• IT has been such a privilege to have spent the last four years campaigning to try to have our local community pub, the Albert, Primrose Hill, reopened.

Many wonderful and energetic people in our community have kept the faith that one day we would see this unique and much-loved venue come back to life again.

The Albert was a special place for many reasons. It went far and beyond being just a drinking establishment and for many years became almost a secondary community centre which was frequented by local organisations for meetings on a regular basis which was why it was listed by Camden Council as an “Asset of Community Value”.

We now have the prospect of success being taken from the jaws of defeat in the form of a new prospective landlord whose intentions are to reopen the Albert in all its former glory without obliterating its beautiful garden which is so important to the viability of the business, its customers and our environment.

When the Albert closed four years ago I was on my own campaigning outside the venue during a “consultation” to build over the garden. That proved to be one of the loneliest nights of my life. I was ejected from the premises that I had loved for over 15 years on the grounds that I was somewhat “disruptive”.

I was only collecting email addresses for the battle I knew was ahead. I was then accused on the pavement of being “the patron saint of lost causes” by a person who shall remain nameless in deference to their bad judgment.

At the time it felt to me that we may have lost the battle but now I feel that we may be winning the war. I’m confident that with support from as many people as possible who would like to see the Albert back in business we can make it happen.

If you would like to make positive comments regarding the licence application you can email licensingrepresentation@camden.gov.uk quoting APP/PREMISES-NEW/094619. Here’s to a lovely drink under the apple tree this summer!

PHIL COWAN
NW1