A Licensing Sub-Committee of Kensington and Chelsea Council met on Monday 24 August 2026 to consider an objection to a Temporary Event Notice (TEN) for the sale of alcohol at 243A Ladbroke Grove during Notting Hill Carnival. The committee decided to issue a counter notice, refusing the TEN.

Temporary Event Notice at 243A Ladbroke Grove

The Licensing Sub-Committee considered a Temporary Event Notice (TEN) submitted by Ms Carlene Reid for the forecourt of 243A Ladbroke Grove, London, W10 6HF. The notice sought permission to sell alcohol for off-premises consumption on Sunday 30 August and Monday 31 August 2026, between 12:00 and 19:00, with a maximum capacity of four people.

Objections to the TEN were raised by the Metropolitan Police and the council's Noise and Nuisance Team. Both objected on the grounds of undermining the licensing objectives of preventing crime and disorder and ensuring public safety.

The Metropolitan Police, represented by PC Mark Perry, stated that Ladbroke Grove is a particularly congested area during Notting Hill Carnival, being on the main parade route. They argued that any premises selling alcohol in this location would act as a magnet drawing crowds, creating pinch points and increasing the risk of crushing, injury, and disorder. PC Perry expressed doubt that Ms Reid had adequate plans to manage queues and potential disorder, especially given the difficulty police would face accessing the area in an emergency. He stated, If there is an incident there, it's, it would take a significant amount of time when the crowd is at peak to get through there.

The Noise and Nuisance Team, represented by Philip Richardson, echoed these concerns, highlighting the heavy congestion in the area and the potential for the TEN to exacerbate existing issues. They noted the lack of a detailed Risk Assessment and Event Management Plan to demonstrate how queues and congestion would be managed.

Ms Reid had submitted revised documentation, including an Event Management Plan and Risk Assessment, which detailed measures such as a maximum of one customer allowed in the forecourt at any time, no external queueing, and a commitment to suspend sales if congestion occurred. The forecourt was described as approximately 10 ft wide by 8 ft deep. However, the committee found these measures insufficient.

Councillor Edward Whitley questioned PC Perry on whether any additional measures the applicant could offer would address the police's concerns. PC Perry responded that the objection was primarily on the location and that he did not believe it was possible to run the event safely given the density of the crowds.

Following the representations, the Licensing Sub-Committee decided to issue a counter notice, refusing the Temporary Event Notice. This decision was based on the conclusion that allowing the event would undermine the licensing objectives of preventing crime and disorder and ensuring public safety, particularly due to the location on Ladbroke Grove during the busy Notting Hill Carnival.