A proposal for a temporary alcohol licence for a venue named Flatfall, located at Gadsden House on Hazelwood Crescent, has faced objections from both the Metropolitan Police and the council's Noise and Nuisance team. The application, submitted by Marlon Bryan, sought permission to sell alcohol off the premises on Sunday, August 30 and Monday, August 31, 2026, to coincide with Notting Hill Carnival.
The police objected on the grounds of preventing crime and disorder and ensuring public safety, while the Noise and Nuisance team raised concerns about public nuisance and public safety.
Marlon Bryan, the applicant, highlighted his experience operating at Notting Hill Carnival since 2022, stating that previous operations at Cambridge Gardens and Colville Terrace had been without incident or complaint. He emphasised his commitment to licensing requirements and noted his qualifications as a licensed SIA security guard, which he believes equip him for crowd control and de-escalation.
Mr. Bryan expressed concern over what he described as a “blanket rejection” from authorities this year, contrasting it with previous years where he had engaged in dialogue with officers. He stated that the approach from licensing authorities has changed, with objections this year lacking prior dialogue to address concerns. PC Mark Perry, he gave us permission to be at Colville Road last year. And again, we have a dialogue. With this one, with PC Janelle, there's just been no dialogue. No, OK, this is what you can do to improve or reassure us that you're going to apply yourselves in a way we feel is good to conduct. So we find that very kind of weird, in particular this year, where there's this blanket, just objection,
he explained.
He acknowledged the presence of sound systems in the vicinity of Hazelwood Crescent and its proximity to the Carnival Parade but argued that these were not comparable in scale to larger operations and that the parade route was at the end of the road, away from his proposed operating area.
During the Licensing Sub-Committee meeting, Councillor Arian Areti questioned Mr. Bryan about the proposed capacity of 30 people, given that a gazebo would only accommodate a few. Mr. Bryan clarified that 30 was a maximum capacity to manage overcrowding, with an anticipated average of 15 to 20 people. He explained that sales would occur within a gazebo, approximately three by three square meters,
and customers would be expected to leave the site after purchasing their drinks, as the terms specified off-site sales. So, the area would strictly be used to sales and then we will kind of guide them off-site because it's, we've agreed, well, the terms were sales off-site. So, we won't have anyone, um, lingering or drinking on-site,
he stated. He also confirmed that staff would not be counted towards the customer capacity and that a rotation system would be in place to manage queues, with approximately 10 to 15 people allowed in the gated area at a time.
Councillor Ned Whitley inquired about security arrangements for the queue outside the gated area. Mr. Bryan stated that he and another staff member would be responsible for security, with additional staff available to assist in managing the queue and ensuring customers departed after their purchase. He mentioned that the total staffing level for the event, including himself, would be around six to seven people.
Mr. Bryan highlighted his commitment to compliance with licensing authority and police requirements, noting that he has consistently provided detailed event management plans and site plans. He reiterated his commitment to preventing alcohol consumption on the premises, stating, We will be strict on the, um, once you buy, you'll have to leave. There's no link. A lot of people have friends and they tend to talk and wait and stuff. So, we'll just be more strict on that, um, um, policy there.
