forum+ Comment on The Black Cap Planning Application
forum+ is an independent charity working to promote equality for LGBT people in Camden and Islington.
forum+ fully support the planning application to re-open The Black Cap. forum+ (previously as Camden LGBT Forum) is proud to have secured two ACV designations for the venue, in recognition of the special place this iconic venue holds in Camden culture and heritage. The proposals by the owners Kicking Horse 3 (KH3) would bring the site back into positive use and provide huge benefit to the LGBT+ and wider community in Camden.
History and Future of The Black Cap
The history of The Black Cap is well documented. Dubbed ‘the Palladium of Drag’, the Black Cap had been an LGBT community and cabaret space for more than 60 years. Prior to closure LGBT+ individuals and community groups used the venue to create support networks. The Black Cap has been missed terribly since its closure and a great many people have given such generous donation of time and effort towards its reopening. This is testament to the special place the iconic venue holds in Camden culture and heritage.
Our small independent charity forum+ (formerly Camden LGBT Forum) utilised The Black Cap on many occasions. We work to reduce social isolation and loneliness in our local LGBT community and The Black Cap was always a warm, welcoming and safe space for our social support and community groups. Outreach sessions that we conducted at The Black Cap allowed us to reach local LGBT people and raise awareness of the support services that we provide LGBT victims of hate crime and work to improve community safety. forum+ would most certainly seek to host community outreach, activities and events at a reopened Black Cap.
Conclusion
The Black Cap has a very special history and we believe the plans proposed secure a bright future for the venue. The planning application carefully takes into consideration local residents living most immediately near the building. The plans update, modernise and enhance the whole building, while retaining most of the original layout and features of the venue before closure. The application honours the ACV designation and the venues existing sui generis use as certified by Camden Council in 2019.
The owners Kicking Horse 3 and project team working to reopen the venue have taken a very collaborative and transparent approach to their plans. Their planning application and proposals reflect their experience, expertise and depth of knowledge in eventing, hospitality and most crucially in successfully running LGBT venues. They have reached out to the LGBT community through key stakeholders, such as forum+, and we believe they are the very best people placed to own and professionally operate The Black Cap. We wish success for their planning application which would bring The Black Cap building back into positive use and provide huge benefit to the LGBT and wider community in Camden.
forum+ submits the above statement in full support of Planning Application – 2023/5228/P
forum+
Registered charity no. 1107855. A company limited by guarantee, registered in England, company reg no. 051324
info@forumplus.org.uk
