London Night Czar Amy Lamé urges government to ‘scrap 10pm curfew’ to save ‘at-risk’ LGBTQ venues
As it emerges Admiral Duncan, Retro Bar and Kings Arms are to remain closed indefinitely.
Words: Jamie Tabberer; Picture: Greater London Authority
Amy Lamé, London’s Night Czar, has addressed news that London LGBTQ+ venues Admiral Duncan, Retro Bar and the Kings Arms are to remain indefinitely closed.
The pubs’ owners issued a statement today saying “they will remain closed until [coronavirus] restrictions are eased”, adding the company is to “rebase” its business.
Appointed by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan in 2016, Lamé – tasked with ‘ensuring London thrives as a 24-hour city‘ – told Attitude: “I have spoken with Stonegate Pubs today and they have reassured me that they remain committed to providing LGBTQ+ venues and that the Admiral Duncan, Retro Bar and the Kings Arms are not permanently closed.
“However, it is clear that the impact of the 10pm curfew and the Government’s insufficient support package is putting our night-time venues and jobs at serious risk – particularly much-loved LGBTQ+ venues who heavily rely on trade after 10pm.
“The curfew needs to be immediately scrapped and the Government must urgently provide more financial support for businesses if we are to avoid losing these precious venues.”
“We are having to rebase our business accordingly”
Stonegate Pubs’ statement, issued today, reads: “The [three bars] have been closed since March when the Government ordered a national lockdown. The myriad of restrictions placed on pubs and bars has meant it is not possible to reopen these businesses at the current time and they will remain closed until restrictions are eased.
“Like many businesses across the capital the introduction of the 10pm curfew and subsequent further local tiered restrictions have had a significant impact on thousands of businesses, as well as further reducing footfall in town and city centres and undermining consumer confidence.
“The combination of these factors and subsequent impact on sales and volumes, means that we are having to rebase our business accordingly, whilst the restrictions remain.”
The Admiral Duncan was the site of a 1999 nail bomb that killed three and injured 70.
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