A concert series that took place within the grounds of the Old Royal Naval College in the summer wants to double its capacity and increase its number of events for 2026. Labyrinth Festivals Limited has applied to Greenwich Council to expand its ‘Labyrinth on the Thames’ event.
Described as an “outdoor contemporary dance music series”, Labyrinth took place on six nights across two weekends in Greenwich earlier this year. Artists performing included Australian alt-rockers Empire of the Sun and renowned international DJs Solomun and Black Coffee.
Musicians performed on a stage next to the river facing south, while punters enjoying the performances would stand in the open space between the Sir Christopher Wren-designed buildings of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The event organisers want to increase the number of concerts from six to nine next year and also double the daily capacity of each concert from 4,999 to 9,999. Labyrinth also wants to introduce ‘family friendly events’ to next year’s programme which would allow the entry of under 18s, as well as permit glassware in “artists, hospitality and premium table areas”.
The new premises licence application that will allow the Labyrinth on the Thames expansion is set to be heard by Greenwich Council’s Licensing Sub-Committee C on November 12. Council officers have not objected to the application, but are proposing further conditions such as “the formalisation of a comprehensive Noise Management Plan” to mitigate the expansion.
Four residents living nearby have made representations opposing the concert series expansion plans, with one objecting in the “strongest possible terms”. They said “low-frequency bass” carried through Greenwich Park at this year’s events and neighbours suffered disruption from noise, crowd dispersal, anti-social behaviour, and litter, including nitrous oxide canisters.
The East Greenwich Residents Association also made a representation. The group did not object to the concert series continuing outright, but it has asked the council to limit the event to a maximum of six nights.
During an unrelated planning inquiry earlier this year, a Greenwich Council officer claimed the Old Royal Naval College did not seek planning permission for the Labyrinth on the Thames event before it was staged. The Greenwich Foundation, which looks after the college, disputed this and said it had “maintained an ongoing dialogue” with Greenwich planners.
In response, the council said it did receive a planning application, but it was too late for the authority to make a decision prior to the concert series taking place. A council spokesperson said back in August: “We have raised this with the Old Royal Naval College and we are in discussion about how they secure permission for events.
“We will not be taking enforcement action against the Old Royal Naval College. An event licence is in place and they have engaged with us about making suitable arrangements going forward.”
