Camden’s Black Cap may shrink in proposed redevelopment
Iconic London gay pub and cabaret venue the Black Cap may face a drastic downsizing if proposed redevelopments go ahead.
The pub, based in London’s Camden area was built in 1889, and is one of London’s oldest continually operating LGBT venues, after it became popular with gay men in the 1960s.
It faces proposals put to Camden Council by developers that the first, second and third floor of the pub’s containing building will be turned into three flats.
This would mean the Black Cap’s first floor Shufflewick Bar would be lost, as well as eight square meters of the pub’s ground floor area.
A report from the council claims that the redevelopment would “strike a balance between maintaining sufficient space within a venue important to the LGBT community and meeting the need for new housing”.
The pub was last year declined Asset of Community Value status, because it apparently did not “meet specific criteria required.”
Over sixty letters of objection have been sent to the council over the plans.
A final decision will be made on 22 January at 7pm at Camden Town Hall.
