Notting Hill Carnival Strategic Review - Intelligent Space

The Changing Nature of Carnival
Notting Hill Carnival Today: A Brief Overview
1.35 The Notting Hill Carnival is made up of five cultural and artistic disciplines called ‘Carnival
Arenas’. The Arenas represent the music, poetry, song, performance and costume of the
Carnival:
Masquerade (or ‘mas’)
Calypso
Steelpan (or steelbands)
Soca DJs (mobile sound systems)
Static sound systems
1.36 Today’s Notting Hill Carnival is staged during a period called the “Carnival Season” - two weeks
of carnival-related cultural activities that take place towards the end of August each year. The
activities are categorised as ‘Pre-Carnival events’ and the ‘Two Days of Carnival’. The pre-
Carnival events consist of the Grand Costume Gala, the Calypso Tent Monarch Finals and the
steelpan ‘Panorama’. These events take place in either hired in-door venues or in special
designated areas. The steelpan Panorama, for example, is held at Emslie Horniman’s Pleasance
in Notting Hill. It is the largest of the three pre-Carnival events, involves approximately 1,000
performers and attracts almost 4,000 spectators.
1.37 The Two Days of Carnival take place over the August bank holiday weekend - the ‘Carnival
Sunday’, also called ‘Children’s Day’ and the bank holiday Monday. Over the two days, members
of the Carnival arenas perform, entertain and compete with each other for a range of titles and
awards on the streets of Notting Hill. The performances take place within a designated
entertainment area – the ‘Carnival Area’ – which is defined by a processional route – the
‘Carnival Route’. The masquerade bands, steelbands, and mobile soca sound systems all perform
on the route, whilst a number of sites situated throughout the Carnival area are used by the
static sound systems to stage music concerts, showcases and promotions. Several parks and
open spaces within the Carnival area have also been used to stage live concerts and
performances. The atmosphere of the Carnival is enhanced by a approximately 250 stalls the
majority of whom sell food and drink throughout the area.
1.38 Since the start of the Mayor’s review in September 2000, the Notting Hill Carnival has
undergone a number of changes, most notably in relation to its management and leadership, the
Carnival route, policing numbers, the use of parks and open spaces and the number of visitors
attending the Carnival.
The Carnival Route in 2000 and 2001
1.39 In 2000 and 2001, the route used for the Carnival was 4.9km long, with the procession travelling
in an anticlockwise direction starting at the Northern end of Ladbroke Grove, through Arundel
Gardens, Westbourne Grove, Chepstow Road, the Great Western Road, Elkstone Road and Kensal
Road. Introduced in 1988 by the MPS, use of the circular route became compulsory for all
masquerade and steelpan bands and mobile sound systems. The route enclosed a total area of 1
square kilometre, with 0.3 square kilometres of pedestrian space within it. A key feature was a
competition stage for performances - the ‘judging point’ - located on Westbourne Grove. The
Carnival bands accessed the route via a number of official entry and exit points for floats, which
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