 |
| The Midland Hotel |
-------
Danusia,
Please would you add my support to the case supporting the
application for Community Value for the Midland Hotel in Hendon.
 |
| Robert Elms - BBC Radio London |
There is no other similar venue in West Hendon. Over the
past two years, there have been regular gigs organised by a whole host of
Barnet musicians – some of these are documented in this Facebook thread on the
Barnet Music page, used by Barnet Musicians - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1045197652201290/permalink/2035103413210704/
I have also used the venue on several occasions to host The
Barnet Eye community awards, which recognises local charities and community
campaigners. Organisations such as Colindale Foodbank and Barnet Housing Action
have been recognised. (https://barneteye.blogspot.com/2016/12/the-saturday-list-109-barnet-eye-annual.html
)
As a venue for wedding parties, funerals and other family
events the venue is a vital and sadly unique venue. A good friend of mine
recently had the wake for both her brother in law and mother at the venue. As a
relatively low cost and community pub, it is an option for many who can’t
afford more expensive venues.
Finally, the pub has an important role as a meeting place
for local people. I am aware that the argument that developers and owners often
make is that pubs are under utilised and part of a dying culture. The Midland
has seen a decent turnaround over the last few years especially as a result of the
live music offering. There is a huge untapped market for such a venue. This has
been demonstrated by the transformation in Colindale of The Chandos Arms from a
failing pub on its last legs three years ago to a vibrant, profitable business
that won the UK Brewing Awards National Community Pub. The Landlord of the
Midland is keen to emulate the success of the Chandos but cannot sensibly make
the investment necessary to move the pub forward until such time as the future
of the pub is secured. He has made small changes, such as bringing in a well
used table tennis table and working with me to provide live music, but cannot
sensibly invest in his own sound system and changes necessary without a
guarantee of the future.
The fact that the planning application to knock down the
Midland attracted over 500 objections demonstrated just how strong the local
feeling is to preserve the Midland Hotel. Now please give John and the Team the
security they need to take the pub forward and ensure that future generations
of residents of West Hendon have a great pub, a grassroots music venue for
budding musicians, somewhere to celebrate weddings and mourn the passing of
those we love and somewhere to organise community events.
Regards
1 comment:
Thank you for your unstinting support,both in the past and in the present.
It means the world to local residents and to the wider community to have someone take notice of their situation;even more that you took up the mantle to spread the word to save the pub.
Post a Comment