Dear Campaigners, Thank you as ever for your support. We could not do this without your being there for us. We are releasing a statement in response to the Camden New Journal article today, link below. You will be most interested to see there has been a change of mood. (Web version: http://www.camdennewjournal.com/black-cap-bid-reopen) With regard to Camden New Journal's article today "Fresh bid to re-open famous Black Cap bar is unveiled", the Black Cap Foundation note that Kicking Horse Ltd (Jersey) and principal shareholder Stephen Cox has finally accepted that the right way forward is to re-open the Black Cap Pub. This is a wise and profitable move for Kicking Horse, and we applaud the change of position, but the thinking is at a very early stage. We are at this juncture only because of the huge and continuous support for the pub by our campaigners and Facebook members, and the increasingly colourful and fun Saturday afternoon Vigils outside the pub that has made both Pub and Campaign a part of Camden life. And we are delighted with Michelle Collins' latest comments and for her outstanding and long-time support. We are in early talks about this with Mr Cox, and whilst we welcome the new thinking that emerged at the January 12th meeting hosted by Camden Council, differences remain. We argue that in any future lease or sale of both the Pub and its LGBT+ audience be actively considered together, and the business plan will concentrate on this. The Pub's current planning protections, the A4 plus 'sui generis' (one of its kind) and Asset of Community Value order, are both hard-fought for protections to preserve the pub for the LGBT+ Community. These protections were granted in recognition of the Cap's outstanding track record as a world-famous LGBT+ cabaret venue, and the unique and irreplaceable role it plays supporting a still-marginalised, still-vulnerable minority community. The Black Cap Foundation is resolute that these considerations remain at the heart of this exciting new stage of developments. Kicking Horse want to dilute the sui generis designation, as in their view, by being able to offer a space that can be put to multiple purposes will make the Pub more attractive to buyers. We disagree. By considering the very large and specific type of audience, and that the pub has specific long term protections for the Community on all floors of the Pub, we consider this will give buyers significant additional confidence to take the fullest advantage to offer up-to-the-minute and experimental LGBT art and performance, alongside traditional drag, and a variety of other activities from ground to roof. In other words, the sui generis and ACV protections can properly be viewed as a badge of investment confidence for the LGBT+ focused buyer. We have good evidence of the success of such a focus on a ready made audience, and will incorporate this in the business plan. With regard to the un-named theatre company, it should be noted that Faucet Inn introduced an un-named dance company to assist them with a planning application for Sir Richard Steele to lease space. We invite the theatre company to get in contact with us for an early and likely positive discussion. In conclusion the Black Cap Foundation applaud Kicking Horse's new thinking, and that there is more that unites us than divides us over the future of The Black Cap for the next 60 years. We look forward to the next meeting tabled for the second week of February. Yours sincerely Chris Clark Program Director Black Cap Foundation