Event Planning Checklist: Everything to Sort Before You Sell Tickets (UK)

11 Jun 2026 · 7 min read · Ticketable

Before you sell a single ticket, a few things need to be in place. Here’s a practical checklist for planning an event in the UK — work through it and go on sale with confidence.

Before you announce

Confirm the concept and who it’s for, and set a budget.
Book the venue and date.
Check licences with the venue and your local council — alcohol, live or recorded music, and large public gatherings can all need permission.
Sort insurance (public liability is often expected or required).
Line up key suppliers — sound, catering, staff, security.

Setting up ticketing

Choose a platform — and mind the fees, which come straight off your revenue.
Create the event, ticket types and capacities.
Connect your own Stripe for direct payouts, or set up a free event with no payment.
Write a clear description, and set an early-bird deadline.

Promotion

Share one booking link everywhere; add a QR code to posters.
Post to social and local listings; email past attendees; brief partners to share.

On the day

A door plan with QR scanning (offline-ready for poor signal).
A float if you’re taking any cash, and staff briefed on the guest list.
Accessibility, safety and a named contact for issues.

After the event

Thank attendees, reconcile your payouts, and gather feedback.
Keep your attendee list for next time.

The takeaway

Get the venue, licences, insurance and ticketing sorted early, and the rest follows. For the ticketing side, Ticketable is free to set up — see how to run your first event.

Frequently asked questions

What do I need to organise an event in the UK?

The essentials: a confirmed concept and audience, a budget, a booked venue and date, any required licences (alcohol, live or recorded music, large public gatherings), public-liability insurance, key suppliers, and a ticketing setup. Check licensing with your venue and local council early.

Do I need insurance for my event?

Public-liability insurance is strongly recommended (and sometimes required by the venue) for events open to the public. Larger or higher-risk events may need additional cover — check with the venue and an insurer.

How far in advance should I plan an event?

It depends on scale, but give yourself enough runway to book the venue, sort licences and insurance, and promote it — typically several weeks to a few months. Announce your booking link as early as you can to build momentum.