The Licensing Sub-Committee of Kensington and Chelsea Council was scheduled to convene on 24 July 2025 to consider an objection to a temporary event notice (TEN) for Flat A, 1 Lancaster Road, London, W11 1QL. The notice was submitted by Miss Melanie Clarke. Objections were received from the Metropolitan Police and the council's Noise and Nuisance Team.

Temporary Event Notice: Flat A, 1 Lancaster Road

Miss Melanie Clarke applied for a TEN to sell alcohol at Flat A, 1 Lancaster Road, during the Notting Hill Carnival on 24 and 25 August 2025. The hours of licensable activities requested were:

• Sunday 24 August 2025 from 08:00 to 22:00 on the premises
• Sunday 24 August 2025 from 11:00 to 19:00 off the premises
• Monday 25 August 2025 from 08:00 to 22:00 on the premises
• Monday 25 August 2025 from 11:00 to 19:00 off the premises

The maximum number of people to be permitted at any one time was 20. According to the temporary event notice, the premises would be used for toilet hire and the sale of drinks. In an email to the council, Miss Clarke clarified that alcohol would be sold from the front of the house, within the gates of the premises.

Objections

PC Mark Perry of the Metropolitan Police objected to the TEN on the grounds of public safety and the prevention of crime and disorder. His objection stated that the premises is situated between three sound systems: People's Sounds, Rap Attack and Different Strokes. PC Perry wrote:

If the TEN is granted, it will be one of two premises selling alcohol in the area. The other premises is the bar at the Rap Attack Sound System.

PC Perry fears that the large amount of people in this area looking to buy alcohol during Carnival will block the pavement and roads, increasing the risk of creating a pinch point, overcrowding and crushing as people either try to get past or queue to purchase alcohol.

PC Perry also noted that Miss Clarke had not submitted a risk assessment or event management plan. He stated that the sale of alcohol from a private address into the public highway would require a street trading licence under the London Local Authorities Act 1990, and that it is the council's policy not to grant such a licence during Notting Hill Carnival. PC Perry referenced clauses 25.4, 25.5, 25.6 and 25.11 of the council's licensing policy, which detail Miss Clarke's responsibilities to support the licensing objectives¹.

Mr Philip Richardson of the Noise and Nuisance Team also objected to the TEN, on the grounds of the prevention of public nuisance and public safety. His objection echoed PC Perry's concerns about the proximity of the premises to the carnival sound system on St Lukes Road, and the lack of a risk assessment or event management plan. Mr Richardson also noted that the TEN proposed operating hours outside the permitted hours for Notting Hill Carnival (12:00 to 19:00), which he believed would make the premises a post-carnival destination.

Council Licensing Policy

The report pack included extracts from the council's statement of licensing policy², which outlines the four licensing objectives:

• The prevention of crime and disorder
• Public safety
• The prevention of public nuisance
• The protection of children from harm

The policy states that the council prefers at least 28 days' notice for planned events, and recommends 12 weeks' notice for events within the Notting Hill Carnival footprint. The policy also advises applicants to demonstrate how their proposed activity would support the licensing objectives and not have an adverse impact on emergency services.

The Carnival Policy states that the council will pay particular attention to any application for a premises licence or TEN notification in the Carnival footprint, and advises applicants to discuss their draft event management plan with the police and licensing authority. The policy also notes that the council will consider the importance, significance and potential consequences of disregarding any evidence provided by the police or environmental health officers.