The commemoration hearings are an opportunity for the families of those who lost their lives in the fire to provide a tribute of them for the Inquiry record.
The hearings will be held in the conference centre at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel, 4-18 Harrington Gardens, Kensington, London SW7 4LH.
Timings
The commemoration hearings will start on Monday 21 May at 11.00. There will be a security check so we recommend arriving in sufficient time.
From Tuesday 22 May, the hearings will start at 10.00 and the venue will open at 9.00.
On each day the hearing will break for lunch at 12.45 and will aim to finish by 16:00.
Public hearing
The hearings will be live-streamed and will form part of the Inquiry record. The Inquiry is requesting that the tributes are only used in the context of news reporting about Inquiry proceedings.
Attendees, including the press, are not permitted to make recordings or take photographs inside the venue. We have also designated breakout areas for the bereaved, survivors and residents. If there are any concerns during the hearing these can be raised in confidence at the press or information desk.
Security
The hearings are open to the public and there will be security checks and a bag search on entry. We encourage those attending to arrive in plenty of time and to think carefully about what you bring with you on the day. The following items will not be permitted inside the venue:
- ANY type of knife or bladed article – for example pen knives, key-ring knives, belt knives, craft knives or cutlery.
- ‘Sharps’ – for example, scissors, syringes (unless these are for medical purposes), craft needles.
- Replica guns – for example lighters or jewellery that looks like a gun or toy gun.
- Work tools – for example hammers, screwdrivers, wrenches, nails.
- Alcohol or illicit substances.
The venue
There are floor plans available for the main hearing room and the ground floor.
The venue and rooms will be clearly signposted. After you have passed through security, tea and coffee will be available on the ground floor. The hearings will be live streamed in this room. There will also be a separate breakout area for the bereaved, survivors and residents.
Within the hearing room on the lower ground floor, the front rows of the room will be reserved for the bereaved, survivors and residents and we will invite those providing the tributes on each day to sit in the front rows.
Next to the hearing room on the lower ground floor there will be a quiet area and from there the prayer room and two counselling rooms can be accessed.
There will be ushers on site who will be able to assist and can direct you or answer questions you might have.
Schedule
A schedule for each day will be available upon arrival and added to the Inquiry website. On the first day, there will be a welcome from the Chairman and an opening statement from the Lead Counsel to the Inquiry. The tributes will then follow.
Participants and bereaved families
On Monday 21 May, the hearing room will be open from 9:30-10:30, for the bereaved, survivors and residents who are taking part in the commemorations and their legal representatives to familiarise themselves with the arrangements. All other attendees will be invited into the hearing room from 10:30.
Attendees are free to take breaks from the proceedings and time away from the hearing room. The NHS and Hestia will be available on site to provide outreach and counselling services. You are also welcome to bring your own counselling support.
Watching the hearing
The live-stream will be screened at the Notting Hill Methodist Church and also available to watch through the Inquiry’s website.