Duke of Hamilton To Close

[Alesonly]

I just got the following in a News Letter from CAMRA and thought a few People on here may be interested in trying too save a good Pub.


Duke of Hamilton – phony war is over.:moremad:

The owners of the Duke have now finally played their cards by submitting
formal planning applications to Camden Council to convert the Duke into two
private dwellings. The first application – 2010/1923/C – was filed on 28 May
for the demolition of a single story extension at ground floor level – I
suspect this to be the toilet block. The second and more substantial –
2010/1901/P – was filed on 1 June for conversion to residential after the
previously mentioned demolition.

Both are on Camden’s website, follow this link and then enter the
application numbers http://tinyurl.com/2u2wteb

The Duke is a three times winner of CAMRA North London’s Pub of the Year
competition. One by one pubs in this part of Hampstead have either closed –
Coach & Horses, Horse and Groom, Jack Straw’s Castle – or have shifted over
to being more food led operations – Old White Bear, the Wells. Does
Hampstead really need two more houses or does it need vital amenities such
as the Duke? We know there are local pub operators who are keen to bring
their skills to running the Duke as a community local. It is up to us to try
and help that happen. This week we presented our current Pub of the Year
award to the Pineapple in Kentish Town, a pub which was saved from being
converted into flats by a vigorous campaign run by local residents and CAMRA
in 2001/2. It can be done.

[Strongers]

The problem the Duke has is that most of the local residents aren't the sort to be seen dead in a pub and will welcome the Duke's demise.

Also, the profit that would have been made on the Pineapple is just a drop in the ocean compared to the money that piece of land in Hampstead will be worth when developed.

[Strongers]

I was a little confused why a separate planning application was submitted to knock down the toilets until someone told me on Friday that permission was far more likely for this than for the entire new build. I asked what the point of that was and was informed that this is common practise as a pub cannot open without toilets. So the main application would be resubmitted once all of the locals had started drinking elsewhere as such a vehement fight wouldn’t be put up – sneaky feckers!

On a good note the tree out the back has had a preservation order put on it. The developers will obviously object and my bet is that the decision will go with them even though the tree is huge and has been on this earth longer than any person has – not that it will matter.

The more I hear about this the angrier I get!

Save the Duke.com (http://www.savetheduke.com/)

[Conrad]

With this and Highgate Brewery currently being active threads on the forum, is there anything forumites would like to see Pubs Galore doing to help these causes.

It irritates me that we do not do more, but I am at a loss for good ideas. I guess there is the potential for advertising on the main site to try and draw people towards campaign points (facebook pages or petitions). Anyway, if anyone has some ideas don't be shy to come forward.

[Strongers]

Well blow me down, I was told yesterday by a regular who drinks in the Duke a lot more than I do now that Camden Council has rejected the submitted plans and stated that the building cannot have a change of use!

Apparently a few bids have been put in to take the lease over from the governor who has had enough. I'm hoping that the offer from one of the more well known regulars (118 118) is accepted.

[Rex_Rattus]

Well blow me down, I was told yesterday by a regular who drinks in the Duke a lot more than I do now that Camden Council has rejected the submitted plans and stated that the building cannot have a change of use!

That's a good start, but it may not be the end of the fight. The final say will rest with the DEFRA inspector, if the developers appeal to the Department. These inspectors have an annoying propensity for overturning councils' decisions where housing is involved, but the cases in my area where the inspectors have gone against the council have all been houses v playing fields. Let's hope that pubs are seen in a better light, but I wouldn't want to put my money on it. I paid a return trip to the Duke a couple of months ago and reckon that it is still an excellent real pub in an area where they are not exactly thick on the ground.

[RogerB]

Did a Hampstead to Highgate crawl yesterday and this should have been No 5 on the list. Somehow in all the excitement, we totally missed it out!! D'oh!

[Strongers]

To be honest you've not missed much as it has gone down hill in recent months and many locals have moved on to the Flask. The governor seems to be hanging on even though he openly admits he hates the pub and the majority of people that drink there. He's had big money offers for the lease and has turned them down. Sounds to me like he has gone crackers!

[RogerB]

As it happens I'm off to a gig at the Enterprise in Chalk Farm tonight and as I will have a couple of hours to kill before the Mrs turns up, I may sneak a quick revisit to Hampstead beforehand and pop in the Duke (and maybe a couple of others!).

[RogerB]

Been there, seen it, done it but didn't buy the t-shirt. To be honest, it does look rather run down and there doesn't seem to be any great enthusiasm from anyone I encountered within for it to remain open. I understand that the facade cannot be altered and, believe it or not, the tree outside has also had a part to play in securing its temporary reprieve from conversion to residential purposes.

[ROBCamra]

Been there, seen it, done it but didn't buy the t-shirt. To be honest, it does look rather run down and there doesn't seem to be any great enthusiasm from anyone I encountered within for it to remain open. I understand that the facade cannot be altered and, believe it or not, the tree outside has also had a part to play in securing its temporary reprieve from conversion to residential purposes.

I must admit that when I worked in London and often stayed in Swiss Cottage, I could never see what all the hype was about the Duke.

I didn't really like the place even when it was CAMRA North London pub of the year and on top of its game.

I also never thought that the beer was that good either.

Maybe it's just me.

[RogerB]

Word on the street is that the DoH closes on Sunday for a major refurbishment and will reopen again in March. It has been apparently been bought by the people who own the Barnsbury and the Duke is destined to become a bit more food orientated with the cellar being opened up to become a dining area.

[Alesonly]

Word on the street is that the DoH closes on Sunday for a major refurbishment and will reopen again in March. It has been apparently been bought by the people who own the Barnsbury and the Duke is destined to become a bit more food orientated with the cellar being opened up to become a dining area.

I just copied / nicked this from another web site it was posted yesterday

End of an era, last chance to pay a very-first or one-last visit to the last 'pub-pub' in Hampstead before it changes for ever. SUNDAY IS THE LAST DAY, closed as of Monday.

The Duke will close
for a redecoration on Sunday 6 Feb with a planned reopening on Tuesday 1
March. The cellar bar will be opened up, the walls repainted, new carpets
and a food offering that will not be gastro.

"The new tenants are planning on serving 'old fashioned pub grub' and spit
roasts on sundays. They are planning a dark burgundy colour scheme inside
and out with the intention of keeping a great and cosy old boozer feel to
the place (colour scheme has either been chosen by a former Eastenders
actress or someone with the same name (Kara Tointon). They have promised via
Twitter that 'this pub will remain a great boozer, amazing service, amazing
Ales and great food just like
@thebarnsburypub<http://twitter.com/thebarnsburypub>'.
They have also promised that it will NOT be a Gastro pub." Doesn't mean that it won't be: it's become a cliche for gastro operators and the like to say: 'I hate the term gastro-pub'; 'We're not a gastro-pub'; 'It won't be a gastro-pub', etc.~no one ever actually says that his pub is a gastro-pub even if it patently is, maybe they actually believe it; maybe it's just rhetoric to avoid a using the term........there are hundreds of thousands of posh people in Britain, but you'll go your lifetime never hearing some one's say that he's posh.

[RogerB]

I nicked it first! :p

[Strongers]

I'm glad the change is being made and the cellar bar was very under used When it was utilised it hosted the odd private do and maybe a rugby game on terrestrial on FA Cup final day, other times the football would have been passed over in favour of the egg chasers.

I've spoken to a few of my pals and they have said that the bloke (Steve I think - great name) has had a few evenings in there and seems to be an honest chap that wants to keep it as a locals boozer as much as possible. I've also visited the Barnsbury (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/23620/) and although a little food orientated for my liking I did enjoy my stay.

Hopefully it will all pan out well and The Duke can be put back on the map.