The Premier League’s Fulham F.C. has been given the green light to host major events in the new Riverside Stand at Craven Cottage.
MyLondon said the venue, also known as Fulham Pier, will be able to play music and host events involving more than 500 people following approval from the local council.
Fulham Football Club is a professional football club based in Fulham, West London, England (UK). The club competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football.
Craven Cottage is a football stadium in Fulham, West London, England (UK) which has been the home of the Fulham F.C. since 1896.
Craven Cottage, a 30,000-seater stadium by the River Thames, has a total of 11 premises licences covering activities such as alcohol sales and opening times.
Fulham F.C. had requested variations to four licences covering the new stand, which fully opened towards the end of the last football season.
Four of those, covering the ground to fifth floor sections of the Riverside Stand, were requested to be amended to allow for music, plays and other performances until 11pm seven days a week with large potential audiences.
During consultation 65 objections were filed against the applications, plus three in support. No representations were made by authorities such as London’s Metropolitan Police.
The objections focussed on concerns about the expected increase in noise and disturbance if the variations were approved.
The objections led to a letter being submitted by the applicant’s solicitor, Craig Baylis from Baylis Associates UK, who wrote that music has already been able to be played due to exemptions in the law as long as it is not after 11pm and the audience is not greater than 500 people.
The changes would not alter the latest time music could be played, only the number of people allowed.
Mr Baylis reiterated the points raised in his letter, telling attendees the applications are to cover potential instances when music may be provided, such as by a live band, to more than 500 people.
He gave the example of the Boat Race as a time when a lot of people visit the Riverside ground floor, with between 3,000 and 4,000 potentially using the space.
He said, “It is not our intention by any stretch of the imagination to have events where there are more than 500 people attending for live or recorded music on multiple occasions through the year.”
Baylis said at this stage it is not known what types of events might be held, so the licences are intentionally broad.
Council planners agreed to approve the three remaining applications alongside conditions capping the number of events annually to 24, that a risk assessment plan be submitted for each event, and that a noise limiting device be installed at the premises.
The football club must also keep a written record of noise assessments, the Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) is to take minutes from meetings with residents and a telephone number must be displayed.
Following the meeting a Fulham Football Club spokesperson said: “The club has, and will continue, to operate within the terms of its planning and licensing obligations. We take our responsibility as a good neighbour very seriously and that’s why we’ve made a significant investment in creating this new asset for the local community.
“As we’re shortly opening a hotel at Fulham Pier, our own interests are aligned with those of our neighbours and we’ll be working closely with everyone to ensure, as we have to date, noise and antisocial behaviours are managed appropriately.”
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