Bars at Acklam Village have been granted temporary event notices for the upcoming Notting Hill Carnival, despite initial concerns raised by the Metropolitan Police and Environmental Health over public safety and crowd management.

The Kensington and Chelsea Council's Licensing Sub-Committee met on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, to consider three temporary event notices for bars operating at Acklam Village, 12 Acklam Road. The committee heard representations from the applicant, Mr. Domoy Robertson, and objectors from the Metropolitan Police and Environmental Health teams.

Chief Inspector Dominic Nye and PC Mark Parry of the Metropolitan Police voiced objections, citing concerns that the repositioning of the bars to both sides of the road could create overcrowding and a chicane effect. They argued this could increase the risk to attendees compared to previous years when all stalls were located on one side.

Mr. Kieran McKenna from Environmental Health also highlighted a lack of sufficient detail in the applicant's event management plans and risk assessments. Specific concerns included evacuation procedures, crowd management, and coordination with neighbouring events, particularly regarding emergency access onto Blaygrove Road.

Mr. Robertson, the applicant, countered that his proposals were designed for a safe and professionally managed event, citing four years of incident-free operation. He explained that the repositioning of the stalls was intended to improve cable management and circulation space. To mitigate risks, he detailed several measures:

  • Staggering of stools to prevent people queuing opposite each other.
  • Use of barriers operated by SIA officers to separate the area and manage overcrowding.
  • Harris fencing to delineate the event area from neighbouring sites and enclose the stools away from excess crowds.
  • A security team comprising two SIA officers at the front, one floating, and one at the rear.
  • Barriers at the entry point, controlled by SIA security guards, to manage access.
  • Three fire extinguishers strategically placed within the area.
  • Designated evacuation routes behind the fencing, leading away from crowds and towards the Swinbrook estate.

The committee, chaired by Councillor Greg Hammond, ultimately decided to grant all three temporary event notices, subject to stringent conditions. These conditions aim to address the concerns raised and ensure public safety:

  • Crowd Management: The applicant must ensure that the positioning of bars and the management of queues do not create unsafe pinch points or impede the flow of people, particularly on Acklam Road and Portobello Road.
  • Emergency Procedures: Detailed and coordinated emergency evacuation plans must be in place, with clear communication and agreement with all relevant parties, including those managing adjacent areas and emergency services.
  • Capacity Monitoring: Robust methods for monitoring and controlling the capacity within the Acklam Village area must be implemented. This may extend beyond visual checks by SIA officers if deemed necessary by the council.
  • Coordination with Other Events: The applicant must ensure full integration and coordination of their plans with any other events operating in the vicinity, particularly concerning access, egress, and emergency procedures.

The committee acknowledged Mr. Robertson's stated history of incident-free operations over the past four years, which he presented as a collaborative document last year accepted without objection. However, they stressed the importance of addressing the specific concerns raised by the police and environmental health to ensure the event's safety during the busy carnival period.

The total expected capacity of the Acklam Village area is stated to be over 1500. The applicant indicated that SIA officers conduct visual checks as part of their crowd crush protocol, with defined criteria for assessing congestion. If the area becomes too crowded, barriers would be deployed to manage outflow. The imposed conditions mandate robust methods for monitoring and controlling the capacity, suggesting a need for more comprehensive measures if visual checks prove insufficient.

While the council will monitor compliance, the specific methods beyond the SIA's visual checks are not detailed in the meeting information. The applicant's previous experience and the acceptance of similar plans in prior years, as he stated, no incidents reported, stand in contrast to the current objections, highlighting the heightened scrutiny for this year's event.