An Open Letter to the Investors of Ruth & Robinson Ltd.

Dear Investor,

We are writing on behalf of #WeAreTheBlackCap, the campaign to save The Black Cap public house in Camden, London. The Black Cap was a highly successful and vibrant business as well as an historic LGBTQ+ venue in Camden and has played an extremely important role in the history of drag performance in London and beyond.

The loss of The Black Cap for the community who regularly used the space has been devastating. The continued importance of the space can be widely seen in the long-running weekly vigils held outside the venue since the closure a year ago, the strong and on-going media coverage of the campaign, cross-party political and London Mayoral support, and a vibrant social media campaign and petition to re-open the space with over 11,000 members.

The most recent plans by the new leaseholders, Ruth & Robinson, to open a bar called Hollenbeck’s that isn’t an LGBTQ+ space has been met with disappointment and anger by community. If Ruth & Robinson’s plans go ahead, The Black Cap and everything it has represented for over 50 years as an LGBTQ+ venue will be lost. The repercussions of such a loss will be far reaching, and the role of Ruth & Robinson in this loss will be seen as many as a direct move against the needs of the LGBTQ+ community. As such, those in our community will be unable to use the venue if it opens as Hollenbeck’s and would encourage others not to do so.

As investors linked to Ruth & Robinson, we implore you to consider the broader social, cultural and political implications of not re-opening The Black Cap as an LGBTQ+ venue. We implore you to consider how a space such as Hollenbeck’s could ever be successful whilst the LGBTQ+ community are so against it. Most of all, we implore you to reconsider the role of your investment in the erasure of LGBTQ+ history and in the removal of a space that means so much to the LGBTQ+ community.

Thank you for your time.

All the best,

#WeAreTheBlackCap

 We are the regulars, we are the punters, the club goers, those who sit in the beer garden. We are performers, promoters and audience members. We are drinkers and non-drinkers. We are drag queens and drag kings and burlesque dancers and gogo dancers and cabaret performers. DJ’s, photographers, bar staff and security. We are lesbians, gays, straights, men, women, trans*, faggots, dykes, queers and everything in between. We are friends and partners and lovers and people. We are The Black Cap and everything it has stood for and provided a home to.

 

 

Special Halloween afternoon event outside Black Cap marks launch of community-ownership bid

www.facebook.com/WeAreBlackCap @weareblackcap

This Saturday 31st October  sees a special Halloween afternoon gathering outside the Black Cap from 1pm. Organised by community campaign group #WeAreTheBlackCap, the event will mark six months since the iconic Camden LGBTQ venue’s sudden closure, and will launch a bid to bring the venue into community ownership.

#WeAreTheBlackCap invites supporters to join them in their finest Halloween looks to find out more about the next stage in their campaign, spread the word to the public, and create a vibrant and fun atmosphere outside the space.

Those attending can expect short speeches by campaign coordinators and fierce Halloween looks from regular Black Cap performers to be announced during the week.

The event will be an extended version of the weekly vigil held outside the Black Cap every Saturday since it was shut without notice on April 13th 2015, ahead of plans for commercial redevelopment of the site.

Last month, however, the Cap’s owners, Kicking Horse Ltd, put the pub back on the market after their plans for the site fell through. #WeAreTheBlackCap is now actively pursuing options for a community bid for the venue, either through crowdfunding or in partnership with a sympathetic investor. #WeAreTheBlackCap’s immediate goals are to:

• Get a realistic valuation of the Cap
• Find a willing organisation/person/company with the finances to invest in the Cap, who is willing to work with the campaign and the wider community to re-open the venue.
• Fundraising in order to ensure that the community can put forward a partial bid for the Cap alongside another donor (see no. 2) to ensure the community’s interest in the Cap.

#WeAreTheBlackCap campaigner and Camden LGBT Forum director Nigel Harris said: “This marks a bold new stage in our campaign to get the Black Cap back where it belongs – open for business, serving our community. And when better to celebrate this home of the freaky and fabulous than Halloween?”

Since the pub’s closure, #WeAreTheBlackCap has:

• led a successful protest with over 400 participants
• attracted more than 8,250 signatures to a petition to reopen the venue
• held vigils outside the venue, speaking to members of the public and keeping the 
importance of the Cap in the minds of those who pass by
• upheld the Asset of Community Value (ACV) status that protects the space as an 
LGBT venue. 
Once known as the Palladium of Drag, the Black Cap has been an LGBTQ venue since the 1960s.

For more information please contact Nigel Harris on harris@camdenlgbtforum.org.uk or 020 7388 5720.

An Open Letter to Kicking Horse Ltd from #WeAreTheBlackCap

An Open Letter

 

to Kicking Horse Ltd/Vollin Holdings Ltd

from #WeAreTheBlackCap

published:  23rd August 2015

 

re:  Asset of Community Value

 

The Black Cap Pub, 171 Camden High Street, London, NW1 7JY

 

 

 

Time Now to Find a Much Better Way?

 

 

 

 

Precedent:  The Chesham Arms case (pub now re-opened).

 

“That a refusal delivers a fatal blow to Mr Patel’s current investment strategy.  It seems to me that he might realistically then decide to cut his losses and sell to someone interested in running the building as a pub. 

 

I agree with Hackney… that they were correct to list the Chesham as an asset of community value.”

Patel v London Borough of Hackney and another

(Community Right: Localism Act 2011) [2013] UKFTT

#WeAreTheBlackCap

 

To:  The Company Secretaries and Management Teams of Kicking Horse Ltd and Vollin Holdings Ltd, Freehold Owners of The Black Cap

 

 

Dear Sirs,

 

Our community are writing to you as the legal owners of The Black Cap freehold as only yourselves have the authority to take any decisive next step regarding the pub’s future.  We understand, or surmise, that Kicking Horse (KH) usually prefer to take a background role in acquisition and disposal of properties, and possibly in this case, this may need to change. 

 

You will be very aware that those parties you have trusted with this misguided redevelopment plan, your  planning consultants, legal advisors, and the people you paid to represent you at the recent hearing,  have quite simply failed. 

 

We propose not to rehash recent history, preferring instead to build bridges.  Before continuing, there are some points we do feel we need to highlight to you.

 

The damage to our community has been substantial.  A nearly 8,000 strong and rising petition is our evidence, along with weekly vigils outside the pub, substantial press coverage, a 2,000+ strong active facebook group – need we go on.

 

This episode has caused substantial damage to the reputation of all parties including KH.  Anyone involved in the pub ownership, the tenancy, the management of the closure, and the professional advice received has been affected.  To understand the severity of this, simply type into Google:  Black Cap closed

                                                          

Third, you will be aware of the substantial ongoing economic losses now facing you since 16th April 2015.  We estimate (we would ask for independently audited figures) that the annual pub turnover was between £620,000 – £900,000 pa rising.  In addition to your lost tenancy fees, there are significant ongoing VAT and duty losses to HM Government, business rates losses to Camden Council, loss of a Camden Town tourist destination, and loss of local Camden employment.  The chorus of criticism coming from all corners of society, local government, and national government as the campaign becomes more rancorous will only rise in coming months, especially with the mayoral election in May 2016.

 

Fourth, you may by now be aware that a substantial number of developer v community disagreements resulting in Asset of Community Value listings seem to have become ‘frozen conflicts’.  Where ACVs have been granted and the pubs are  operating, they remain in use.  Where ACVs were granted and the owner then closed the pubs, the owners carries the cost of the closure until re-opening.

 

Fifth, our best assessment of the likelihood of your success at a Tier 1 Tribunal in overturning the ACV for The Black Cap is that it appears improbable.  The pub is in a very popular historical town centre venue.  It was profitable with increasing turnover at closure.  It unequivocally serves the furthering of the social wellbeing or social interests of the local community, in this case Camden’s LGBT community.   It has a very active campaign support group fighting the closure.  We suspect your legal advisors may have informed you similarly.

 

#WeAreTheBlackCap

 

In short, it is a historic protected pub in a highly trafficked conservation area.  There never was any “significant potential to enhance the value of the building, by obtaining a strong retail covenant on the ground floor and planning permission for extending the upper floors for residential occupation” – source:  Common Ground Finance/Camden Securities redacted case study.  As with the Chesham Arms, it  might appear it is time to drop the belief there ever could have been.

 

We feel sure you may also agree this state of affairs can not continue.

 

Let both parties look at a much better way.  We believe based on the rising and profitable demand before closure, even an average new tenant operator will swiftly and profitably re-instate your tenancy fees.  These will be high quality.  There is a clear pent up demand for any Camden pub serving Camden’s LGBT community as can be seen by the start ups that emerged. 

 

All of these displaced Black Cap customers will return, and along with the proven high level of interest throughout London, the community will guarantee a standing room only first re-opening night before settling back to the previous high level of activity before closure.  This gives you certainty of  a dependable tenancy income for years ahead, and give any tenant publican a first rate business opportunity in an excellent catchment  area in a popular town centre.

 

We will also work with you to advertise a new tenancy and assist shortlist tenant applicants, both new and previous.  Many of our campaign supporters have professional backgrounds and contacts, and are conversant with the pub trade.  Or, if you prefer to sell, we will help you find a new buyer willing to take on a profitable listed pub serving the LGBT community.  It would obviously be better to sell as a going concern.

 

There is however, a possible problem.  We understand that there has been deterioration of the pub’s fixtures and fittings since Faucet Inns closed the doors on 16th April 2015.  An incoming tenant may raise concerns.  Responsibility for the pub’s security in any and all events is owned by Faucet Inns if the lease continued after 16th April, or would fall back upon yourselves if the lease was terminated at that date.  Resolving this in advance may  be needed to attract any new or returning  pub operators and avoid delays signing a new lease.

 

We invite you to meet with us, and together harmoniously discuss how to get this famous pub re-opened to profitably serve the Camden LGBT Community as soon as possible, and give you the certainty of future high quality tenancy fees for the long term.

 

We look forward to your reply.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Nigel Harris

Camden LGBT Forum for

#WeAreTheBlackCap

email:  nigel.harris@camdenlgbtforum.org.uk

phone:  020 7388 5720

#WeAreTheBlackCap

 

 

 

Distribution:

 

By POST to Kicking Horse Ltd/Vollin Holdings at:

Address 1 The Company Secretary KICKING HORSE LTD 23  Pier Road Jersey Channel Islands JE2 4XW T: 015347 299 13

Address 2 The Company Secretary VOLLIN HOLDINGS LIMITED 3 Themistocles Dervis Street CY-1066 Nicosia Cyprus

An Open Letter To “The Breakfast Club”

Dear Breakfast Club,

We have read your blog post and seen the article and here is a response. Whilst we appreciate the sentiment of your words, and thank you for finally coming forward, here are our issues:

The Black Cap was not only a space of community, it was also a home to performance. By opening a cafe without a performance capacity, you have taken away the heart of the space.

You say you have been caught in the crossfire and somehow present yourselves as innocent victims in this situation. Here’s the rub: you had and still have a choice. You don’t have to do this. The community that was unceremoniously expelled from the space has no choice in that matter. You are not the victims of this. As the “intelligent, passionate group of people” fighting this campaign we are asking you to stop, take a second to think about what you are doing beyond improving your bank balance, and consider the lives of the community you are affecting.

As a “small family business” it is reprehensible that you think it is acceptable to take away a place which was a home for so many, and a place in which people found some alternative form of family.

The fact that you accepted this contract in December without seeking the opinions of the very community you claim to want to support displays, at best, your ignorance and, at worst, your utter disregard for LGBTQ lives and culture.

Make no mistake: opening a branch of one of your cafes at the site of The Black Cap is an erasure of years and years of queer history.

Make no mistake: accepting the lease on The Black Cap is an attack on the queer community.

And we will not take it lying down.

Yours,

#WeAreTheBlackCap

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