Temporary Bonfire Night licence refused
It has been rejected
Last updated 25th Aug 2026
Councillors have refused a temporary licence to sell alcohol at a Bonfire Night celebration in Grimsby after nine people were injured during a World Cup big screen event last month at Morrisons Field, Laceby, run by the same applicant.
The nine people injured by flares included seven children. Police-submitted evidence to the council details that two boys had to be taken to hospital after being struck by flares to the face, with one going to a specialist burns hospital for enhanced treatment. The nearby McDonald’s also had to close early due to unmanageable customer numbers and becoming a target for criminal damage.
In this context, Humberside Police objected to granting a temporary event notice (TEN) to Lincolnshire Competitions’ Kye Hill for a Bonfire Night event at West Marsh Community Centre. During the council licensing sub-committee meeting, the solicitor for Humberside Police, Michael Goucher, said of the applicant’s event management in reference to two football events in July: “He’s disastrous, he’s dangerous, and he’s the cause of some considerable concern to Humberside Police.”
Mr Hill told the LDRS he will appeal. On the solicitor’s cause of considerable concern remark, he stated, “that doesn’t reflect my criminal record at all”, adding he would seek legal advice against the police if it was quoted.
Football events
Councillors heard the TEN was sought by Mr Hill to sell alcohol between 5:30 and 8:30pm and late night refreshments at the Bonfire Night event. Mr Goucher stated police objected on all four licensing objective grounds, which he said was “unusual”.
Two football watch-along events organised by Mr Hill on July 11 and 15 were raised. Nine individuals suffered injuries due to flares or firework debris at the July 15 event. The nearby McDonald’s shut early afterwards as it became overwhelmed by people attending and suffered “a substantial amount of criminal damage”.
Mr Goucher noted the evidence of Grimsby Event Medical Services Ltd’s chief executive, John Huitson-Broom, who provided on-site first aid. He estimated the crowd got to around 7,000 and reported being advised to expect a maximum 2,000 attendees.
He indicated they felt it unsafe to stay, but remained to handle the injuries. He also alleged stalls were selling alcohol at the July 15 event, which there was no licence for.
The council told police it did not receive insurance or event management plan documents after requesting them. Mr Goucher called the Bonfire Night TEN application itself “incredibly poorly drafted”, stating “there’s almost no detail in it.”
He queried required fallout zones for fireworks and argued, “It’s simply in the wrong place.” A council officer’s report states no licensable activities were applied for in relation to the Bonfire Night event at the community centre last year.
Applicant to appeal outcome
Chair Cllr James Sawkins (Waltham Ward) emphasised the panel was “not here to punish the applicant for the previous events” but is entitled to take past event management into account where relevant. It felt allowing the TEN would undermine licensing objectives, name-checking public safety concern.
“We’re currently going through the process of appealing through the Magistrates’ Court,” Mr Hill told Grimsby Live. He was not at the meeting and a request to reschedule it outside the statutory timeframe was turned down.
He explained neither July event involved a TEN and the selling of alcohol, but people could bring their own. Mr Hill emphasised no glass was permitted and there was a search policy on entrance.
“When England started losing, people started throwing smoke flares in the air.” He said the crowd were warned if this continued the event would end, leading to a dramatic improvement. “There was no alcohol sold at the events,” he said, adding anyone found selling flares was removed.
“We didn’t sell any pyrotechnics or flares. The only thing we took payment for was entry.” He clarified initial plans to sell smoke grenades at the first event on July 11 were scrapped when medical companies ruled out attending if pyrotechnics were sold.
He maintained he did not receive any request from the council for insurance or event management plans. Mr Hill has organised events and fireworks displays for the last three years at the West Marsh Community Centre, and claims there have been no concerns about the operation of the fireworks.
“Nothing’s changed from last year, exactly the same set-up, other than the event’s now in my name,” said Mr Hill.