence: You can get up to 5 TENs a year (this can include up to 2 “Late” TENs).
• If you have a Personal Licence: You can get up to 50 TENs a year (this can include up to 10 “Late” TENs).

Limits for the premises:

• A single premises can have a maximum of 15 TENs per year.
• The total combined length of all TEN events at a single premises cannot exceed 21 days per year.

Please note: “Clear working days” do not include weekends, bank holidays, the day you submit the application, or the day of the event.

Standard TEN

• Deadline: Apply at least 10 clear working days before the event.

Late TEN

• Deadline: Apply between 5 and 9 clear working days before the event.
• Warning: If a Late TEN application is received too late, it will be refused and there is no appeal process. We cannot give a refund if you apply after the deadline.

The application fee is £21. Application fees are strictly non-refundable, even if your event is cancelled or you make a mistake on the form.

Option 1: Apply online (recommended)

Apply to Thanet District Council using the secure Gov.UK online licensing service.

Apply for a Temporary Event Notice

Option 2: Download and Pay by BACS

If you cannot use the Gov.UK website, you can download the form below and pay the £21 fee via bank transfer.

Download an application form

Bank details for BACS payment:

• Bank: National Westminster Bank PLC
• Sort code: 60-14-05
• Account number: 67834000
• Payee: Thanet District Council
• Reference: Please use your name or the premises name.

Important: If you use the downloaded form, you must email proof of your BACS payment to licensing@thanet.gov.uk. We cannot process your application until the fee is paid.

• At the event: You must keep your TEN in a safe place at the venue and clearly display a copy where people can see it.
• Fines and prison: You face a fine if you make false statements on your application, or prosecution if you break the rules of the notice. If you run an event without a valid TEN, you can be fined, sent to prison for up to 6 months, or both.

The council cannot refuse a notice unless the Police or the Environmental Health team object. They have 3 working days to object if they believe your event could:

• Lead to crime and disorder
• Cause a public nuisance
• Be a threat to public safety
• Put children at risk of harm (Tip: Provide as much detail as possible in your application to help avoid objections).

If there is an objection to a Standard TEN: Our licensing committee will hold a hearing no later than 24 hours before the event. They will either approve the notice, add conditions, or reject it.

If there is an objection to a Late TEN: The notice instantly becomes invalid. You cannot hold the event, and there is no appeal process.

Your club must meet all of the following general conditions:

• You must have at least 25 members.
• The club must be established and run in good faith.
• The 2-day rule: Anyone applying or nominated for membership must wait at least two days before their membership and privileges are granted. If your rules allow people to join without an application or nomination, they must still wait at least two days before getting membership privileges.
• Alcohol is only supplied to members on the premises, by or on behalf of the club.

• Registered Industrial, Provident, and Friendly Societies: These qualify if alcohol is bought and supplied under the control of the members or a committee of members.
• Miners’ Welfare Institutes: These can qualify if managed by a specific committee or board. This board must be made up of at least two-thirds of people appointed by licensed operators (under the Coal Industry Act 1994) and coal mine employee representatives. Alternatively, it can be managed by people employed around coal mines and appointed by the Coal Industry Welfare Organisation (under the Miners’ Welfare Act 1952). In all cases, the premises must be held on a trust under the Recreational Charities Act 1958.

You must apply to the local licensing authority where your premises are located.

What you need to provide:

• An application form.
• A plan of the premises (in a specific format).
• A copy of the club’s rules.
• A Club Operating Schedule.
• The relevant application fee.

What is a Club Operating Schedule?

This is a strictly formatted document that includes:

• The activities of the club and the times they will take place.
• General opening times.
• Whether alcohol will be consumed on the premises, off the premises, or both.
• The steps the club will take to promote licensing objectives.
• Any other required information.

(Please note: We may inspect your premises before considering your application).

Apply or make changes online

You can submit your applications to Thanet Council using the Gov.uk online licensing service. There is no charge for using this online facility, but there are fees for applications.

Visit the Gov.uk website for further information.

Yes. “Tacit consent” applies after 30 working days. This means your application is automatically approved after this time, unless we notify you that objections (representations) have been made and a hearing is necessary.

• Rule or name changes: If the club’s rules or name change, the club secretary must tell the licensing authority. You must send us your certificate so we can update it.
• Address changes: If the registered address changes, you must notify us and provide the certificate.
• Making variations: You can apply to vary (change) your certificate. You must include the original certificate with your application.

If you have an issue with a decision, please contact your Local Authority in the first instance. If the issue cannot be resolved, all formal appeals must be made to the local Magistrates’ Court within 21 days of the decision.

• For licence holders/applicants: You can appeal if your application is refused, if we put conditions on your certificate, if we exclude a club activity, or if we withdraw your certificate entirely.
• For club members: A club member may request a review of the certificate.
• For “interested parties”: An interested party is someone who lives or runs a business near the premises (or a body representing them). They can object to a certificate being granted, request a review, or appeal a decision. If an interested party makes a valid objection before a certificate is granted, we will hold a hearing to consider it.

(In all cases, the local licensing authority will provide written notices detailing the reasons for any outcome).

Regulation summary

A summary of the regulation relating to this licence