The Libertines are set to close their Albion Rooms hotel in Cliftonville at the end of June to create a residential recording studio and events space.
Carl Baràt and bandmates Pete Doherty, John Hassall and Gary Powell have been a part of the isle community since they bought the former Palm Court Hotel in 2017 for £458,000.
They renamed it The Albion Rooms and set about a three year transformation creating a studio, hotel rooms, The Waste Land bar and restaurant at the five storey Victorian building.
The hotel rooms opened in September 2020. Apple Beats equipped each themed room with a sound system. The penthouse was coordinated by the famous print design house Anna Hayman and the rooms transformation was overseen by Rhiannon Sussex, a creator of bespoke interiors.
But now the rooms will be used to accommodate artists using the studio with the doors closing to paying guests on June 30. The property will also have an art and events space and The Waste Land bar will be used for hire and private events.
In a statement sent to The Isle of Thanet News today (May 10) Carl said: “It was an incredible experience running a hotel, we have been able to embrace and become a part 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.”
Carl and partner Cruel Hearts Club’s Edie Langley also own Justine’s nightclub in Margate.
To commemorate four years of B&B by the sea The Libertines will be curating a special line-up of events culminating in a Wasteland Weekender to remember. Full line-up to be announced soon, so keep an eye on the band’s socials.
The band’s latest album All Quiet On The Eastern Esplanade was released in March and became the band’s first Official Number 1 album in 20 years.
