The Alcohol and Entertainment Licensing Sub-Committee of Brent Council met on Wednesday 30 July 2025 to consider a temporary event notice (TEN) application. The meeting was held as an online virtual meeting. Councillor Parvez Ahmed, Chair of the Licensing Committee, Councillor Janice Long and Councillor Lesley Smith were in attendance.

One Stop Caribbean - Temporary Event Notice

The sub-committee was scheduled to consider an application for a temporary event notice relating to One Stop Caribbean, 17-19 High Street, NW10 4NE. Ms Sophia Dixon applied for two TENs (references 35538 and 35539) to extend the hours for licensable activities during the August bank holiday weekend.

The existing premises licence permits the provision of late night refreshment from 11pm to midnight, and the supply of alcohol from 10am to 11:30pm, Monday to Sunday. Ms Dixon applied to extend the sale of alcohol and regulated entertainment from 11pm to 2am on 22-23 August 2025 (TEN 35538) and 25-26 August 2025 (TEN 35539), with a maximum of 80 people present at any one time.

PC Phil Graves, Licensing Constable, submitted representations on behalf of the Metropolitan Police, objecting to both TENs. According to the police reps, the police's concerns related to all four licensing objectives¹:

• The prevention of crime and disorder;
• Public safety;
• The prevention of public nuisance; and
• The protection of children from harm.

PC Graves stated that a TEN granted to the venue the previous year had been breached, and that police were refused entry to the premises, which he stated is an offence under section 179 of the Licensing Act 2003². He also stated that the High Street and Craven Park Road had been turned into a public order nightmare during the Notting Hill Carnival weekend, with unregistered street trading, unauthorised sales of alcohol, unauthorised regulated entertainment and mass disorder.

PC Graves' representation stated that police and council officials were confronted with hostile crowds, and had to retreat for safety reasons. He stated that gas cylinders were thrown at officers, and officers had to be pulled away from the Carnival to regain control. He stated that One Stop Caribbean was told to turn off their music, but that speakers were later placed outside the venue and the volume turned up again.

PC Graves stated that the police strongly opposed the TEN, regardless of any conditions that could be added, as all four of the licensing objectives would be severely under threat if authorised.

A police warning letter from PC Brendon Mcinnes to Ms Dixon, dated 3 September 2024, was included in the report pack. The letter stated that PC Mcinnes had attended the venue on 26 August 2024 due to a TEN application and complaints about loud music. He stated that none of the licensing objectives were being upheld, and that the loud music attracted a huge crowd, causing traffic obstruction and a nuisance to residents. He also stated that he was refused entry to the venue.

Ms Dixon responded to the police's objections, stating that the public order incident on 26 August 2024 was unrelated to One Stop Caribbean, and that the venue was overwhelmed by people seeking refuge or access after the police closed the surrounding area. She stated that the venue had ended its relationship with the security firm employed at the time, and that future TENs would be supported by a fully vetted security team.

Ms Dixon stated that a subsequent TEN was granted and held on 13 December 2024 without any incident or police intervention, and that One Stop Caribbean had worked cooperatively with the police and Brent Council since then. She requested that the decision to oppose the TENs be reconsidered, and offered to meet with the Licensing Team to discuss an event management plan and any conditions that would ensure safety and compliance.

The report pack also included a copy of One Stop Caribbean's premises licence, which authorises the provision of late night refreshments and the sale or supply of alcohol. The licence includes a number of mandatory conditions, such as a requirement for a designated premises supervisor³, an age verification policy, and the provision of free potable water.