diff --git a/src/Controller/OutletController.php b/src/Controller/OutletController.php
index eb22b2cb..b373f3da 100644
--- a/src/Controller/OutletController.php
+++ b/src/Controller/OutletController.php
@@ -161,21 +161,34 @@ class OutletController extends BaseController
         $em = $this->getDoctrine()->getManager();
         $obj = new Outlet();
 
-        $this->setObject($obj, $req);
-
-        // validate
-        $errors = $validator->validate($obj);
-
         // initialize error list
         $error_array = [];
 
-        // add errors to list
-        foreach ($errors as $error) {
-            $error_array[$error->getPropertyPath()] = $error->getMessage();
+        // check if lat and lng are provided
+        if (empty($req->request->get('coord_lng')) || empty($req->request->get('coord_lat')))
+        {
+            $error_array['coordinates'] = 'No map coordinates provided. Please click on a location on the map.';
         }
 
+        if (empty($error_array))
+        {
+            // set object
+            $this->setObject($obj, $req);
+
+            // validate
+            $errors = $validator->validate($obj);
+
+            // add errors to list
+            foreach ($errors as $error) 
+            {
+                $error_array[$error->getPropertyPath()] = $error->getMessage();
+            }
+        }
+
+
         // check if any errors were found
-        if (!empty($error_array)) {
+        if (!empty($error_array))
+        {
             // return validation failure response
             return $this->json([
                 'success' => false,
diff --git a/src/Entity/Outlet.php b/src/Entity/Outlet.php
index 929b9b35..6ed4d3e9 100644
--- a/src/Entity/Outlet.php
+++ b/src/Entity/Outlet.php
@@ -26,12 +26,14 @@ class Outlet
     // name of enrollee
     /**
      * @ORM\Column(type="string", length=80)
+     * Assert\NotBlank()
      */
     protected $name;
 
     // address
     /**
      * @ORM\Column(type="string", length=80)
+     * Assert\NotBlank()
      */
     protected $address;
 
@@ -45,18 +47,21 @@ class Outlet
     // this is displayed in a textarea
     /**
      * @ORM\Column(type="string", length=200)
+     * Assert\NotBlank()
      */
     protected $contact_nums;
 
     // opening time
     /**
      * @ORM\Column(type="time")
+     * Assert\NotBlank()
      */
     protected $time_open;
 
     // closing time
     /**
      * @ORM\Column(type="time")
+     * Assert\NotBlank()
      */
     protected $time_close;
 
diff --git a/templates/outlet/form.html.twig b/templates/outlet/form.html.twig
index e926b6a3..27ba76e7 100644
--- a/templates/outlet/form.html.twig
+++ b/templates/outlet/form.html.twig
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@
 
                         <div class="form-group m-form__group row">
                             <div class="col-lg-12">
-                                <label>
+                                <label data-field="coordinates">
                                     Map Coordinates
                                 </label>
                                 <input type="hidden" id="map_lat" name="coord_lat" value="">
@@ -106,6 +106,7 @@
                                     </span>
                                 </div>
                                 <div id="m_gmap" style="height:600px;"></div>
+                                <div class="form-control-feedback hide" data-field="coordinates"></div>
                             </div>
                         </div>