The Licensing Sub-Committee of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea met on Tuesday 25 August 2026 to consider a Temporary Event Notice (TEN) for the forecourt of 5-7 Oxford Gardens. The committee decided to issue a counter notice, effectively refusing the TEN.

Temporary Event Notice for 5-7 Oxford Gardens Refused

The Licensing Sub-Committee decided to refuse a Temporary Event Notice (TEN) submitted by Miss Isabella Spencer for the forecourt of 5-7 Oxford Gardens, London, W10 5UE. The notice sought permission for the retail sale of alcohol on Sunday, 30 August 2026, between 12 midday and 7pm, with a maximum capacity of 20 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 public safety.

PC Jack Reason, representing the Metropolitan Police, highlighted that the proposed location on Oxford Gardens is in a highly congested area, situated between two sound systems, Virgo International and High-Grade Sound System, during Notting Hill Carnival. He argued that allowing alcohol sales in this already crowded environment would create a magnet for those seeking drinks, leading to a dangerous crush, overcrowding, and potential for serious injuries. PC Reason stated, A queue of 15, 20 people pushing against a residential gate or a door will lead to a crush, especially if someone falls over. He also expressed concern that the TEN could lead to disorder due to people fighting in queues and that it would be impossible to operate safely given the sheer number of people. The police requested that the TEN be counter-noticed.

Philip Richardson from the Noise and Nuisance Team echoed these concerns, stating that the TEN was likely to exacerbate existing congestion on Portobello Road, negatively affecting crowd flow. He noted that the provided risk assessment and event management plan did not sufficiently address the unique risks associated with Carnival, and there was no evidence of a street trading licence for alcohol sales onto the highway. Mr. Richardson shared a personal experience of being caught in a crowd crush at Carnival, describing it as quite scary.

The committee noted that the applicant, Miss Isabella Spencer, was not present at the hearing. The Licensing Officer, Laura Burns, confirmed that the applicant had been contacted for clarification regarding the dates on the TEN but no response was received.

In making their decision, the Sub-Committee considered the objections and the potential impact on the licensing objectives, particularly in the context of the Notting Hill Carnival, as outlined in the Council's Statement of Licensing Policy¹. The policy strongly advises early submission of TENs for Carnival events to allow for thorough assessment and liaison with organisers and authorities, and highlights the risks associated with increased congestion and potential for disorder. The decision to issue a counter notice was based on the belief that granting the TEN would undermine the licensing objectives.