Royal Vauxhall Tavern could be sold to company that closed The Black Cap
A pub chain which closed iconic London gay bar, the Black Cap, is in talks to buy the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, it has emerged.
Faucet Inn confirmed it was in negotiations to acquire the Grade II site. It already owns 11 other bars in the capital.
The company closed The Black Cap in Camden in April 2015 when it was unable to turn the top floors into flats.
Recently, the RVT was granted Sui Genesis status – meaning its purpose as a cabaret venue cannot be changed.
This followed a two-year campaign by Amy Lamé and supported by a number of notable LGBT celebrities, including Sir Ian McKellen and Graham Norton.
“The Royal Vauxhall Tavern is one of the oldest and most iconic LGBT+ venues in the capital,” Ms Lamé told The Evening Standard.
“It has been listed as an Asset of Community Value, a status that is designed to ensure its future as an important community venue for generations to come and it would be unacceptable for this to be undermined.”
Co-chairman of the RVT Future campaign group said it was “infuriating” that calls and email from the group were being ignored.
“We can only assume that [Faucet Inn] has absolutely no interest in genuinely engaging with the LGBTQ+ or any local community,” he added.
Steve Cox, Faucet Inn’s managing director, said talks with the site’s current owners, Immovate, were in the “early stages” but would “look to improve the existing operations” if it did acquire the site.
