London landlord bars the 800 campaigners that got his Duke of Hamilton pub in Hampstead listed
A London landlord has barred 800 local campaigners from his pub after they managed to get his property listed, making it harder for him to sell.
Steve Coxshall, a former stockbroker that also managed the boyband Blue, said the campaigners, the Hampstead Neighbourhood Forum, were “hypocrites in cardigans”.
Camden Council decided to the list the three-century-old Duke of Hamilton pub in Hampstead as an Asset of Community Value. Should Coxshall wish to sell the pub, he would have to offer it initially to the campaigners, who are allowed six months to raise the cash.
But he warned that he faces difficulty if he needs to sell the pub if it goes into the red.
"They are all barred from the pub,” he said.
Coxshall added:
I bought the pub to save it. But if you've got a pub and there is an economic downturn, what is the point of an ACV if there is no business?
If you have a six-month window where you can't sell it, who is going to pay the bills?
They haven't put any money into the pub – they are just a bunch of hypocrites in cardigans.
Coxshall has now lodged a formal objection to the ruling with the council and banned the punters from his pub. He also accused them of only making small orders.
"They don't drink in here and if they do come in, they only order half of a half pints,” he told the Camden New Journal.
Janine Griffis, chair of Hampstead Neighbourhood Forum, said:
I think it would be unfortunate if Steve didn't want members to come because we have over 800 members.
We are delighted that Camden have decided to list The Duke, and we wish Steve and the pub all the best.