Could this Cliftonville hotel have been snapped up by The Libertines ?

The Libertines have bought a hotel in Margate.

According to The Sun the band, due to perform on October 1 at the By The Sea festival in Margate, have bought a 20-room property and have already moved in.

The Isle of Thanet News understands the property in question could be the Palm Court Hotel in Eastern Esplanade.

The property was purchased by  Spaniel, Spaniel, Lombard & Rowntree Limited, of Baker Street, on August 11 for £458,000.

The London firm’s director is Carl Barat, Libertines frontman with Pete Doherty.

A planning application to Thanet council requesting permission for change of use of the ground floor single storey rear extension of the hotel to a music recording studio has been approved.

The applicants were Russells Solicitors, known for their representation of bands. Planning documents state: “One of those bands wishes to establish their own recording studio in Margate and these premises are ideal for their short and long term objectives.”

The documents also state the band would record at the studio in the rear of the property and rent it out to other musicians whilst also retaining the hotel.

They say the proposals include: “the creation of one main studio and another, smaller studio, with ancillary facilities such as a control room and isolation room as well as a bathroom. Six parking spaces and a small garden are proposed for the rear.”

Local musicians would also get the chance to record. The planning statement says: “It is the band’s intention that one of those studios, from time to time, would be made available to local groups and singers to use to record their own music and to help, more broadly over time, in the further development of the creative and music industries in Margate. The hotel would be retained, where the band, their guests and others could stay whilst recording is carried out.”

The Libertines are the headline act bringing the By The Sea festival to a close on October 1.

Originally scheduled to play at Dreamland frontmen Carl Barât and Peter Doherty, and all support acts for their gig, have moved to the Winter Gardens due to crowd numbers.

Doors open at 5pm.