Regulated Entertainment

We often get asked about whether a Temporary Event Notice (TEN) is needed for entertainment at events. Event organisers should read this guide before applying for a TEN.

What activities could be regulated and therefore may need a licence or temporary event notice (TEN)?

The descriptions of entertainment activities licensable under the 2003 Act are:
• a performance of a play;
• an exhibition of a film;
• an indoor sporting event;
• a boxing or wrestling entertainment;
• a performance of live music;
• any playing of recorded music;
• a performance of dance; and
• entertainment of a similar description to a performance of live music, any playing of recorded music or a performance of dance.

You’ll only need to apply for a licence or TEN if:

One or more of the above activities needs to be provided for the purpose (at least partly) of entertaining an audience; has to be held on premises made available for the purpose of enabling that activity; and must also either:
• take place in the presence of a public audience

OR
• be provided exclusively for the members of a club or for the club members and their guests

OR
• where that activity takes place in private, be the subject of a charge made with a view to profit.

General circumstances in which entertainment activities are licensable

An authorisation for regulated entertainment is always required for entertainment activities that take place before 08.00 or after 23.00, unless there is an exemption under law.

Live music events which are licensable

Live music is licensable:

  • where a performance of live music – whether amplified or unamplified – takes place before 08.00 or after 23.00 on any day;
  • where a performance of amplified live music does not take place either on relevant licensed premises, or at a workplace that is not licensed other than for the provision of late night refreshment;
  • where a performance of amplified live music takes place at a time when the relevant licensed premises are not open for the purposes of being used for the sale or supply of alcohol for consumption on the premises;
  • where a performance of amplified live music takes place at relevant licensed premises, or workplaces, in the presence of an audience of more than 500 people; or
  • where a licensing authority intentionally removes the effect of the deregulation provided for by the 2003 Act when imposing a condition on a premises licence or club premises certificate as a result of a licence review.


In any of the above circumstances, unless the performance of live music is appropriately authorised by a premises licence, club premises certificate or TEN, allowing it to take place could lead to enforcement action and, where relevant, a review of the alcohol licence or certificate.
A public performance of live unamplified music that takes place between 08.00 and 23.00 on the same day no longer requires a licence under the 2003 Act in any location. An exception to this is where a specific condition related to live music is included following a review of the premises licence or club premises certificate in respect of relevant licensed premises.

Entertainment activities that are exempt from needing a licence or temporary event notice

This guidance cannot give examples of every eventuality or possible entertainment activity that is not licensable. However, the following activities are examples of entertainment which are not licensable so DO NOT need a premises licence or a TEN:

  • activities which involve participation as acts of worship in a religious context;
  • activities in places of public religious worship;
  • education – teaching students to perform music or to dance;
  • the demonstration of a product – for example, a guitar – in a music shop;
  • the rehearsal of a play or performance of music for a private audience where no charge is made with a view to making a profit;
  • Morris dancing (or similar)
  • Incidental music – the performance of live music or the playing of recorded music if it is incidental to some other activity
  • Incidental film – an exhibition of moving pictures if it is incidental to some other activity
  • A spontaneous performance of music, singing or dancing;
  • Garden fetes – or similar if not being promoted or held for purposes of private gain;
  • Films for advertisement, information, education or in museums or art galleries;
  • Television or radio broadcasts – as long as the programme is live and simultaneous;
  • Vehicles in motion – at a time when the vehicle is not permanently or temporarily parked;
  • Games played in pubs, youth clubs etc. (e.g. pool, darts and table tennis);
  • Stand-up comedy; and
  • Provision of entertainment facilities (e.g. dance floors)

More detailed examples of when a licence or TEN is NOT required.

  • Plays: no licence is required for performances between 08.00 and 23.00 on any day, provided that the audience does not exceed 500.
  • Dance: no licence is required for performances between 08.00 and 23.00 on any day, provided that the audience does not exceed 500.
  • Films: no licence is required for ‘not-for-profit’ film exhibition held in community premises between 08.00 and 23.00 on any day provided that the audience does not exceed 500 and the organiser (a) gets consent to the screening from a person who is responsible for the premises; and (b) ensures that each such screening abides by age classification ratings.
  • Indoor sporting events: no licence is required for an event between 08.00 and 23.00 on any day, provided that those present do not exceed 1000.
  • Boxing or wrestling entertainment: no licence is required for a contest, exhibition or display of Greco-Roman wrestling, or freestyle wrestling between 08.00 and 23.00 on any day, provided that the audience does not exceed 1000.

Live music: no licence permission is required for:

  • a performance of unamplified live music between 08.00 and 23.00 on any day, on any premises.
  • a performance of amplified live music between 08.00 and 23.00 on any day on premises authorised to sell alcohol for consumption on those premises, provided that the audience does not exceed 500.
  • a performance of amplified live music between 08.00 and 23.00 on any day, in a workplace that does not have a licence, provided that the audience does not exceed 500.
  • a performance of amplified live music between 08.00 and 23.00 on any day, in a church hall, village hall, community hall, or other similar community premises, that is not licensed by a premises licence to sell alcohol, provided that (a) the audience does not exceed 500, and (b) the organiser gets consent for the performance from a person who is responsible for the premises.
  • a performance of amplified live music between 08.00 and 23.00 on any day, at the non-residential premises of (i) a local authority, or (ii) a school, or (iii) a hospital, provided that (a) the audience does not exceed 500, and (b) the organiser gets consent for the performance on the relevant premises from: (i) the local authority concerned, or (ii) the school or (iii) the health care provider for the hospital.

Recorded Music: no licence permission is required for:

  • any playing of recorded music between 08.00 and 23.00 on any day on premises authorised to sell alcohol for consumption on those premises, provided that the audience does not exceed 500.
  • any playing of recorded music between 08.00 and 23.00 on any day, in a church hall, village hall, community hall, or other similar community premises, that is not licensed by a premises licence to sell alcohol, provided that (a) the audience does not exceed 500, and (b) the organiser gets consent for the performance from a person who is responsible for the premises.
  • any playing of recorded music between 08.00 and 23.00 on any day, at the non- residential premises of (i) a local authority, or (ii) a school, or (iii) a hospital, provided that (a) the audience does not exceed 500, and (b) the organiser gets consent for the performance on the relevant premises from: (i) the local authority concerned, or (ii) the school proprietor or (iii) the health care provider for the hospital.

Cross activity exemptions: no licence is required between 08.00 and 23.00 on any day, with no limit on audience size for:

  • any entertainment taking place on the premises of the local authority where the entertainment is provided by or on behalf of the local authority;
  • any entertainment taking place on the hospital premises of the health care provider where the entertainment is provided by or on behalf of the health care provider;
  • any entertainment taking place on the premises of the school where the entertainment is provided by or on behalf of the school proprietor; and
  • any entertainment (excluding films and a boxing or wrestling entertainment) taking place at a travelling circus, provided that (a) it takes place within a moveable structure that accommodates the audience, and (b) that the travelling circus has not been located on the same site for more than 28 consecutive days.

What about private events?

Events held in private are not licensable unless those attending are charged for the entertainment with a view to making a profit (including raising money for charity). For example, where a party is held for friends in a private dwelling featuring amplified live music, if a charge or contribution is made solely to cover the costs of the entertainment, the activity is not regulated entertainment. Similarly, any charge made to the organiser of a private event by musicians, other performers, or their agents does not of itself make that entertainment licensable – it would only do so if the guests attending were themselves charged by the organiser for that entertainment with a view to achieving a profit. The fact that this might inadvertently result in the organiser making a profit would be irrelevant, as long as there had not been an intention to make a profit.
Schedule 1 to the 2003 Act also makes it clear that before entertainment is regarded as being provided for consideration, a charge has to be:
• made by or on behalf of a person concerned with the organisation or management of the entertainment; and
• paid by or on behalf of some or all of the persons for whom the entertainment is provided.

School, hospital and local council events exemptions

  • No licence is required for any entertainment provided by or on behalf of a local authority, health care provider, or school proprietor to the extent that it takes place on defined premises, between 08.00-23.00 on any day provided that:
  • for entertainment provided by, or on behalf of, a local authority it takes places on premises in which that authority has a relevant property interest, or is in lawful occupation;
  • for entertainment provided by, or on behalf of, a health care provider it takes place on any premises forming part of a hospital in which the provider has a relevant property interest, or is in lawful occupation; and
  • for entertainment provided by, or on behalf of, a school proprietor it takes place on the premises of the school.

This Guidance cannot give examples of every eventuality where entertainment is not licensable under this exemption through being provided “by or on behalf of”. It will depend on the facts in each case. However, the following are examples of activities that are not usually considered to be licensable under this exemption:

  • Any entertainment activity hosted by a local authority on their own premises, where there is a significant relationship between the local authority and the provider of the entertainment (e.g. principal and agent);
  • Any entertainment activity organised on a local authority’s behalf on that local authority’s premises by a cultural trust in discharge of a local authority’s discretionary power to arrange entertainment provision and support for the arts, including festivals and celebrations.
  • Any entertainment activity organised by a healthcare provider on their own hospital premises in partnership with a hospital charity;
  • Any entertainment event on school premises organised by the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) to benefit the school.

It is for the local authority, health care provider or school proprietor to determine whether, and on what basis, they can (or wish) to provide entertainment activity under this exemption, including consideration of issues around fundraising, profit making, governance or use of public funds. However a pure hire of premises by a third party does not constitute the provision of an entertainment event “on behalf of” a local authority, healthcare provider, or school proprietor and nor does commercial entertainment which the local authority merely facilitates through providing a public space.

No licence is required for a performance of live music or the playing of recorded music on local authority, hospital or school premises, that are not domestic premises, between 08.00-23.00 on any day provided that:

  • It is performed in front of an audience of no more than 500 people; and
  • a person concerned in the organisation or management of the music entertainment has obtained the prior written consent of the local authority, health care provider or school proprietor (as appropriate) for that entertainment to take place. It is for these “trusted providers” to determine whether, or not, they wish to make their premises available for music entertainment by a 3rd party and on what terms they deem it appropriate.

Community premises exemptions

No licence is required for a performance of live music or the playing of recorded music on community premises, between 08.00-23.00 on any day provided that:

  • the community premises are not authorised, by a premises licence or club premises certificate, to be used for the supply of alcohol for consumption on the premises;
  • the music entertainment is in the presence of an audience of no more than 500 people; and
  • a person concerned in the organisation or management of the music entertainment has obtained the prior written consent of the management committee of the premises, or if there is no management committee, a person who has control of the premises in connection with the carrying on by that person of a trade, business or other undertaking, or failing that a person with a relevant property interest in the premises.


No licence is required for an exhibition of a film on community premises between 08.00-23.00 on any day provided that:

  • the film entertainment is not provided with a view to profit;
  • the film entertainment is in the presence of an audience of no more than 500 people;
  • the admission of children is subject to such restrictions as are necessary to comply with the recommendation issued by the BBFC or relevant licensing authority regarding the admission of children; and
  • a person concerned in the organisation or management of the exhibition of the film has obtained the prior written consent of the management committee of the premises, or if there is no management committee, a person who has control of the premises in connection with the carrying on by that person of a trade, business or other undertaking, or failing that a person with a relevant property interest in the premises.


Under this exemption, one condition is that the film entertainment is not being provided with a view to profit. An entry charge does not of itself make the film entertainment licensable; it is whether the organiser intended to make a profit (that includes raising money for charity). A charge or contribution that is made solely to cover the costs of the film screening is consistent with ‘not being provided with a view to profit’. The ‘not with a view to profit’ condition applies solely to the activity of exhibiting the film under this exemption. A charge with a view to making a profit may legitimately be levied for any other activity or event that is distinct from film admission, such as the provision of refreshments, film talks, or a social event.
This community film exemption is also conditional on those responsible having in place operating arrangements that ensure that the age rating for the film is implemented by means of a suitable child admission policy. How this is achieved is a matter for the organisation or social group exhibiting the film. For example, they may operate a membership subscription scheme which pays for entry to all titles in a season and is limited to adults. It could be a children’s film club with a policy of only showing films that are suitable for all by being rated ‘U’ by the BBFC. Alternatively, the organisers could sell tickets to the public and ensure that children are only permitted to attend in accordance with any age rating for the film – i.e. a door admissions policy linked to proof of age.


Travelling circuses

Where types of entertainment are present in a performance by a travelling circus they will not be licensable provided that certain qualifying conditions are met. The qualifying conditions are that:

  • the entertainment is not an exhibition of a film or a boxing or wrestling entertainment;
  • the entertainment takes place between 08.00 and 23.00 on the same day;
  • the entertainment takes place wholly within a moveable structure and the audience present is accommodated wholly inside that moveable structure; and
  • the travelling circus has not been located on the same site for more than 28 consecutive days.

Recorded music

No licence is required for recorded music where it takes place on premises which are authorised by a premises licence or club premises certificate to be used for the supply of alcohol for consumption on the premises. However, recorded music remains licensable:

  • where the playing of recorded music takes places before 08.00 or after 23.00 on any day;
  • where the playing of recorded music takes place at a time when the relevant licensed premises are not open for the purposes of being used for the sale or supply of alcohol for consumption on the premises;
  • where the playing of recorded music takes place at relevant licensed premises in the presence of an audience of more than 500 people; and
  • where a licensing authority intentionally removes the effect of the deregulation provided for by the 2003 Act (as amended).

Plays and dance

No licence is required for a performance of a play or dance to the extent that certain qualifying conditions are satisfied. However a performance of a play or dance remains licensable:

  • where the performance takes places before 08.00 or after 23.00 on any day; or
  • where the performance takes place in the presence of an audience of more than 500 people.

Indoor Sport

No licence is required for an indoor sporting event to the extent that certain qualifying conditions are satisfied. However an indoor sporting event remains licensable:

  • where the event takes places before 08.00 or after 23.00 on any day;
  • where the event takes place in the presence of more than 1000 spectators.