Fulham FC Gets Permission To Host Major Events
New stand can now host over 500 people despite resident opposition
The entertainment area at the new Riverside Stand. Picture: Fulham FC
September 19, 2025
Fulham Football Club has been given permission to host major events in its stadium’s new stand with potentially thousands of people in attendance.
The new Riverside Stand at Fulham’s home ground Craven Cottage will be able to play music and host events involving more than 500 people following approval from the local council. The Premier League side had requested variations to four licences covering the new stand, which fully opened towards the end of the last football season. The approval covers the areas incorporated into the new stand and do not enable large scale concerts within the whole stadium.
The proposals had received substantial push-back from local residents, though Hammersmith and Fulham Council’s Licensing Sub-Committee Wednesday night (17 September) green-lit three of the four variations. One was withdrawn during the meeting.
A Fulham Football Club spokesperson said they take their responsibility as a good neighbour “very seriously” and will be working to ensure “noise and antisocial behaviours are managed appropriately”.
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. 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 the Met Police.
The objections focussed on concerns about the expected increase in noise and disturbance if the variations were approved.
One person wrote, “What concerns me is the entertainment and music. This is a quiet residential area and FFC [Fulham Football Club] and residents have always got along pretty well because the club seemed to have ‘got’ the neighbourhood, despite the looming nature of the new stand. But opening the door to performances, concerts etc will tear the neighbourhood apart. It saddens me that the club is never satisfied.”
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 change the latest time music could be played, only the number of people allowed.
Mr Baylis continued to write that the applications were submitted as there may be times when the exemptions do not apply, such as when live music “may be provided as a primary activity to more than 500 persons”.
“In these circumstances the exemption could not apply and the activity should be specifically licensed,” he continued.
The objectors, however, remained opposed. Luke Elford, a Consultant Partner at Acuity Law representing a Rob Ebert, wrote that if the variations were granted “then appropriate and proportionate conditions must be attached to the premises licences to control them”.
The letter added, “Given the strength of feeling regarding these applications it is disappointing that no representations have been received from responsible authorities. The applicant will say that this is a big tick in their favour. We do not agree that is the case.”
Several residents spoke at the Licensing Sub-Committee meeting to continue to raise their concerns about the applications.
Lisa Flynn told members she was “extremely nervous” about the submissions. “Since the development of the new – a lot higher than we all thought – stand, the more they’ve gained and thus the more they want, with consideration to local residents taking a downturn.”
Jane Gardiner was another resident who said she was concerned about the impact on her livelihood. She said, “We need proper security at the gates. We need to make sure that loiterers and people coming out of the venues are not coming past and bothering our flats.”
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.
“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.”
Pushed on what kinds of events are envisaged, Mr Baylis said at this stage it is not known, though that the licences are intentionally broad. He quipped that there could be indoor ping pong matches or snooker games, adding each potential event would have a full risk assessment drawn up in advance.
During the meeting Mr Baylis offered the condition that the number of such events when the licence would apply be capped at 24 per year. The application for the first floor, which is primarily restaurant space, was also withdrawn while councillors were deliberating.
Members 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.”
Residents raised concerns at a council licensing meeting last spring over a series of applications filed for the Riverside Stand ahead of its completion. These included late-night drinking and noise resulting from the proposals, though members opted to approve the proposals paving the way for its opening.
Ben Lynch - Local Democracy Reporter
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