London’s gay scene has had a high and a comedown last week with news of its venues statuses. On the light side, QX danced with delight that the Joiners Arms has been awarded its Community Asset Value status at the eleventh hour from Tower Hamlets Council. The pub can now be potentially saved by the community, should they raise enough money to purchase the venue. Below is what community activist group ‘Friends of The Joiners’ had to say about the matter.
From the ‘Friends of The Joiners’ Press Release:
On Thursday 15 January 2015, Friends of the Joiners Arms the campaign group seeking to save and evolve the LGBTQIA pub The Joiners Arms on Hackney Road, London received confirmation from Tower Hamlets Council that their application for Asset of Community Value (ACV) status had been approved. Crucially, now that this status has been secured, Friends of the Joiners Arms have the right to bid on the property if it goes up for sale and the status may impact decisions around future planning applications for the building.
The LGBTQIA community of London and its allies have huge ambitions for The Joiners Arms. Campaigners have been meeting regularly to refine ideas for what can be achieved in this invaluable space, and connections have been made to likeminded groups, organisations and campaigns to construct what an LGBTQIA Community Centre could do to best serve the local community. Friends of the Joiners are committed to a centre which is cooperatively and democratically run, expanding its services and activities and becoming a hub to fight for minority rights and against poverty and gentrification.
As far as campaigners understand, The Joiners is currently en route to demolition, with plans to develop the land into another high-end, soulless apartment block – likely to be out of financial reach to many local residents. It filled punters and locals with sadness that on Sunday 11th January 2015 The Joiners Arms closed its doors to the public for the last time, and on 15th January 2015, The Joiners’ management vacated the property for good.
Friends of the Joiners will do everything in their power to prevent The Joiners Arms from becoming yet another victim of rapid, heart-breaking and ruthless gentrification of London, particularly in the East End. As the campaign to save and evolve The Joiners is at a crucial junctures. Friends of the Joiners encourages more people to sign their petition, follow them on Twitter (@joinersliveson) and to email thejoinersliveson@gmail.com to get involved with the campaign.
But although there was a ray of sunshine’s optimism in Hackney, the weighing scales were balanced out by a stormcloud gathering in Camden. In a piece for Not Television, roving cabaret reporter and all-round protector of the gay scene Ben Walters writes that:
‘Camden Council has announced its intention to approve planning permission to turn the first, second and third floor of the building into three flats, resulting in the loss of the first-floor Shufflewick Bar and a reduction in the ground-floor area of eight square metres.’
As we were going to press news came in that The Yard in Soho was also battling the encroaching hand of the property developers. We will bring you news of this as it develops.
You win some, you might lose some, but you always gotta fight the battle.
• The Black Cap is at 171 Camden High Street, NW1 7JY.
• Ben Walters’ website on the London cabaret scene is: www.nottelevision.net
• Follow ‘Friends of the Joiners’ on Twitter @joinersliveson or email them for more information: thejoinersliveson@gmail.com
