A Kensington and Chelsea Licensing Sub-Committee convened on 14 August 2025 to address concerns over a temporary event notice (TEN) for alcohol sales during the Notting Hill Carnival, near Notting Hill Gate tube station.
The Carnival 'footprint' stretches from Harrow Road in the north, down to the Great West Road and Chepstow Road in the east, to Notting Hill Gate in the south and then Ladbroke Grove in the west. According to the council's Carnival Policy, the Licensing Authority will pay particular attention to any application for a premises licence or to any TEN notification in this area, and its close proximity, that is intended to include the weekend of Notting Hill Carnival (Saturday, Sunday and Monday).
The TEN, submitted by Mr Amod Wadhi for the premises at Basement And Ground Floor, 2 Pembridge Road, sought permission to sell alcohol off the premises during the Notting Hill Carnival on Sunday 24 August and Monday 25 August 2025. The application specified a maximum of 12 people on the premises at any one time.
However, the Metropolitan Police objected to the TEN, citing public safety and the prevention of crime and disorder. PC Jinelle Caldinez, representing the police, raised concerns about the shop's location near the exit of Notting Hill Carnival and its proximity to Notting Hill Gate tube station. The police believed the narrow entrance of the premises could worsen crowd density as people travelled to and from the underground.
A witness statement from Chief Inspector Will Holland supported the objection, highlighting the risks of a TEN so close to Notting Hill Underground station during Carnival. The police feared overcrowding could lead to increased crime, such as pickpocketing, theft, and sexual assaults, as well as escalating tensions and potential disorder.
PC Caldinez also noted that the premises at 2 Pembridge Road normally operates as a retail shop selling phone accessories and vapes. Selling alcohol is not Mr. Wadhi's usual business, raising concerns about his experience in this area. The police stated that Mr. Wadhi had not provided a plan or risk assessment to address these concerns, and had not followed clauses 25.4 and 25.5 of The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea's Licensing Policy.
Clause 25.4 advises applicants to demonstrate how their proposed activity would support the licensing objectives and not adversely impact emergency services during the Carnival. Clause 25.5 requires applicants to detail toilet facilities, crowd control measures, stewarding and security arrangements, and risk assessments.
PC Caldinez added that there was no evidence Mr. Wadhi had obtained a street trading licence under the London Local Authorities Act 1990. The Council's policy is not to grant street trading licences where it is proposed to sell alcohol, or grant street trading licences for sales of any goods from a doorway onto the public highway during Notting Hill Carnival. Therefore, any unauthorized street trading would constitute a criminal offense, undermining the Prevention of Crime and Disorder licensing objective. The Temporary Event Notice also states: (ii) to permit an unauthorised licensable activity to be carried on at any place and that a person is liable on summary conviction for any such offence to a fine of any amount, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or to both.
The reports pack included extracts from the council's statement of licensing policy, a map of the area, a list of licensed premises nearby, a map of the 2024 Carnival footprint, and a list of temporary event notices received for this year's Carnival. Appendix G of the reports pack lists a total of 65 temporary event notices received so far for this year's Carnival, excluding notices which have been withdrawn or issued a counter notice, and noting that some of the notices may still be under consideration.
The Licensing Sub-Committee, comprised of Cllr Toby Benton (Vice-Chair, Licensing Committee, Family Services Spokesperson), Cllr Laura Burns (Deputy Mayor and Vice-Chair, Licensing Committee), and Cllr Lucy Knight (Chair, Adult Social Care and Health Select Committee), will consider the objection notice and determine whether to issue a counter notice, take no action, or impose conditions on the TEN. The report included a recommendation to the committee to consider the objection notice, and outlined the possible steps the committee could take:
(a) Issue a counter notice if it considers it necessary for the promotion of any of the licensing objectives to do so,
(b) Take no action, and allow the notice to have effect, or
(c) If the premises has the benefit of a premises licence or club premises certificate impose one or more conditions which are specified on the premises licence or club premises certificate which the committee considers are not inconsistent with the carrying out of the licensable activities under the temporary event notice.
The document states: The Decision of the Licensing Sub Committee is Requested
.
