Licensing checklists for mobile bars.
Checklists, not legal advice. Rules checked against the official sources linked below on 17 October 2026; licensing authorities have the final word.
UK: Temporary Event Notice (England and Wales)
Source: gov.uk — Temporary events notice, checked 17 October 2026. Personal licences: gov.uk — Personal licence to sell alcohol.
Scotland and Northern Ireland
TENs do not apply. In Scotland, events off licensed premises use an occasional licence from the local licensing board under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 — boards publish their own fee and notice period (several ask for at least 28 days; see for example Glasgow and Aberdeenshire). Northern Ireland has its own occasional licence system through the courts; ask the venue’s licence holder or a licensing solicitor.
Every event: before you load the van
US: where to check, state by state
US alcohol law is set by each state and often by the county or city as well. Broadly there are two ways mobile bars work: licensed (the bar company or its caterer partner holds a licence and sells or supplies the alcohol, often with a per-event permit) and host-supplied (the client buys the alcohol and the bar company provides staff and equipment). Whether the second is allowed, and what training your bartenders need, varies. Start with the state agency:
| State | Official agency | What to look at |
|---|---|---|
| California | Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) | Licensees can hold a caterer’s permit, and each catered event also needs ABC authorization (form ABC-218), which can be filed online. |
| Texas | Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) | Licensed retailers working an event away from their premises file a temporary event approval or notification with TABC before the event. |
| New York | State Liquor Authority (SLA) | A catering permit lets an active on-premises retail licensee serve at an off-site private event; one-day event permits cover a gathering for 24 hours. |
| Florida | DBPR Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco | Lists the state’s licence and permit types; temporary permits for one- to three-day events are limited to specific organisations. |
| Pennsylvania | Liquor Control Board (PLCB) | Licensing hub for retail licences and the permits that go with them; check which apply to catering off your licensed premises. |
Summaries are taken from each agency’s own pages (17 October 2026) and kept short on purpose: permit names, fees and lead times change, and local rules add to them. Confirm with the agency, and the venue’s county or city, before quoting an event.
Related
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a Temporary Event Notice for a wedding bar?
In England and Wales you need a TEN if alcohol is sold, or supplied in a way that counts as a licensable activity, at a venue whose own premises licence does not cover it. If the venue is licensed, the bar usually runs under its licence. A free bar with no charge may not need one, but ask the council first.
How far ahead must a TEN be given?
At least 10 clear working days before the event, not counting the day the council receives it or the event day. A late TEN can be given 5 to 9 clear working days before, but you only get 2 a year (10 with a personal licence) and an objection stops the event.
How much does a TEN cost?
The fee is £21, paid to the council, as stated on gov.uk on 17 October 2026.
Does a dry-hire bar need a licence in the US?
It depends on the state and sometimes the city or county. Some states let a host serve alcohol they bought at a private event with hired staff; others require a licensed caterer or an event permit. Check with the state alcohol agency listed here before you quote.
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