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Mobile Bus Bar Licences: Premises Licence, TEN, or Trader's Licence?

Converted vintage double-decker bus serving as a mobile bar at a UK outdoor event

Converted vintage double-decker bus serving as a mobile bar at a UK outdoor event

Converting a vintage double decker bus in to a bar to be used at events/fairs/festivals etc. Can I get a permanent alcohol licence or do I need to apply for a TEN every time? And do I need a traders licence too? Thanks

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May 18, 2026
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by: MobCater

Three different bits of paperwork in play here, and each one covers something different. Let me take them in order.

Start with the Premises Licence. This is what you'd think of as a permanent alcohol licence, and it's the wrong fit for a mobile bus bar that moves between events. Premises Licences are issued under the Licensing Act 2003 against a specific fixed location, with a plan and an address attached. The bus isn't the premises, the spot it parks on is. Unless you plan to park permanently in one yard and trade only from there, a Premises Licence isn't the route.

For events, you've got two routes that actually work, and which one applies depends on who runs the event.

If you're trading at fairs and festivals that already hold their own Premises Licence or have submitted a Temporary Event Notice covering alcohol sales, you serve under their licence as a sub-trader. The organiser carries the licence, you pour within their licensed footprint, no application from you. This is how most mobile bars at established festivals operate. Always ask the organiser to confirm in writing that they've covered alcohol sales before you turn up.

If you're hosting a private event yourself, say a wedding hire or a one-off pop-up, you submit a Temporary Event Notice for that event. A TEN runs up to 168 hours, allows up to 499 attendees, and costs around £21. You can file 5 a year without a Personal Licence, or 50 a year with one. The Personal Licence is a one-day course, around £150 to £200, and it's worth it if you plan to do more than a handful of private events on your own steam.

On the traders licence, you only need a Street Trading Consent if you're trading on the public highway, so kerbside on a council pavement or a public road. On private land at a fair, festival, wedding venue, farm shop, or private estate, you don't need one. The organiser's permission is what counts.

One last thing the question didn't ask about but you'll need anyway. Even a gin and tonic is a food business in the eyes of the FSA, so register with your local council 28 days before you start trading, and have a Level 2 Food Hygiene certificate for whoever serves. Both are quick and registration is free.

All the best

David

Disclaimer: This is general advice for UK mobile catering. Licensing rules vary between councils, so always check with your local authority before you start trading.

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