The Libertines are set to close the doors of their hotel next month, almost four years after opening.
The Albion Rooms in Margate has been welcoming overnight guests, however a big change is on the way. Band members Pete Doherty, Carl Barat, John Hassall and Gary Powell will no longer have hotel guests in their company. They will soon house a residential recording studio in the seafront property, where it will become an art and events space.
The stunning hotel rooms will become accommodation for singers and artists using the studio at 31 Eastern Esplanade, Cliftonville, Margate. Carl 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."
The Albion Rooms is on the seafront in Margate (Bloomberg via Getty Images)The Albion Rooms will close to paying hotel guests on June 30 and is set to go out with a bang. A special line-up of events will be curated by the band, culminating in a Wasteland Weekender. The Libertines recorded their latest album - All Quiet On The Eastern Esplanade - at the property, which features on the cover.
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Carl told NME: "The band live in three different countries, and the only thing that really binds us without something like this is tour schedules. To have a place that’s our own HQ and that we all have equal ownership of and equal input in – that was the dream." Following the release of their new number one album, he added: "We set up this hotel with grand ambitions and a lot of objectives of which we achieved.
“Now, personally, being very close to it and having to deal with a lot more of the runnings and whatnot, I think we’ve done that. And I think what we really need is a studio where the artists can stay there. We don’t have to shove them down the road.” The Albion Rooms also announced the news on their social media as they said: "The cat’s out the bag!" Fans were disappointed by the move as one said: "Sad to missed a stay But best wishes for new adventures to you all!" Another added: "Shame, had my birthday booking cancelled. But wish you all the best." Someone else commented: "Lucky to say I had a few unreal stays there, good luck."
The Libertines will now host artists instead of hotel guests (Getty Images)They have also been selling off bookings for June as a post read: "Last chance saloon. Book a midweek stay in June for a chance to win 2 x tickets to a SOLD OUT Libertines show of your choice from their upcoming tour! x." Just last month, Pete Doherty revealed more plans for the hotel - including a very unique item.
He spoke of the band's "dream" of opening the hotel in 2020 and told Apple Music 1: “We’ve also got the bathtub that Jim Morrison died in, which we’re going to be putting in one of the rooms." The frontman of The Doors passed away in Paris in 1971 aged 27 after being found in a bathtub.
The Mirror has contacted The Libertines for comment.
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