In summary, the chronology shows that prior to the FA Cup Final, a proposed hypothetical celebration had been withdrawn following discussions by Crystal Palace Football Club (CPFC). The chronology also shows CPFC did not have a preference for a parade but rather for a celebration being held in Crystal Palace Park, with this proposal subsequently withdrawn by CPFC.
Thursday 8 May 2025
Bromley Council’s Licensing Team were made aware by Bromley Police Licensing Team of a site meeting relating to a “music festival” celebration plan for CPFC involving potential 30,000, alcohol and regulate entertainment. The council’s Licensing Team requests an Event notification form, as part of fulfilling its legal obligations and support the club with complying with the law, to be submitted to understand the extent of the event and potential statutory involvement.'
Friday 9 May 2025
An Event Notification was subsequently received by the council, submitted by Crystal Palace Park Trust for ‘Crystal Palace Party in the Park’ on 26 May between 12pm and 5pm.
The description of event given was: ‘If Crystal Palace Football Club win the FA CUP on Saturday 17 May 2025 and to celebrate their achievement we will be holding a party event in Crystal Palace Park, on Monday 26 May 2025 between 12.00 hours and 17.00 hours. Crystal Palace Football Club, Crystal Palace Foundation Trust, Bromley Council and other partners will work together to create a family fun event featuring a stage hosted by special guest compare, live bands, Crystal Palace Football Club Team and Management appearance and presentations, fun activities and food and drink facilities. This will be a free event and Crystal Palace Park will be open to all purchased ticket holders. As entry will be with a purchased ticket in advance this will enable Crystal Palace Football Club to monitor the proposed attendance figures. The event will be capped at 25,000 with surrounding areas of the park will be open to the general public users and fellow Crystal Palace supporters and local community will be able to watch from a safe As this is a celebration party event it is anticipated that those attending will be Crystal Palace Football Club supporters who are generally very well behaved and there is no information or intelligence to suggest there will be anything but a party atmosphere and therefore the risk of disorder is extremely low.‘
So the council can comply with its legal duties, the event notification requests information of risk assessment and event management plan. None were provided with this notification.
Tuesday 13 May 2025
13:52 Bromley Council’s Licensing Team emails Crystal Palace Football Club (CPFC) to advise that the event notification will be forwarded to the Safety Advisory Group (SAG) requesting their initial thoughts. This email also asks for additional information, such as Event Safety Management Plan.
The email also advised ‘The activities you have listed include ‘Live Entertainment’ and ‘Food and Drink’. As a licence issued under the Licensing Act 2003 has a 28 day public consultation period, you will not be able to obtain authorisation to sell alcohol or provide Regulated Entertainment.’
At 14:18 the council received a response from CPFC stating ‘I have made the senior staff at the club (aware) today that the timescales for event is too short and doesn’t give us time to plan accordingly. The decision not to go ahead with event has been made.’
Saturday 17 May 2025
Crystal Palace won the first major trophy in the club's history with victory against Manchester City in the FA Cup final at Wembley.
Monday 19 May 2025
12pm - The police contacted Bromley Council to advise that they had attended a meeting held by Croydon Council’s SAG, at which there were suggestions of a potential celebratory event by / in Crystal Palace Park. No representatives from Bromley Council were present at that meeting. Bromley Council reached out to both Crystal Palace Park Trust and CPFC asking for confirmation of plans and offering to support.
Bromley Council requested an invitation to observe the Croydon SAG meeting that had been scheduled to take place on 20 May.
Tuesday 20 May 2025
8.40am - Bromley Council learned that there were discussions about the option to use the Concert Bowl, utilising the CPP Trust license for events under 5,000 attendees with stringent conditions. This was explored by CPFC and the Trust and their decision was not to proceed due to the capacity limitations.
10am- Bromley Council representatives attended Croydon’s SAG as invited observers. At this time the event was limited to Croydon with an open top bus parade and event within Selhurst Park Stadium.
8pm - CPFC contacted Bromley Council out-of-hours to discuss a potential event in the borough, prompting an Emergency SAG meeting for the next morning.
Wednesday 21 May 2025
8am - Bromley Council were made aware that CPFC and CPP Trust representatives were on site at Crystal Palace Park discussing the proposed event. The Bromley SAG was rescheduled to 2pm to allow CPFC and the CPP Trust to conclude their site visit and develop the event plan.
2pm - The Bromley SAG convened, this was also attended by Croydon SAG representatives. No event plan was submitted, however, the CPFC representative verbally updated the proposal supported by an image of the proposed area and route.
Questions were raised by SAG members in relation to the arrangement for public safety, travel and parking, highway closures and diversions.
The CPFC representative advised that due to the celebrations at the stadium in Sellhurst the previous evening (following a league match) they did not want to repeat this on the 26 May and therefore their only option to proceed was with the open top bus route being contained within Crystal Palace Park.
Bromley Council recommended that an open top bus parade from the training ground around Crystal Palace Park, concluding at the Stadium and incorporating parts of Croydon, may be an option to explore. This would elongate the procession route allowing for crowds to be dispersed over a longer route. The CPFC representative advised this was not an option they would consider.
The CPFC representative agreed to develop and submit an event plan which would address the issues raised.
5 pm - The Bromley SAG Chair was invited to a meeting of CPFC and the police. CPFC informed the police they would not proceed with an event at all given the concerns they were raising.
Thursday 22 May 2025
8am - Bromley Council were advised that CPFC wished to proceed after all with an event in Crystal Palace Park and have submitted an event plan. The plan was circulated to Bromley SAG members and another meeting scheduled for 11am.
11am - SAG postponed to 2pm to allow more time for CPFC to complete their plans.
2pm - SAG postponed to 2.30pm to allow more time for CPFC to complete their plans.
2.20pm - Bromley Council were advised that CPFC, having had discussions with the Trust would not be proceeding with the event in Crystal Palace Park.
4.10pm - The police notified the council that CPFC had reverted to the plan agreed with Croydon on Tuesday, with a short open top bus parade followed by a ticketed event at the stadium.
Friday 23 May 2025
CPFC website updated on Friday 23 May at 8.45am approx with confirmation of the event and details.
Additional background
- General role of the council in events
- The council is the Licensing Authority, which is a legal requirement set out in legislation, responsible for granting licenses for various activities, including selling alcohol and regulated entertainment at events.
- The council facilitate the Bromley Safety Advisory Group (SAG) that provides a forum for discussing and advising on public safety at an event. It aims to help organisers with the planning, and management of an event and to encourage cooperation and coordination between all relevant agencies. It is a non-statutory body and so does not have legal powers or responsibilities, and are not empowered to approve or prohibit events from taking place. Event organisers and others involved in the running of an event, retain the principal legal duties for ensuring public safety.
- The council is responsible for enforcing health and safety legislation at events.
- The council is also the Highway Authority and can give permission for road closures and temporary parking restrictions. A minimum of 12 week's notice is necessary to allow for consultation with TfL buses, emergency services and other forward planning activities.
- Bromley Council’s statutory responsibility for the CPFC parade discussion
- As no applications were received either prior to or following the historic win for licensable activities or highway closures the council’s role was limited to coordinating the Safety Advisory Group, and its representations at that group in relation to Health and Safety.
- Bromley Council’s input to the CPFC proposed celebration discussion
- The council suggested alternatives to enable an event to take place, including the suggested routes for the open top bus through Crystal Palace Park and including Croydon.
- Supported direct discussions between the police and Club to seek options to address the public safety concerns.
- Worked closely with Croydon Council to enable representation from both boroughs at the respective SAGs seeking to save time and reduce duplication for CPFC due to the tight timescales involved.