The Natural History Museum wants to host events in its ‘transformed’ garden spaces unveiled earlier this summer as it applies for a new license with the council. The world-famous South Kensington venue already has two premises licenses covering the Darwin Centre, some outside garden areas and various galleries in the main building.
Both of these allow activities such as selling alcohol, playing recorded music and exhibiting films. The new application would extend this permission to include its revamped garden spaces, the Evolution Garden and Garden Kitchen, to the east of the site.
The area to the west, the new Nature Discovery Garden, is not included in the notification. Four objections to the proposal were submitted to Kensington and Chelsea Council, with concerns raised about increased litter and the requested hours among the busy.
A spokesperson for the museum said the premises have held a license for more than 10 years, with no known complaints about littering or safety during that time. However, council documents note that two noise complaints have been received in the previous 24 months.
A list of conditions is included in the package prepared for the local authority’s licensing sub-committee meeting next week (August 20). These range from restrictions on the number of annual events the museum can hold, to rubbish not being collected between 11pm and 7am.
Seven recommendations from residents are also noted, including customers being prevented from congregating in Queen’s Gate after 6pm. The application is recommended for approval.
The museum suggests “no amplified live music” in the garden area
A spokesperson for the Natural History Museum said: “The Natural History Museum has held a premises license for over ten years, which allows it to host a wide range of events both indoors and outdoors, with the ability to serve alcohol in appropriate measures. The current license application for premises is to ensure that the new spaces in the museum’s transformed gardens, the Evolution Garden and the Garden Kitchen, can host the same event.
“Security is of the utmost importance to the museum, and the events team work closely with the museum’s head of security and the Metropolitan Police to ensure the events are conducted safely, with dedicated security officers trained by the Security Industry Authority present at each one.
“We have worked closely with local residents’ committees and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea throughout the application process, and we look forward to continuing to do so.”
The museum presented its renewed garden spaces in July. The Evolution Garden tells the story of our planet through an immersive timeline of plants, geology and a series of props, including a bronze diplodocus cast, while the Nature Discovery Garden invites visitors to discover more about wildlife today.
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