A Kensington and Chelsea licensing sub-committee has denied a temporary event notice (TEN) for All Saints Church in Notting Hill to sell alcohol during the Notting Hill Carnival. The decision follows objections from the police and the Noise and Nuisance Team, who cited concerns about public safety, crime, and disorder.
Notting Hill Carnival is planned months in advance with locations for Sound Systems, Street Trading Stalls and NHCL bars already agreed and marked out. This allows NHCL, Police and other partners to manage the safety of those attending, including the safe movement of people around the carnival footprint. The council's Statement of Licensing Policy also addresses significant/major events, including the Notting Hill Carnival, and states that the council will give due consideration to representations from the police in relation to licence applications for activity during such major events on the grounds of public safety and security, when police and other emergency services resources are insufficient to deal with the risks presented.
The application, submitted by Mr Andrew Francis, sought permission to sell alcohol for consumption off the premises in the rear outdoor area of the church, facing Powis Gardens, on Sunday 24 August 2025 and Monday 25 August 2025, between 12:00 and 19:00 each day. The proposed event anticipated a maximum of 12 attendees at any one time.
However, PC Tom Stewart from the Metropolitan Police objected to the TEN, citing the prevention of crime and disorder and public safety. PC Stewart stated that the location is in a highly congested area within the carnival footprint and that the sale of alcohol in this location will have an adverse impact and may result in increased crime and disorder as well as having the effect of drawing in additional persons to an area that is already congested. He also noted that the area around Powis Gardens and All Saints Church experiences significant congestion due to its location between multiple sound systems, with carnival-goers using the paved area as a thoroughfare. He raised concerns about the lack of permission from the church or local authority to use the proposed area and insufficient detail on the plan to show where the licensable activities would take place.
Appendix E - Map shows the location of the church.
According to the Public Reports Pack, PC Stewart stated that the area around Powis Gardens and All Saints Church experiences significant congestion due to its location between multiple sound systems, with carnival-goers using the paved area as a thoroughfare. He argued that providing alcohol in this area could negatively impact crowd movement and behaviour.
Mr Philip Richardson, representing the Environmental Health Noise and Nuisance team, also objected to the TEN, citing the prevention of public nuisance and public safety. He echoed concerns about congestion and proximity to sound systems, stating that permitting the sale of alcohol at the site was likely to have a negative impact which may contribute to an increase in public nuisance. Mr. Richardson stated that the proposed location for the sale of alcohol is situated in a highly congested area of the carnival footprint and within close proximity to a number of very popular sound systems, which may increase the risk of congestion and impact public safety. His objection is detailed in Appendix C - Noise and Nuisance Objection.
Further complicating matters, Father Charles Card-Reynolds from All Saints Church informed the council that the Parochial Church Council had not granted permission to anyone to use the church land for trading during the Notting Hill Carnival. The meeting information does not describe the typical procedure for obtaining permission from the Parochial Church Council.
The sub-committee was also provided with extracts from the council's Statement of Licensing Policy, particularly those relating to temporary event notices and the Notting Hill Carnival, which emphasise the importance of the four licensing objectives: the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of public nuisance, and the protection of children from harm. Appendix D - Carnival Policy details the council's carnival policy.
The Licensing Sub-Committee considered the objections and determined that issuing a counter notice was necessary to promote the licensing objectives.
It should be noted that to permit an unauthorised licensable activity to be carried on at any place could result in a fine of any amount, or imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or both.
Mr. Francis did not propose any alternative solutions to address the concerns raised by the police and the Noise and Nuisance Team.