Protest outside Faucet Inns' HQ planned for today

Protests are planned outside pub company Faucet Inns' head office following the closure of Camden’s the Black Cap and the potential closure of Haverstock Hill’s the Sir Richard Steele.

Protestors are due to gather between 5pm and 7pm today.

Campaigner Simon Happily, who ran a successful pub quiz at the Sir Richard Steele said: “We want to tell Faucet if you don’t want to run pubs, there are plenty of people who do. The craft brewery industry is doing so well.

“These are not little places that no-one wants to go to-there’s plenty of affluent people who want to go out and destroying pubs rips the heart out of these communities. Those of us who are locals see them as beautiful pubs central to the community rather than as pound signs.”

The PMA approached Faucet Inn but they declined to comment.

Actor Neil Stuke, who has appeared in the BBC’s Silk and Agatha Christie’s Marple, was among those calling for people to join the protest on Twitter.

The Sir Richard Steele has previously been frequented by a number of famous faces, including Tim Burton and ex Doctor Who Matt Smith.

Plans to redevelop the pub’s upstairs floor into 10 hotel rooms were rejected last year.

Documents submitted to Camden council earlier this month show Faucet Inn’s intention to begin development on the site and start the 56 day notification period for planning authorities to check if the pub is listed as an asset of community value, in line with planning legislation.

Faucet Inns, which describes itself as an ‘an ever-growing eclectic collection of venues’ currently has 20 venues across London and the South East, including the Squirrel in Maida Vale and Metro in Holloway.