Locals say there’s still a chance to snooker demolition of the Crown and Goose pub

Published: 16 September, 2010
by TOM FOOT

THE clock is ticking once again for one of Camden Town’s most popular pubs – but campaigners say there is still time to save the Crown and Goose.

The pub and the New Camden snooker club in Delancey Street are earmarked for demolition after developers won approval from planning officials earlier this year.

The Delancey Street Residents Association say the planned four-floor housing block with a ground floor restaurant and bar will destroy the individual character of their locale.

“This development will radically alter and damage the nature of Delancey Street,” said association member Russell Grant.

“The Crown has its individual character and a period feel – it is so much better than having some faceless chain bar.” He added: “Despite its superficial shabbiness, the snooker hall is a much-loved, greatly used local amenity.”

A battle over the site has run for nearly five years due to a series of planning applications and appeals.

New Camden Snooker – a former haunt of green baize superstars including Stephen Hendry and trick shot champion John Virgo – has hundreds of members and is supported by the BBC’s “voice of snooker” Clive Everton.

Property consultants DE and J Levy, which acts for trustees of the land, the IH Barclay Discretionary Settlement, won shock approval for their demolition plan after appealing against a rejection decision by Camden Council planning officials in 2008.

That application has lapsed and developers must now reapply for approval for a fourth time.

Frank Dobson MP, who has taken part in the campaign against the development for five years, described the long-running planning saga as a “war of attrition”.

Catherine Colley, chair of the Delancey Street Association, said the group had opposed two recent “large scale developments” – Milkwood Studios and the Nationwide Tyre Garage. She said: “Both have been approved despite our objections.”

The public can file objections to the closure of the pub and snooker hall until September 21.