Upstairs at the Gatehouse theatre

The Society successfully applied for the listing of the Theatre (including the auditorium, box office, green room and storage) as an Asset of Community Value, inhibiting any change of use. We are therefore disturbed that an application for a licence by the owners of the Gatehouse pub to open a bar in part of the theatre area has specified no conditions to ensure the first floor bar will not interfere with the operation of the theatre. It would make a mockery of the Asset of Community Value listing for a licence for a bar to be granted without such conditions.

The Upstairs at the Gatehouse theatre has no dedicated bar for patrons. We were therefore pleased to hear of proposals to install a bar in the green room reception area. Theatregoers will remember that ice creams are sold there but no alcoholic drinks, and those wanting to buying a drink of any kind have to go to the pub downstairs. Having a bar on the first floor has the potential to be a real improvement. Urban Pubs the operator of the Gatehouse pub downstairs would operate the bar but there is currently no licence for the sale of alcoholic drinks on the first floor.

We have made representations to Camden the licensing authority saying that there must be conditions applied to the grant of a licence including:

– restricting the green room bar to the exclusive use of theatre patrons between one hour before the start of any performance and one hour after the end of that performance.

– if the pub decides not to open the bar for a show they must make the space available to the theatre as it is the only area where people can go during breaks in the performance and it is also sometimes needed for rehearsals and meetings

– construction and alteration works for the new bar should only take place when they will not interfere with performances.

If you feel you are personally affected by this application you can make representations to Camden – the deadline is 13 November.

31 October 2023