Chiswick’s Street Food Market licence in question over one complaint about music

Food St stall; photograph James White Photography

Music disturbs the Sunday peace, says complainant

One person has complained anonymously against the Food St Market, the monthly street food market held in Old Market Place on Chiswick High Road, because of the music they play.

Because of the complaint, backed by Cllr Jonna Biddoph, the market organiser Richard Johnson has to go before Hounslow’s Licensing Panel to make his case to councillors as to why he should be allowed to have music and how it should be monitored.

The Sunday markets have to apply every six months for a temporary trading licence. This time he is applying for a premises licence for music because, he told The Chiswick Calendar: “I wanted to do it by the book”.

Richard has operated Food St on the fourth Sunday of the month for two and a half years now, though Cllr Biddolph has consistently opposed it.

It offers stalls from multiple independent food traders and producers, attracting local residents and visitors, including many families.

Food St stall; photograph James White Photography

At issue is the music they play at the market. In the licence application Richard seeks to continue providing:

‘live entertainment, recorded music, dance and related cultural activities as part of its community offer’ and adds:

‘Entertainment will be provided at considerate sound levels appropriate to the local environment’.

The objector, whose name is redacted in the documents published for the Licensing Panel on Monday 20 July, writes:

‘I am not objecting to the market itself. The monthly food market already attracts large visitor numbers, but the addition of amplified music from the Vendors already creates a significantly greater level of disturbance than the other rotating Sunday markets.

‘Many local residents work throughout the week, and for some, on Saturdays as well. Sunday is often the only opportunity to rest and enjoy their homes.

‘Residents have accepted the introduction of the weekly markets and the increased levels of activity that they inevitably bring. We recognise that the markets contribute positively to the local economy and community. However, the introduction of amplified entertainment represents a further and unnecessary intensification of noise’.

A typical music set up at the Sunday markets; solo performer with backing keyboard player with their own portable PA system at the Chiswick Flower Market; photograph Anna Kunst

Cllr Biddolph compares music at the Sunday markets with that of festivals at Gunnersbury Park

Cllr Biddolph goes further and writes:

‘This applies to all markets which provide entertainment’.

The Chiswick Flower Market and the Cheese Market also have regular entertainment, usually solo performers with their own portable PA systems, but on occasion a small brass ensemble or a school group.

Cllr Biddolph complains that Richard’s description of the way in which he monitors the noise level is ‘open to subjective interpretation’ and therefore unenforceable.

He uses phrases such as:

‘Entertainment will be provided at considerate sound levels appropriate to the local environment’ and:

‘Entertainment is intended to enhance the visitor experience while remaining considerate of neighbouring residents and businesses.”

She compares music at the market with the concerts in Gunnersbury Park which can be sometimes be heard for miles around, adding:

‘As learned from festivals in Gunnersbury Park, it isn’t only decibels that need to be measurable and measured. Lower frequencies must also be managed and measurable given that they cause thumping and vibrations both of which cause disturbances that can be extremely distressing’.

Brass ensemble playing at Chiswick Flower Market; photograph Anna Kunst

Food St market showcases local talent including buskers and performers from Chiswick School

In his response to the complaint Richard says:

‘Food St was established to create a welcoming, family-friendly destination that supports independent traders while bringing the local community together.

‘The entertainment we provide is entirely secondary to the market itself and is intended to enhance the atmosphere rather than become the main attraction.

‘We are particularly proud that the entertainment has showcased local talent, including local buskers, performers from Chiswick School, Chiswick Theatre Arts and ArtsEd, as well as local businesses such as Lil’ Nashville, whose line dancing session brought together visitors of all ages and created a wonderful community atmosphere.

‘As part of our existing management procedures, we already monitor sound levels around the perimeter of the market, position speakers away from nearby residential properties wherever practicable, and actively supervise performances throughout the day.

‘We have developed these practices because we recognise the importance of being a good neighbour and ensuring that the market sits comfortably within the local community’.

To monitor the sound they use a phone app, he told This Chiswick Calendar, adding:

“To compare it to the bass given off by festivals at Gunnersbury Park is ‘a bit nuts’ “.

Richard Johnson on Dragons’ Den; photograph British Street Foods

On Cllr Biddolph’s particular point about thumping bass vibrations, he says the kind of musicians they book to play are local buskers, solo performers and acoustic musicians, small duos, and groups of students from local schools.

‘Only the minimum amplification necessary for performances is used…

‘Entertainment at Food St is intended to be suitable for a community street food market. Bass-heavy performances are not appropriate for the market and are avoided’.

Chiswick School has just held its annual Performing Arts awards for students who have excelled in drama, dance, or all the performing arts during the year. It is completely unrelated to this application, but one of the students receiving an award happened to mention they had performed at the Food St Market, saying:

“The food market is such a fun place to be. It allowed us to show the public who we are and what Chiswick School is”.

READ ALSO: Chiswick School celebrates outstanding talent with a host of celebrities at Performing Arts Awards

You can read the full arguments they present in their submissions and comment on the application here:

Licencing Panel, Monday 20 July