A Temporary Event Notice (TEN) for the sale of alcohol at 177 Portobello Road has been approved after the Metropolitan Police withdrew their objection. The application, submitted by Mr Sylvester Augustin, was for the sale of alcohol off the premises on Sunday 30 August and Monday 31 August 2026, during the Notting Hill Carnival.
Initially, PC Mark Perry of the Metropolitan Police had raised concerns regarding potential overcrowding, the creation of pinch points, and the lack of a submitted risk assessment or event management plan, particularly given the high footfall on Elgin Crescent during Carnival. These concerns were cited as grounds for preventing crime and disorder and ensuring public safety.
However, at the hearing before the Licensing Sub-Committee, PC Perry informed the committee that the police were withdrawing their objection. This decision followed the applicant's submission of an Event Management Plan and a Risk Assessment, which addressed the police's initial concerns. These documents detailed measures for crowd management, alcohol management, and security.
Addressing Overcrowding and Pinch Points
The Event Management Plan and Risk Assessment detailed several measures to address potential overcrowding and pinch points on Elgin Crescent. These include:
- Crowd Management:
The same management team will manage the crow effectively to make sure that public safety is upheld.
Measures include directing guest flow for prompt service and continuous movement, using clear signage to expedite service, and management diverting traffic to other bars if necessary. On-ground SID personnel will also monitor crowd density. - Signage:
Clear Signage will display the items for sale to expedite the service.
- Staff Deployment:
IT WILL BE MANNED BY 8 STAFF MEMBERS, 2 OF WHICH WILL HAVE A PERSONAL LICENCE. SEPARATE TO THIS THERE WILL BE A MANAGEMENT TEAM FOR CASH PROCESSING AND A SECURITY TEAM OF 3 SID PERSONNEL 2 OF WHICH WILL HAVE BODY CAMERAS.
- Service Method:
I express that the bar will not be using any glassware. Only plastic cups, tinned beer, plastic bottled water.
- Flow Management:
There will be clear signage of how the process will work. There will be cashiers in the middle of each bar, they will take payments and pass on the guest either to the left or right of the bar. The continuous flow of service will ensure no overcrowding in the area.
- Obstructed Pavements:
Making sure that pavements are always unobstructed, and traffic is continuously moving.
Mr. Augustin, who described the premises at 177 Portobello Road as a 'Restaurant and Wine Bar', stated, This will personally be my 15th year running this setup during Carnival and as a local buisness that has been a part of the community since 2003
. This indicates a long-standing history of operating during the Notting Hill Carnival at this location or in a similar capacity.
The committee, chaired by Councillor Greg Hammond, with members Councillor Arian Areti and Councillor Nadia Nail, noted the withdrawal of the objection. As the sole objector had withdrawn their representation, the committee was advised that the TEN could proceed without further hearing. The Metropolitan Police was the sole objector to the Temporary Event Notice. Following the withdrawal of their objection, the legal advisor advised the committee that they no longer had grounds to hear the matter.
Mr. Augustin's TEN proposed a capacity of 40 people for the sale of alcohol off the premises on Elgin Crescent, a street directly off Portobello Road. The application was for the hours of 12:00 to 19:00 on both days of the Carnival weekend.
For large public events like the Notting Hill Carnival, Temporary Event Notices (TENs) are used for alcohol sales. The police's initial objection highlighted concerns that are standard considerations for licensing objectives, including the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, prevention of public nuisance, and protection of children from harm. The TEN itself proposed off-premises alcohol sales with a capacity of 40 people, which is within the typical limits for a TEN.
The TEN was for a 'Refreshment bar during Notting Hill Carnival Street festival' involving the 'Sale by retail of alcohol - Off the Premises' from the 'Elgin Crescent Forecourt'.
