The Kensington and Chelsea Council Licensing Sub-Committee convened to consider a notice given by Dave Bradnock to hold a temporary licensable event for the 4 Play Sound System and Bar Site during the Notting Hill Carnival. Objections to the temporary event notice (TEN) were received from both the Metropolitan Police and the Council’s Noise and Nuisance Team. The sub-committee was scheduled to determine whether to issue a counter notice, allow the event to proceed, or impose conditions.

Temporary Event Notice: 4 Play Sound System and Bar Site

The report pack included a report by the Director of Highway and Regulatory Services regarding a Temporary Event Notice submitted by Dave Bradnock for the 4 Play Sound System and Bar Site ¹, located at West Row, London, W10 5AX. The application concerned a temporary event scheduled for the Notting Hill Carnival on Sunday 24 August and Monday 25 August 2025. The proposed activities included:

• The sale of alcohol for consumption on and off the premises
• Regulated entertainment

The report pack stated that Mr Bradnock had confirmed that the maximum number of people in attendance at any one time would be 499.

Objections from Relevant Persons

The licensing authority received objections from what the report pack refers to as relevant persons , namely the Metropolitan Police and the Council’s Noise and Nuisance Team. According to the Licensing Act 2003, these bodies are permitted to object to a TEN if they believe that allowing the premises to be used in accordance with the notice would undermine a licensing objective.

Police Objection

PC Tom Stewart, on behalf of the Metropolitan Police, objected to the TEN on the grounds of:

• Prevention of crime and disorder
• Public safety

PC Stewart's objection, included as Appendix B in the report pack, stated that there was:

no confirmation that the TEN (and Risk Assessment (RA) and Event Management Plan (EMP)) has been approved and signed off by Notting Hill Carnival Limited (NHCL).

Noise and Nuisance Team Objection

Mr Philip Richardson, on behalf of the Council’s Noise and Nuisance Team, objected to the TEN on the grounds of:

• Public nuisance
• Public safety

Mr Richardson's objection, included as Appendix C in the report pack, mirrored the concerns of the police, stating that there was no information confirming that the TEN, Risk Assessment, and Event Management Plan had been shared, approved, and signed off by Notting Hill Carnival Limited (NHCL).

Committee Considerations

The report pack stated that the Licensing Sub-Committee was required to consider the objections and take steps necessary for the promotion of the licensing objectives². The options available to the sub-committee were:

• Issue a counter notice, effectively rejecting the TEN
• Take no action, allowing the notice to have effect
• If the premises already has a premises licence, impose one or more conditions from that licence onto the TEN

The report pack also included extracts from the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy, attached as Appendix D, which outlines the council's approach to licensing decisions, particularly in relation to the Notting Hill Carnival. The policy emphasises the importance of early engagement with the council and other relevant authorities, particularly for events within the Notting Hill Carnival footprint. It also highlights the need for comprehensive risk assessments and event management plans, as well as measures to address potential issues such as crime and disorder, public nuisance, and public safety.