Camden's Crown & Goose pub to close

The Crown & Goose pub in Camden will close despite a high-profile campaign to prevent its closure which was backed by Madness star Suggs.

In a statement released this week, the pub's operators revealed the doors to the Arlington Road venue would close within three months after an appeal against a rejection of an extension to the leasehold reportedly proved unsuccessful.

Solution

According to pub landlord Michael Nicholas, the building now faces the threat of possible demolition - the pub and next door snooker club have also been the focus of a protracted planning battle.

Ben McDonald, the pub's general manager, said: "Some of my customers have been regulars at the Goose for over 20 years and are heart broken.

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Campaigners have regularly fought to protect the Crown & Goose pub from closure.

"All my staff and I personally want to thank all the special people who have come through the Crown & Goose doors and provided us with wonderful memories that will live on well after those doors have been closed for the last time," he added.

Suggs

The campaign to prevent the pub from closure and to stop possible demolition of the building has been ongoing for a number of years.

Nicholas said he wanted to thank a number of organisations and individuals for their long-running support of the campaign against the pub's closure. 

"The war with the developers has been an expensive and ongoing thing for the last 10 years and the operators of the Crown & Goose have not been fighting the decisions on their own. Local residents, Camden Council and local councillors have all fought the good fight," he said.

Among the high-profile backers of the campaign was Madness frontman Suggs who said he was 'devastated' at the news the pub now faced closure.

"I love the Goose and I’ve been drinking there since I was 16. I’ve got many fine memories of times in the Goose. Both my daughters have worked in there and many of Madness's successful moments have been celebrated in the pub.  It holds a very special place in the heart of the community and I will be devastated to see another important local pub close," he said.