It has been a challenging time for everyone through 2020 and into 2021. We send love and support to all – continued community action has never been more important

Clearly, the #WeAreTheBlackCap campaign, which aims to save and reopen the Black Cap LGBT+ pub, club, cabaret, and community space venue in Camden, has had to be much less visible. Our weekly vigils outside the Cap have sadly been on hold after five stubbornly glorious years!

However, late 2019, all through 2020 and now into 2021 has seen important developments, which we cover here and set out some goals for the next stage of our fight to restore the Cap to its rightful place.

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'I Am the Black Cap' promotional campaign

Our latest 'I AM THE BLACK CAP' campaign invited personal stories from community members and evoked the iconic Regina Fong's unmistakable silhouette. It kept people talking about the Cap in the street, in the media and online.

This new engagement tool practically doubled our campaign members from its launch.

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OUTSIDE IN & THE BLACK CAP COMMUNITY HUB– lockdown partnership with the Outside Project and Castlehaven Community Association

The #WeAreTheBlackCap partnered with The Outside Project and Castlehaven Community Association, and have been providing a weekly safe, sober space for LGBT+ people to meet since 2018. During the pandemic, the team took the project online and have provided an LGBT+ hangout; helping identify and help people in the community in need of other support. The project offered an Outsidermas event offering support and (socially distanced) hot food and drink over Christmas, and has continued online sessions into 2021.

Given the lack of spaces for LGBT+ people in North London we are looking to renew the project's face to face sessions when that becomes safe and sustainable. Meanwhile virtual sessions continue every Monday from 6 to 8 pm on Zoom and / or WhatsApp under the new name 'The Black Cap Community Hub'. We are currently reviewing the successes and future outcomes the community would like to see; with funding bids being prepared so the service and activities can continue.

If you want to join future LGBT+ Hangout sessions please drop us a note and we’ll get back to you with details: enquiries@weareblackcap.com

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Asset of Community Value – five-year renewal

The #WeAreTheBlackCap strong and highly visible campaign ensured that the Black Cap was clearly seen as a place of continued importance as a historical landmark and public house on Camden High Street; also as a place of safety, entertainment and culture for the LGBT+ community.

We were therefore able to affirm with the council another five-year Asset of Community Value listing for the Black Cap – another victory providing further protections against hostile redevelopment.

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Sui Generis – campaign team help defeat owners' challenge

Following campaign action, Camden Council confirmed the Black Cap's 'sui generis' (or ‘one of a kind’) status for planning purposes. This means the whole building, including upstairs floors, can only be used for the purposes of an LGBT+ pub, club, cabaret, and community space – it can't just be converted to a wine bar or generic gastropub.

The building's owners argued that the sui generis status only applied to the ground floor, which would have left the rest of the building vulnerable to redevelopment or to reopen as an ordinary boring pub. But the campaign led the counter challenge, securing testimonials from past managers, staff and customers alike that clearly showed that the whole building was used and needed to serve this unique mix of commercial and community purposes. 'Sui generis' status was rightly reconfirmed by Camden Council.

Having the Sui Generis listing covering the whole building is hugely important in terms of blocking future residential development proposals.

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Community TAKEOVER Bid – 2019-2020

Back in October 2019, we were informed by Camden Council planning department that the Black Cap owners had declared their intention to sell the Black Cap. Under the rules of the Asset of Community Value (ACV) listing, the council had to inform the Black Cap Foundation and Forum+ (the local LGBT+ support organisation) who had originally submitted the ACV application. Once the owner has reported their intention to sell the asset, a six-month moratorium period starts, during which time local community organisations can put forward an intention to bid on the business and the owner cannot sell to any other party.

The Black Cap Foundation put forward its intention to bid and set about exploratory work to launch a community-ownership plan backed by funds from the Plunkett Foundation’s ‘More Than a Pub' programme.

This has allowed us to:

• Pursue new community research;
• Develop a new business plan;
  Secure a building and business survey from a leading industry surveyor;
• Explore ideas for a pop-up community and performance space and stronger ties to a range of LGBT+ venues, organisations and new ventures;
• Plan a new promotional and crowdfunding and share-offer plans.
• Establish a legal entity – BLACK CAP COMMUNITY

In December 2020, we officially replaced the Black Cap Foundation Limited Company with the Black Cap Community Benefit Society Limited (trading as BLACK CAP COMMUNITY). This is a co-operative model overseen by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and combines a community-interest remit with greater financial flexibility required to raise finances through shares and other sources.

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COMING SOON

• LAUNCH OF BLACK CAP COMMUNITY
• BLACK CAP COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT - ‘TOWN HALL’ CONSULTATION SESSIONS/SURVEYS ETC.
• POP-UP EVENTS/SPACES
• BLACK CAP PLEDGE CAMPAIGN – FILM/PROMO/CROWDFUNDING
• BLACK CAP COMMUNITY HUB - OUTSIDE IN – WEEKLY SAFE/SOBER SPACE FOR LGBT+ PEOPLE
• BLACK CAP – THE MOVIE

In the meantime, we'd like to send much love at such a difficult time for so many.

Thank you again for your amazing support and encouragement over the years.

For more information, to share ideas, or offers of help and support enquiries@weareblackcap.com