The Libertines to close their hotel next month – 4 years after it opened in trendy seaside town
THE Libertines are set to close their seafront hotel next month after being open for nearly four years.
The Albions Rooms in Margate will close its doors to overnight guests at the end of next month.
It’s been reported that group members Pete Doherty, Carl Barat, John Hassall and Gary Powell want to spend less time running a hotel.
According to Kent Online, the rock band is transforming the hotel into a residential recording studio.
It will also be used as an art and events space, while the rooms will be used to accommodate singers and artists who are using the studio.
Carl Barat said: “It was an incredible experience running a hotel, we have been able to embrace and become a part of the local and wider communities and write from these experiences first-hand.
“We don’t intend to end our community involvement there, but the time has come for us to pursue our original artistic goals and spend less time worrying about running a hospitality enterprise so we can make better art and music.”
The band purchased the Albion Rooms, which was previously called the Palm Court Hotel, in 2017 for £458,000.
They named the hotel after the East London flat they used to hang out in their early days.
Following a three-year transformation, the hotel opened to guests in September 2020 with seven rooms, a bar, a restaurant and a studio.
In the year’s since it’s been opened, the Albion Rooms has received a 5/5 star rating on TripAdvisor from customer reviews.
One person wrote: “A Beautiful hotel that’s so special to us since we’re massive fans of the Libertines and Peter Doherty.
“It’s a stunning place, with very friendly and welcoming staff and the rooms are beautiful too.”
Another added: “What a lovely hotel that’s the perfect mix of luxury and grittiness.
“The room was lovely and overlooked the sea and the complimentary snacks and drinks were a nice little touch.”
Someone else wrote: “An achingly stylish hotel, with a real cool and friendly vibe.”
The hotel will close to punters on June 30, 2024, with overnight stays still available to book during the week.
Sun Online Travel have found two night stays from £238, based on two people sharing a room.
Even when the Albion Rooms close later this year, there are still plenty of reasons to visit the seaside town.
Things to do in Margate
One of those is Dreamland – a seaside theme park that’s home to the oldest rollercoaster in the UK.
There’s also a bizarre underground attraction that’s made up of millions of shells.
Hidden beneath Margate in Kent is the Shell Grotto, which has over 2,000 sq feet of wall and ceiling space adorned with intricate mosaics created entirely from seashells.
Inside you’ll find a staggering 4.6 million sea shells decorating every surface of the underground tunnels.
What makes Shell Grotto so fascinating is that no one knows exactly how old it is or what it was made for – although there are several theories.
Read More about Margate
The Sun's Deputy Travel editor Kara Godfrey used to live in Margate and knows exactly where holidaymakers should be heading.
Kara says: “I’m one of the many who left the city of London for quieter shores last year, and ended up in Margate’s Cliftonville.
“Cliftonville is the part of town that stays alive all summer when the tourists have gone thanks to the local community.
“It has a lot to be proud of, such as the biggest tidal pool in the UK, Walpole Bay Lido, as well as the underground Shell Grotto whose origins still remain a mystery.
“I can barely keep up with the number of bars opening nearby – there is Stingray and Taproom, two tiny establishments full of young couples and their dogs no matter the weather.
And at the other end of the road is Daisy and Off License, both with some of the best sea views at sunset and serving their own unique cocktails.”
Meanwhile, you can read more on Margate, including where to find cheap eats, cool pubs and stunning beach spots, here.
And dolphins can be seen from beer gardens in this underrated UK beach spot.
