The Hounslow Council Licensing Panel convened to discuss a temporary street trading licence for the Chiswick Antiques & Vintage Market, ultimately granting the licence for six months with specific conditions. The panel agreed to extend the market's clear-up time to 5:30 pm, but also required the applicant to submit a detailed management plan to address concerns about safety and compliance. Councillor Dan Bowring was appointed Chair of the meeting.

Chiswick Antiques & Vintage Market Licence

The Licensing Panel approved the application for a temporary street trading licence for the Chiswick Antiques & Vintage Market, but with specific conditions and a requirement for a detailed management plan.

Jenny Titmuss, trading as Corky Events, applied for the licence to operate the Antiques & Vintage Market, seeking permission to increase the number of stalls to 64 and extend the clear-up time to 5:30pm. The application was for stalls adjacent to 123-211 Chiswick High Road, Chiswick, London, W4.

The applicant had been running the market for four years with a licence that was due to expire on 17 October 2025. The prior licence contained conditions that the stall on the East side of Devonshire Road and Chiswick High Road was to be removed from the licence and a requirement that the Licence holder was to ensure clearance of the market by 4.30pm.

During the consultation process, the council received four representations: one objection from Councillor Joanna Biddolph, and three representations in support, including one from Councillor Gill, and two from stallholders.

Key points raised during the hearing included:

• Clear-up Time: The applicant argued that the existing 4:30 pm clear-up time was insufficient, forcing traders to pack up during peak trading hours (12:00 pm - 3:00 pm) and creating safety issues due to the rush of vehicles entering the site while customers were still present.
• Additional Stalls: The applicant requested the reinstatement of two pitches previously removed, arguing that other markets used similar areas. These pitches were located on the eastern side of the junction between Chiswick High Road and Devonshire Road and another pitch on the eastern side of the junction between Chiswick High Road and Annandale Road.
• Support for the Market: Supporters of the application emphasised the market's popularity, its contribution to the local economy, and the need for more time for traders to pack up safely.
• Objections and Concerns: Councillor Joanna Biddolph raised concerns about pedestrian safety, the market's encroachment on public space, and the impact on local businesses. She also highlighted instances of traders displaying goods outside permitted areas and vehicles obstructing cycleways and pavements.
• Management and Enforcement: Concerns were raised about the applicant's oversight of the market, compliance with existing licence conditions, and enforcement of breaches. Councillor Dan Bowring, Chair of the meeting, noted numerous breaches and issues of concern during a visit to the market, including the use of non-permitted areas and vehicles parked illegally.

In its decision, the Licensing Panel acknowledged the benefits of the Antiques Market but expressed concerns about its management and enforcement of licence conditions.

The panel resolved to grant the application for a temporary street trading licence for six months from 18 October 2025, for a maximum of 62 stalls (reduced from the requested 64), with the following conditions:

1. No stalls are to be placed within the area of the Hogarth statue, and the railings associated with the statue should not be used to display any merchandise.
2. The standard conditions allow a maximum width of any licensed area which shall not exceed one third of the usable width of the footpath. Furthermore, a minimum unobstructed footpath width of 1.8 metres must be left clear and available and free from obstruction to allow for safe and convenient pedestrian movement.
3. Traders must at no time obstruct those businesses on Chiswick High Road who hold a pavement or temporary Street trading licence.
4. The licence holder must always ensure that any queues or the serving of customers do not impact the adjacent pavement or any pedestrian crossing points in order to prevent obstruction and to maintain public safety. Queues should also not impact neighbouring premises and businesses.
5. The ingress and egress routes must at no point be obstructed by the market for emergency services or utilities.
6. The market holder must ensure the market operates in a safe and orderly manner and shall not do anything which may cause a danger, nuisance or annoyance, damage or inconvenience to the Council, any adjacent neighbouring premises or to any member of the public.
7. The licence holder must ensure that all appropriate road closures are applied for and approved prior to the date of the market being held.
8. All risk assessment and operational documents must be completed, approved, and reviewed regularly in conjunction with the London Borough of Hounslow events team to allow the market to take place.
9. The stall on the East side of Devonshire Road and Chiswick High Road is to be removed from the licence. The stall on the East side of Annandale Road and Chiswick High Road is also to be removed from the licence.
10. The Licence holder must ensure clearance of the market by 5.30 pm.

The panel also required the applicant to submit a market management document within 28 days, detailing how she will manage the market, supervise compliance with licence conditions, manage public safety (including illegal parking), and enforce breaches of the licence terms.

The London Local Authorities Act 1990, as amended, and Hounslow Council’s Street Trading Policy were referenced in the decision-making process. The panel also considered the Human Rights Act 1998.

Appointment of Chair

Councillor Dan Bowring was appointed Chair of the Licensing Panel.