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Margate locals reportedly “unnerved” by Libertines’ hotel plans

By Andy Malt | Published on Thursday 21 September 2017

Margate locals are “unnerved” that The Libertines could be about to turn part of the town into a “crazy party zone”, according to The Sun. This because the band’s plans to open their own hotel and studio complex on the seafront are now in motion.

As previously reported, Carl Barat said that the band were awaiting planning permission for the project in an interview earlier this year, following various rumours that he and his bandmates were plotting a move into the hotel business. Initial reports reckoned the hotel would be in Cromer, although as far as we know it was always planned for Margate.

Planning application documents on the Thanet District Council website show that an application has been approved to install a recording studio on the ground floor of the Palm Court Hotel in Margate.

That isn’t necessarily confirmation of the band’s plans, given most buildings in the seaside town seem to be having recording studios put in at the moment. However, local news website The Isle Of Thanet News also notes that the building was recently purchased by a company of which all four members of The Libertines are directors. Which sounds more like confirmation.

Anyway, a source told The Sun this week: “This has been Pete and Carl’s dream. They want it to be like Andy Warhol’s New York studio The Factory, a creative space for them to record in, but also a fun pad for pals and the public to stay in. It’s unnerved some of the locals who fear the band could turn the area into a crazy party zone”.

I’m not sure who’s been spreading these rumours that Margate isn’t already a crazy party zone. Speaking of which, The Libertines will be headlining the final night of this year’s By The Sea festival, which takes place in venues around Margate at the end of the month.