Battersea Park Premises Licence | Enable Leisure and Culture : Enable Leisure and Culture

Borough of Culture/ Welcome to Wandsworth opening event

Summary

Enable is applying for a premises licence which would allow us to hold a one-day only London Borough of Culture launch event for up to 3,000 people. This is not an annual event. It will be a one-off event licence specifically for 26 April 2025, 13:00 – 19:00.

The event, , would be the first major public event for Wandsworth’s London Borough of Culture 2025 programme, inviting local communities to come together to celebrate dance, music and movement, from ballet to folk, jazz to salsa and more.

The opening event, as with all such events in the LBOC programme will be inclusive, catering for all ages and abilities, and open to all.

What are we applying for?

Enable is applying for a premises licence to hold a one-day only London Borough of Culture launch event for up to 3,000 people. This is not an annual event. It will be a one-off event licence specifically for 26 April 2025, 13:00 – 19:00.

A premises licence is required for licensable activities in a particular space. Licensable activities include anything that will involve the provision of regulated entertainment or the sale of alcohol. Regulated entertainment includes any event that features music, entertainment, films, plays, dance or other similar activities for more than 500 people.

The premises licence will only allow for this specific event to take place. We must also still go through Wandsworth’s robust approvals process before this event can go ahead. This includes engagement with residents and checks by the Council’s Safety Advisory Group who would need to verify that assessments around potential health and safety, disruption, nuisance and the ecological impact of the event have been taken into consideration.

What type of event is planned?

Wandsworth has recently been awarded the prestigious title of London Borough of Culture 2025. Since 2017, the Mayor of London’s Borough of Culture initiative has aimed to make people healthier and happier while fostering a sense of identity for communities and residents. The opening event would be the opening event for Wandsworth’s London Borough of Culture programme, inviting local communities to come together to celebrate dance, music and movement, from ballet to folk, jazz to salsa and more.

The event would take place around Battersea Park’s iconic fountain and pleasure gardens as created for the Festival of Britain in 1951 and will provide a recognisable landmark for the main performance stage. The layout will include a main performance stage, interactive dance workshop tents and a silent disco area. A range of food and beverage stalls will sit in the pleasure garden area adjacent to the fountain area. Festivities will culminate in a breathtaking finale, featuring up to 200 talented local performers from across the borough, with a group participation moment where the entire audience will be invited to join in. It is important that all residents receive excellent opportunities for enjoyment and enriching entertainment. As with all such events in the borough would be inclusive, catering for all ages and abilities, and open to all.

Why are we applying?

Battersea Park has played host to many successful large-scale events in the past, including annual events such as Battersea Parks Fireworks and Battersea Park in Concert. The reason a new licence is required for this event is because a part of the area we are proposing to hold it is slightly outside the current licensed area.

Wandsworth’s London Borough of Culture programme will be a trailblazer for London becoming a Creative Health Capital City – a place where better health outcomes are achieved through the power of culture and the arts. The programme organisers are working collaboratively with community partners to build an unforgettable programme that will celebrate our communities and leave a lasting, positive impact on the borough’s cultural landscape and long-term benefits for local residents, including greater access to high-quality cultural events, opportunities for community engagement, and increased use of green spaces for arts and leisure. It will support local businesses, create volunteering and employment opportunities, and enhance the vibrancy of the area, ensuring Wandsworth remains a dynamic and culturally enriched borough for years to come.

How to find out more or have your say:

If you have any further questions, please contact the event application organisation, Enable at events@enablelc.org

If you wish to make a representation on the licensing objectives, please contact Wandsworth Licensing Authority at licensing@merton.gov.uk

Which area are we applying for?

The area we would like the event to take place is around the fountains in Battersea Park. See below for an outline of the boundaries:

When would this area be used?

The event would take place on Saturday 26 April, 13:00 – 19:00. We would also need to use the area before and after the event to set up and clear up, would be from Tuesday 22 to Monday 28 April inclusive. During the build phase, access to Fountain Toilets will be maintained from the Bandstand / Central Drive. During the live event, alternative temporary toilets will be provided in the Bandstand for park users.

Key Information:

We understand the impact that public events can have on a local community, and we are committed to minimising any disruptions. Considerations and mitigations for this license application include:

Noise: A noise management plan has been developed for the event and a noise monitoring team will be on-site throughout the live event to ensure it is adhered to. Sound systems will be directed away from the closest residents and tuned to minimise noise disturbance for surrounding residents where possible.
End of the event: External security personnel and egress systems will be in place to ensure that departing customers safely reach local transport hubs with minimal impact on our neighbours.
Parking: The event will be clearly advertised as a walking / public transport-only event.
Litter Control: A waste management plan, including recycling, will be enacted for this event, including bins deployment and post-event litter picking in the park, along egress routes and out of Battersea Park.
Ground Protection & Post-Event Maintenance: Ground protection systems will be installed to vehicle routes around the event site. After the event, organisers will ensure thorough cleanup and any necessary repairs to the event site.
Accessibility: The event management team will aim to provide a site that will be as accessible as practicable, with arrangements in place for those with access requirements. These will include an accessible viewing platform, companion tickets, Blue Badge parking provisions and welfare support where appropriate.
Light Pollution: This event will primarily take place during daylight hours. Temporary lighting will be kept to a minimum and positioned to avoid disturbance in identified wildlife areas.