The Libertines’ Albion Rooms to become residential recording studio and events space
The Libertines‘ Albion Rooms hotel in Margate is set to become solely a residential recording studio and events space.
The group opened their own hotel and studio space in the Kent seaside town in 2020, having acquired the keys to the building three years prior.
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While giving NME a tour at the time, Carl Barât explained: “The band live in three different countries, and the only thing that really binds us without something like this is tour schedules.
“To have a place that’s our own HQ and that we all have equal ownership of and equal input in – that was the dream.”
The Libertines went on to record their 2024 Number One album ‘All Quiet On The Eastern Esplanade’ at The Albion Rooms – which is located at 31 Eastern Esplanade, Cliftonville, Margate.
Following the LP’s release, Barât said: “We set up this hotel with grand ambitions and a lot of objectives of which we achieved.
“Now, personally, being very close to it and having to deal with a lot more of the runnings and whatnot, I think we’ve done that. And I think what we really need is a studio where the artists can stay there. We don’t have to shove them down the road.”
Today (May 10) it has been announced that The Libertines will make The Albion Rooms a purely residential studio, HQ/art and events space. As a result, the hotel will close its doors to paying guests on June 30.
In a statement, Barât explained: “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.”
He concluded: “We want to devote our energies to keeping the Albion Room going by focusing on what we really enjoy, and we enjoy being artists and Libertines.”
To commemorate four years of the B&B by the sea, The Libertines will be curating a special line-up of events culminating in a Wasteland Weekender. Line-up details are due to be announced soon.
The Libertines spoke to NME in October last year about ‘All Quiet On The Eastern Esplanade’, with Barât saying that the band were all “facing in the same direction” for the record.
“That’s what The Albion Rooms has been really good for – having that in bricks and mortar, and co-owned by everyone,” he continued. “It feels like it’s part of this journey that’s been going on for a while now.”
Pete Doherty added: “The other albums were basically written before we went in the studio. This time it was a case of people presenting really strong ideas, and then everyone else just tucking in, putting their bibs on, rolling up their sleeves and chewing the fat.
“There were so many times on this album where I thought I knew what the song was, and then it became completely different for the best.”
In other news, Barât and Doherty recently revealed that they had bought the bathtub that The Doors frontman Jim Morrison died in for The Albion Rooms.
The Libertines are scheduled to embark on a UK and Ireland headline tour this autumn following a run of European festival appearances in the summer. Find any remaining tickets here.
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Tom Skinner
NME
