Fears housing scheme could result in closure of Hoxton pub The Macbeth
Good times at the Macbeth. Photo: Rachel Lipsitz
Legendary pub and gig venue The Macbeth could be forced to close if an application to build a private block of flats next door is rubber stamped by Hackney Council later this month.
The Hoxton pub’s co-owner Mark Robinson fears that if the Town Hall grants permission for the development comprising eight housing units, complaints about noise from the new residents could lead to jobs and livelihoods being lost.
An online petition has been created and Mr Robinson has called on fans of The Macbeth to voice their opposition to the housing scheme by developers Bluecroft, which is expected to be considered by the planning sub-committee in two weeks time.
Mr Robinson said: “We’re not talking 30 family units for people who are in need. This is a money making scheme.
He added: “20 pubs are going out of business a day. If The Macbeth closes there are about 100 people whose pockets will get lighter, all of whom are Hackney citizens.”
A spokesman for Bluecroft said they would not be commenting at this time.
The management of the mcbeth should get a petition signed by the residents of the flats and houses across the road from the pub.I am sure that they would help.
With proper sound proofing, anti-vibration measures and door management, a block of flats next door should not be an issue – the question is whether Mr Robinson and his partners are willing to invest the significant sums involved in undertaking this work. As for Mr Robinson complaining that “This is a money making scheme”, I presume that he does not run his business for charity and that his target audience are not “people who are in need”.To complain about someone else making money in this circumstance is rank hypocrisy, so typical of NIMBY’s.
Surely some of those measures,mentioned in titus”comments should have already been in place given the closeness of the flats opposite.But when did the mcbeth become legendary?
In answer to Pat, I suppose it became legendary when Amy Winehouse’s husband, Blake Fielder-Civil assaulted and was subsequently jailed for Mr James King, one of the Landlords back in 2006. Other than that, dunno… it’s a bit of a dump.