The Kensington and Chelsea Licensing Sub-Committee met to consider a notice given by Mr Mansour Naghdi Esfestani to hold a temporary licensable event at The Butter Bakery. Objections to the notice had been received from the police and the Noise and Nuisance Team. The Licensing Sub-Committee was to decide whether to issue a counter notice, take no action, or impose conditions.

The Butter Bakery, 219 Westbourne Park Road

The sub-committee was scheduled to consider a report regarding a Temporary Event Notice (TEN) submitted by Mr Mansour Naghdi Esfestani, for The Butter Bakery, 219 Westbourne Park Road, London, W11 1EA.

Mr Naghdi Esfestani had given notice of his intention to provide the sale of alcohol off the premises during Notting Hill Carnival 2025, on Sunday 24 August 2025 between 10:00 and 19:00. The maximum number of people to be permitted at any one time was 20.

PC Mark Perry, on behalf of the Metropolitan Police, objected to the TEN on the grounds of the prevention of crime and disorder and public safety. PC Mark Perry stated that Mr Naghdi Esfestani was proposing to sell alcohol from a hatch onto the street, and that selling alcohol in this manner would increase the risk of injury due to overcrowding in a very congested and busy street close to two sound systems, Disya Generation Sound System and Metro Glory Sound System.

Overcrowding can lead to pinch points being created, leading to people being pushed against walls, crushed, falling over and trampled on. It can also lead to disorder as people try to jump the queue.

PC Mark Perry also stated that Mr Naghdi Esfestani had not followed clauses 25.4, 25.5, 25.6 and 25.11 of The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea's Licensing Policy¹. PC Mark Perry contacted Mr Naghdi Esfestani to suggest that police concerns could be mitigated if customers were permitted to enter the café to purchase alcohol.

Mr Philip Richardson, on behalf of the Environmental Health Noise and Nuisance Team, also objected to the TEN on the grounds of public safety. Mr Philip Richardson stated that the location was situated on the forecourt area in a very congested area of the carnival footprint, and that the TEN was likely to exacerbate congestion by drawing and holding people at the site, which could negatively affect crowd flow in the area.

The report noted that the premises currently had the benefit of a premises licence which permits the sale of alcohol on and off the premises.

Appendix A to the report pack contained a copy of the Temporary Event Notice. Mr Naghdi Esfestani stated that the TEN licence was for the carnival period, and that the shop windows and the entrance of the shop would be boarded up. Trading would occur through a hatch by the entrance of the shop, and customers would not be able to enter the premises.

Appendix B to the report pack contained a copy of the premises licence.

Appendix C to the report pack contained a copy of PC Mark Perry's objection. PC Mark Perry referenced a BBC article from 19 September 2024, in which Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said that the Notting Hill Carnival is a poorly run event and has deep concerns about crowd risks. PC Mark Perry also referenced a BBC News article from 22 April 2025, which stated that the London Assembly is calling for a review of crowd safety at Notting Hill Carnival amid police concerns about a mass casualty event at the two-day festival. PC Mark Perry also referenced a BBC News article from 18 June 2025, which stated that the future of the Notting Hill Carnival could be in doubt without urgent funding from the government.

Appendix D to the report pack contained a copy of Mr Philip Richardson's objection.

Appendix E to the report pack contained extracts from the council's statement of licensing policy². Appendix F to the report pack contained a map of the area around The Butter Bakery.

Appendix G to the report pack contained a list of licensed premises within the vicinity of The Butter Bakery.

Appendix H to the report pack contained a map of the 2024 Carnival footprint.

Appendix I to the report pack contained a list of temporary event notices received so far for this year's Carnival.