Regent's Canal Pirate Club applies for alcohol licence
Alcohol sales for canal charity ‘would boost funds’
Published: 9th December, 2010
by JOSIE HINTON
A CANAL-based adventure club that runs water sports for disadvantaged youngsters has caused a stir in Camden Town by applying for a licence to sell alcohol.
The Pirate Club, based at the Pirate Castle on the Regent’s Canal near Camden Lock, have asked for permission to sell booze until 11pm Monday to Thursday, until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, and until 10.30pm on Sundays.
The charity, which offers canoeing, kayaking and other adventure sports for young people, has also asked to be allowed to host live and recorded music, films, dancing, plays and indoor sporting events.
The club’s management said the licence would be for “one-off fundraising events” to raise cash for its activities. They have agreed to limit the number of events to 50 per year.
But Camden police and 34 residents have objected to the application, which they fear will cause noise disturbance and anti-social behaviour in a “special policy area” – where there are already a high number of licensed premises.
Jo Lyall, of Lock House, Oval Road, said: “I have lived in the area for the past 45 years and have always understood The Pirate Club to have been created to teach boating skills to children. It goes against the whole character of the place to have alcohol-fuelled adults licensed to be there as well.”
Resident Guy Paterson added: “The canal is a scary place to walk at night, particularly for women, and the idea of having inebriated people gathered outside the castle at closing time is a worrying one.”
And Anna De Salis, of the Lockhouse, Oval Road, said: “The Pirate Castle has a very good reputation as a family venue and is safe for children and young people. It would be terrible to lose that and have it turned into a ‘pub’ instead.”
The Town Hall’s licensing committee has also received 10 letters of support for the application. Bill Rickman, of Camden High Street, said: “The Castle is a fantastic resource for young people and if extending or granting this licence allows them to become more financially independent then it is definitely the right thing to do to preserve this wonderful bit of Camden.”
Alexis Keir, director of disability charity Elfrida Rathbone Camden, who have used the centre for a number of events, added: “The Pirate Castle is one of the few venues in Camden which has extremely good access for disabled people and, as such, we would heartily support it to be licensed.”
The Castle was set up in 1966 by benevolent aristocrat Viscount Justin St David. Since it opened, thousands of youngsters have benefited.
Club manager Charles Brock said: “Looking at the application, it would suggest we would be able to run a bar throughout the year, but that is not the case. This is for fund-raising events for this charity. We have been very good neighbours in the past and we intend to continue to be so.”