Gay cabaret club in London closed suddenly by Faucet Inn chain
Gay cabaret club the Black Cap in London's Camden has been closed by the Faucet Inn chain, according to reports.
The London Evening Standard newspaper reported that the historic, 19th century pub has been closed this week, after an attempt to turn its upper floors into flats failed in February.
The pub was especially well-known as the location in which comedian and broadcaster Paul O'Grady, whose alter ego is Lily Savage, first performed in the early Eighties, while Julian Clary also took his act, the Joan Collins Fanclub, to the pub. It was said to be gay friendly two years before homosexuality was effectively decriminalised in the UK.
O'Grady told the paper: "It's a very grim day for the gay and cabaret scene…it's one of the most important gay venues in London…it's sickening that it could be shut like this."
Faucet Inn has operated the pub on behalf of a freeholder for the past five years but said it was no longer able to do so. Camden council gave the pub "asset to community value" status last week, which will ensure that it cannot be sold without giving the community a chance to bid.
At the time of writing Faucet Inn was not available to comment.
The news comes in the same fortnight as reports emerged of a historic pub in Kilburn, the Carlton Tavern, being bulldozed by developers without permission from the council.