Cassiobury Park is set to host a yearly Caribbean food festival despite objections after a licensing hearing.

Food and Drink festival Taste of The Caribbean is set to come to Watford for the first time on June 29.

It applied for permission to play live and recorded music in the park and supply alcohol between 10am and 8pm for a one-day event this year, as well as two-day events in subsequent years, to be scheduled between May and September.

During the consultation period residents and a councillor raised fears over selling alcohol in the daytime, potential loud music, and approving future events before seeing how this year’s goes, meaning the decision had to go to a licensing hearing.

At the licensing sub-committee meeting, on May 24, the applicant’s representative said Taste of The Caribbean hoped to ease concerns. He highlighted that the average age of attendees at previous events elsewhere was 45, with a range from infants to pensioners.

The “family friendly” festival had started with seven locations and has now doubled to 14, with no issues with disorder or police incidents.

Visit the event website here

He added that they cater to a wide range of people and diverse groups “including those who were often marginalized by other festivals”.

The councils decision, published yesterday (June 5), approved the licensing application, meaning it can go ahead as a reoccurring event, with conditions.

The applicant must give the council licensing team at least 28 days' notice of the event and it requires council approval, with the licensing team having veto power.

Watford Observer: Cassiobury Park.Cassiobury Park. (Image: Watford Borough Council)

According to the meeting minutes: “The reasoning behind the decision is the applicant has signalled from the conditions on the operating schedule, conditions agreed with the police and environmental health, and the condition accepted at the hearing, that it will be a responsible operator.

“The applicant has shown a clear understanding of the licensing legislation, objectives, and requirements of licensing.

“The sub-committee is of the view that granting the application with the conditions would ensure that the four licensing objectives would not be undermined.”