Councillor Maura Connolly, Chairman of the Licensing Committee, Councillor Tom Deffley, and Councillor Graham McAndrew were scheduled to attend a meeting of the East Herts Council Licensing Sub-Committee on Friday 26 September 2025. The main item for discussion was a new premises licence application for Standon Calling Limited.

Standon Calling Licence Application

The Licensing Sub-Committee was scheduled to consider an application for a new premises licence for Standon Calling at Standon Lordship, Barwick Road, Standon, Hertfordshire, SG11 1PR.

The report included a recommendation that the application be decided.

Application Details

Standon Calling Limited submitted the application on 11 June 2025, seeking a premises licence for regulated entertainment, late night refreshment and the supply of alcohol. The report noted that the applicant, Alex Trenchard, had applied to secure a premises licence not limited in time, to authorise licensable activity for up to eight event days each calendar year over a 14-day period, comprising two consecutive weeks, at a maximum capacity of 29,999 persons between 01 May and 30 September.

The licensable activities and hours requested in the application were:

• Regulated Entertainment; Provision of Plays: Monday to Thursday 10:00 – 23:00, Friday to Saturday 10:00 – 02:00, Sunday 10:00 – 02:00
• Regulated Entertainment; Provision of Films: Monday to Thursday 10:00 – 23:00, Friday to Saturday 10:00 – 02:00, Sunday 10:00 – 02:00
• Regulated Entertainment; Provision of Live Music: Monday to Thursday 10:00 – 23:00, Friday to Saturday 10:00 – 02:00, Sunday 10:00 – 00:00
• Regulated Entertainment; Provision of Recorded Music: Monday to Thursday 10:00 – 23:00, Friday to Saturday 10:00 – 02:00, Sunday 10:00 – 00:00
• Regulated Entertainment; Provision of Performances of Dance: Monday to Thursday 10:00 – 23:00, Friday to Saturday 10:00 – 02:00, Sunday 10:00 – 00:00
• Regulated Entertainment; Provision of anything of a similar description to live music, recorded music or performances of dance: Monday to Thursday 10:00 – 23:00, Friday to Saturday 10:00 – 02:00, Sunday 10:00 – 00:00
• Supply of alcohol (On premises): Monday to Thursday 10:00 – 00:00, Friday to Saturday 10:00 – 02:00, Sunday 10:00 – 00:00
• Late night refreshment: Saturday 23:00-02:00, Sunday 23:00-02:00, New Years Eve: 23:00-00:00
• Opening hours: Monday to Thursday 10:00 – 00:00, Friday to Saturday 10:00 – 02:00, Sunday 10:00 – 00:00

Objections

The report pack included that representations had been received from two members of the public ([REDACTED]) and Hertfordshire Police objecting to the application, asserting that all four Licensing Objectives¹ would be undermined if the application was granted as requested.

Public Representations

The public representations included concerns about:

• Noise management measures including noise pollution
• Distress, disruption and trespassing including blocked access to property
• Speeding vehicles endangering children and animals together with parked vehicles
• The amount of litter and rubbish

One of the objectors stated that they were not interested in mediating with the applicant, Alex Trenchard.

Police Representation

The Police representation stated they had concerns with:

• Event Duration and Notification Requirements
• Traffic Management Plan (TMP)
• Event Management Plan (EMP)
• Safeguarding and Vulnerable Persons arrangements
• Noise Management Plan (NMP)
• Alcohol and Entry Policies
• Security and Stewarding
• Insurance and Liability

The report noted that the police representation had been submitted following mediation with the applicant, but that agreement on conditions had not yet been reached.

Council Policy and Guidance

The report pack included references to the council's Statement of Licensing Policy 2021-2026, and Guidance issued under section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003, which state that the authority's decision should be evidence-based, justified as being appropriate for the promotion of the Licensing Objectives, and proportionate to what it is intended to achieve.

The council's statement of licensing policy states that the operation of Standon Calling best fits the definition of a festival:

'An organised event, typically lasting more than one day, featuring all or a combination of licensable activities including performances of live and recorded music. Can involve the audience staying on site.'

The policy also states that when valid and relevant representations have been received, licensed activity will generally be allowed until 01:00 on Friday and Saturday, and 23:00 on Sunday to Thursday, unless the following day is a Bank Holiday or recognised National Holiday.

Mitigation

The report noted that the application form and supporting documents contained many mitigating factors with regards to the representations submitted, and that the applicant had proactively provided many plans, policies and procedures which are all intended to mitigate risk and provide a detailed structure to events and eventualities, and not in response to a request by any authority.

The report also noted that Environmental Health had made no representation against the application, and that as the authority responsible for dealing with noise nuisance, the decision of Environmental Health not to make a representation should carry weight when considering any conditions or other measures that may be suggested regarding this particular objective.

Options

The Licensing Sub-Committee had the following options:

• Grant the licence as requested
• Grant the licence subject to modified or additional conditions, and/or modified hours or activities
• Refuse the application

The report noted that if considering additional or amended conditions, members should decide whether these conditions would in fact mitigate the concerns raised on the balance of evidence provided, and that any proposed conditions must be formatted to be enforceable, clear, unambiguous and free from subjective terms.

Appendices

The report included the following appendices:

• Application Form
• Licensing Objectives
• Alcohol Management Plan
• CDM Construction Plan
• Crowd Management Plan
• Emergency & Major Incident Plan
• Entry and Search Policy and Procedure
• Extreme Weather Action Plan
• Risk Assessment
• Safeguarding Policy
• Show Stop Procedure
• Sign Off to Open
• Plans
• Welfare Plan
• Public Representations
• Police Representation