Apply for a temporary event notice

When you need a temporary event notice 

You need a temporary event notice if you’re planning licensable activities at a one-off event held on unlicensed premises.  

Licensable activities include: 

• selling alcohol
• serving hot food and drinks between 11pm and 5am
• providing regulated entertainment 

Other permissions 

A temporary event notice does not give you permission to use the premises. You need to get permission from the owner or landlord separately. 

If you want to hold an event in a council-managed location, such as a park or open space, you need to get our permission first. Find out more about how to hold an event in Royal Greenwich. 

Meeting the criteria 

You can get a temporary event notice if: 

• you’re over 18 years old
• no more than 499 people will be at the event at any one time
• the premises has had no more than 15 temporary event notices in a calendar year
• each event lasts no more than 168 hours or 7 days
• there’s at least 24 hours between one temporary event notice and another
• all temporary event notices together last no more than 21 days in total 

If your event does not meet these requirements, you need to apply for a premises alcohol licence. 

You can only get 5 temporary event notices in one year, unless you hold a personal alcohol licence. 

For more information, read our guidance:

Apply for a temporary event notice 

We must receive your application at least 10 working days before your event. 

You need to pay an application fee of £21when you apply. 

Apply online 

You can apply online using our licensing system. You’ll need to register an account if you do not already have one. 

Apply for a temporary event notice 

Apply by post 

To apply by post: 

1. Download the temporary event notice form from GOV.UK.
2. Send us the completed form together with a cheque for the application fee made payable to Royal Borough of Greenwich.
3. Post it to Licensing at The Woolwich Centre, 35 Wellington Street, London SE18 6HQ.
4. Send copies of your application to the Metropolitan Police, Environmental Health (Pollution) and Environmental Health (Commercial). Find their full addresses on our page about responsible authorities.

After you've applied 

If we do not receive any objections to your application, we’ll approve your temporary event notice and send it to you. 

If we do receive any objections, our Licencing sub-committee will hold a public hearing to decide if the event can go ahead or not. 

Once you've received your notice 

You must: 

• keep a copy of the notice at the event
• produce it on request if asked to by an authorised council officer or police officer