The Libertine’s are closing their seafront hotel to the public and turning it into a residential recording studio and events space.
The Albion Rooms, on Eastern Esplanade in Cliftonville, was purchased by the band in 2017 for £458,000,
But after seven years group members, Pete Doherty, Carl Barat, John Hassall and Gary Powell, want to spend less time running a hotel.
Barat – who also owns Justine’s nightclub in Margate – announced the news in a statement today, NME reports.
The signer said: “It was an incredible experience running a hotel, we have been able to embrace and become a part of the local and wider communities and write from these experiences first-hand.
“We don’t intend to end our community involvement there, but the time has come for us to pursue our original artistic goals and spend less time worrying about running a hospitality enterprise so we can make better art and music.
“We want to devote our energies to keeping the Albion Room going by focusing on what we really enjoy, and we enjoy being artists and Libertines.”
After buying the former Palm Court Hotel, the Libertine’s undertook a huge renovation project.
They started welcoming customers in September 2020, and they recorded their new album All Quiet on the Eastern Esplanade in the studio.
The Albion Rooms, will close to hotel guests on June 30.
After that, the suites will be used for visiting musicians, and other areas will become art and event spaces.
To commemorate four years of business, The Libertines will be curating a special line-up of events culminating in a Wasteland Weekender. Line-up details are due to be announced soon.
