Covid-19 update
Please visit our Covid-19 leisure and culture hub page for the latest information on holding events in public spaces across the borough.
This is the Council's standard events guidance to be read in conjunction with the current Covid-19 specific requirements before submitting an application.
The two event space conditions to consider are events in parks and events on streets.
Events in parks
Parks as venues will be defined by spaces within them that are, by their design, fully enclosed and can be secured to safely manage event numbers. Please contact the Events Team before applying to find out if your event is suitable for one of the Borough’s parks.
Events on streets
Please contact the Events Team before applying to find out if your event is suitable for the street you are proposing at this time. Our high streets have changed in response to the pandemic, with the need to facilitate external shop queues, the widening of footpaths and the requirement to ensure social distancing in busy areas. Due to these changes, we need to change our process of facilitating events to meet government and industry guidance and to provide a safe environment for the public. Please contact the Events Team before applying to find out if your event is suitable for the street you are proposing at this time.
If you are considering organising an event, please be aware of lead-in times or application deadlines that need to be taken into account before deciding your event date and that each event is considered on a case-by-case basis.
If you have any questions, or need help with anything, contact us at:
Email: specialevents@rbkc.gov.uk
Phone: 020 7341 5762
Apply to hold an event in a public place
Event guidance
Notice period
Street events and promotions
For promotional activity or other activities with a very low impact, such as a small charity walk with no infrastructure, you must provide at least 10 working days’ notice.
For all other street events we need between 6 and 12 weeks' notice, depending on the location and impact of the event. These are events that include road closures and/or parking suspensions and will have an impact on residents and businesses in the area. For these events you may need other licenses or permissions; we can advise further once we have received your application.
Park events
For small events (under 499 attendees) in a park, we need at least 6 weeks' notice. For events that may need a licence, we need up to 12 weeks' notice.
For larger events (above 499 attendees) involving licensable activities, it may take longer to approve. Licensable activities are activities like sale of alcohol and regulated entertainment.
For more detail on the licensing requirements at events, go to the Events in parks page.
Approval process
We will decide if you can hold your event by looking at the following:
- Is the event or activity suitable in the proposed location?
- Will the event or activity be managed safely and under the terms and conditions of the event licence?
- Has enough notice been given to facilitate the event?
- Will the event benefit, and be supported by, the community and local businesses?
- Are there any existing event applications in the proposed location on the same day?
- Were previous events organised by the event organiser managed well?
Once you have sent your application we will review it and get in touch with you with further information. There may be licenses you need to apply for or other council procedures to be aware of. If you do not reply we will not be able to approve your event. We will write to you to let you know why.
Council permissions can include:
- Highways
- Street Lighting
- Parking
- Street Trading and Enforcement
- Environmental Health
- Licensing
- Planning
Please note
The Special Events office also charge an administration fee at an hourly rate (currently £104 inclusive of VAT) to cover officer time, general advice, office costs and liaison with other Council officers, if required.
All payments must be made by debit or credit card before the event takes place and before any licences can be issued.
We will accommodate late applications where possible, but a charge of £85 will be applied (any applications submitted late are not guaranteed to be processed and will depend on officer capacity).