Whether you need a licence to serve prosecco at a wedding or party depends on two things, where the party is and whether anyone pays for their drinks. At a hotel, restaurant or wedding venue with a premises licence, selling drinks is covered by the venue's own licence, so there is nothing for you to apply for. At a place without one, such as a village hall, a marquee in a field or a garden, anyone selling drinks needs a Temporary Event Notice from the local council, given at least 10 clear working days before the event.
If nobody pays for anything, it is less clear cut. The Licensing Act 2003 makes "the sale by retail of alcohol" the licensable activity, and on that wording a host pouring their own prosecco for invited guests, with no charge of any kind, is not selling it. Councils word their own guidance differently, though, and the council's licensing team has the final word, so if money is tied to the drinks in any way, ask them before the day.
When the venue's licence covers you
GOV.UK explains that a premises licence is what a venue needs to sell alcohol, put on entertainment or serve hot food and drinks between 11pm and 5am. If your venue has its own bar, ask it to confirm that it holds one. If it does, the licence is the venue's responsibility, not yours.
The questions that matter to you are different. Can you bring your own drinks at all? Is there a charge for doing so? Will the venue's staff fill a prosecco wall, or does someone from your party need to? Asking before you book anything for the drinks reception saves a difficult conversation later.
Village halls, marquees and gardens
Not every celebration is in a licensed venue. A christening party in a church hall, a birthday in a marquee or a baby shower at home are where the Temporary Event Notice, or TEN, comes in.
According to GOV.UK's guidance on Temporary Event Notices, you need one to carry out a licensable activity, such as selling alcohol, on premises that do not have a licence. The main rules are these.
- Fewer than 500 people at all times, and that count includes staff.
- No longer than 168 hours, which is seven days.
- At least 10 clear working days' notice. Clear working days do not count the day the council receives the notice or the day of the event itself.
- A fee of £21.
- Up to five TENs a year for most people, or 50 for someone who already holds a personal licence to sell alcohol.
- You must be 18 or over to give one.
There is also a "late" TEN, which can be given no earlier than nine and no later than five clear working days before the event, but only a limited number are allowed each year. It is safer to treat 10 clear working days as the real deadline.
Crowborough sits in Wealden, and Wealden District Council's guidance on outdoor events asks organisers to give notice as early as they can, because an event management plan may be needed. Events for 500 people or more need a full premises licence instead. If your party is in Kent or elsewhere in Sussex, the notice goes to the council for the area where the event is held.
When guests pay for their drinks
Selling does not only mean a cash bar. Anything that ties money to the drinks, such as drinks tokens or a ticket price that includes a glass on arrival, can count as selling them. That is the situation to raise with the council's licensing team before you go ahead, and it is the one where a TEN is most likely to be needed.
A ticketed fundraiser, a paid-for dinner dance or a party where guests chip in for the bar all fall into this territory. A private wedding or birthday where the hosts pay for everything and guests are simply invited is the case the Act's wording points away from, but the council can confirm it, and the venue's own rules still apply.
If you are planning a work party, the cost of the drinks also counts towards HMRC's £150 per head limit for a staff Christmas party, along with VAT and anything else you lay on.
Music and late-night food
A TEN covers more than alcohol. GOV.UK lists entertainment and late night refreshment, meaning hot food or drink served between 11pm and 5am, as licensable activities too. Wealden's guidance adds that live music without amplification needs no licence between 8am and 11pm, as long as the audience is no more than 500.
So if a party in a hall runs past 11pm with a hot chocolate station or a pancake bar still going, or has a band, mention that when you speak to the council.
Alcohol-free fizz and the law
The Licensing Act defines alcohol in a way that leaves out drinks of 0.5% strength or less. Section 191 of the Act excludes "alcohol which is of a strength not exceeding 0.5% at the time of the sale or supply in question". A wall filled with alcohol-free sparkling wine, or with juices and mocktails, does not raise the licensing question at all.
That makes an alcohol-free wall a simple option for a baby shower, a christening or any celebration with plenty of non-drinkers. After a baby shower we styled, one client wrote that "The champagne wall was a total show stopper and our non-alcoholic guests loved the inclusion of alcohol free mimosa’s." A wall can carry both kinds side by side, with a different ribbon on the alcohol-free glasses so nobody picks up the wrong one.
How our prosecco wall works
Our prosecco wall comes in two sizes, a small wall for intimate gatherings and a large wall for weddings, corporate events and bigger celebrations. Glass hire is included, and any breakages are chargeable.
Alcohol is not included unless it is arranged separately, so the drinks usually come from you or your venue. That is another reason to check the venue's rules on bringing your own before the day. What we can add are the finishing touches.
- Custom name tags or ribbon bows on the glasses
- Glittered rims, candyfloss toppers or themed decorations
- Fresh fruit juices for Bellinis or Mimosas
- Strawberries, raspberries or exotic fruits in the glasses
For weddings we can also offer themed options such as Kir Royales or Mimosas as an optional extra. The wall is part of all three of our wedding packages, and it features in our birthday party, christening and Christmas party packages too.
Before you book
A short checklist covers most situations.
- Ask your venue whether it holds a premises licence, and whether you can bring your own drinks.
- If the venue is unlicensed and anyone will pay for drinks in any way, contact the council's licensing team.
- If a TEN is needed, give it at least 10 clear working days before the event, and earlier for a large party.
- Mention any music or hot food after 11pm at the same time.
If you would like a prosecco wall at your wedding or party in Kent or Sussex, contact us with your date and venue, or find Flash of Elegance on Google, and we will talk you through the options.