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South London birthplace of UK garage to be turned into estate agents South London birthplace of UK garage to be turned into estate agents
(about 4 hours later)
A 250-year-old London pub that became the birthplace of UK garage is to be turned into a Foxtons estate agents.A 250-year-old London pub that became the birthplace of UK garage is to be turned into a Foxtons estate agents.
The Elephant & Castle pub in south London is credited as being the place where the musical genre began. In the early 1990s, the pub was the home of Happy Days, a legendary indoor rave where the father of UK garage, Matt Jam Lamont, was resident.The Elephant & Castle pub in south London is credited as being the place where the musical genre began. In the early 1990s, the pub was the home of Happy Days, a legendary indoor rave where the father of UK garage, Matt Jam Lamont, was resident.
Happy Days was started to cater to crowds leaving nearby club Ministry of Sound on a Sunday morning. Punters would cross the road from the superclub to the pub to listen to Lamont’s speeded up dubs of UK house tracks, which would eventually morph into UK garage.Happy Days was started to cater to crowds leaving nearby club Ministry of Sound on a Sunday morning. Punters would cross the road from the superclub to the pub to listen to Lamont’s speeded up dubs of UK house tracks, which would eventually morph into UK garage.
Speaking to Red Bull Music Academy, Lamont recalled the time he played “the first-ever UK garage record” in the building. “When I played ‘Feel My Love’ at the Elephant & Castle, that was it, the track shook the windows,” he said. “The owner of the pub ran up to me and was suddenly telling me to turn the bass down. That was the first-ever British garage record.”Speaking to Red Bull Music Academy, Lamont recalled the time he played “the first-ever UK garage record” in the building. “When I played ‘Feel My Love’ at the Elephant & Castle, that was it, the track shook the windows,” he said. “The owner of the pub ran up to me and was suddenly telling me to turn the bass down. That was the first-ever British garage record.”
Lamont explained that the success of Happy Days inspired a new wave of Sunday parties with garage as the soundtrack. “The crowds were racially diverse, working class, and in the know. You’d have clubbers, still up from the night before, dancing next to gangsters. As Creed [UK garage’s first MC] remembers, ‘It was kind of like being part of a club that no one else knew about’,” said Lamont.Lamont explained that the success of Happy Days inspired a new wave of Sunday parties with garage as the soundtrack. “The crowds were racially diverse, working class, and in the know. You’d have clubbers, still up from the night before, dancing next to gangsters. As Creed [UK garage’s first MC] remembers, ‘It was kind of like being part of a club that no one else knew about’,” said Lamont.
The Elephant & Castle pub, off New Kent Road, lost its licence in March after a drinker was stabbed in the head with a pen. It is now facing permanent closure with developers putting forward plans to turn the site into a Foxtons estate agents.The Elephant & Castle pub, off New Kent Road, lost its licence in March after a drinker was stabbed in the head with a pen. It is now facing permanent closure with developers putting forward plans to turn the site into a Foxtons estate agents.
Consultants acting for the estate agents have written to Southwark council about turning the pub into a new branch. Chartered surveyors Montagu Evans said planning permission was not needed to change the use of the building, unless the pub becomes registered as an asset of community value under the Localism Act.Consultants acting for the estate agents have written to Southwark council about turning the pub into a new branch. Chartered surveyors Montagu Evans said planning permission was not needed to change the use of the building, unless the pub becomes registered as an asset of community value under the Localism Act.
James Hatts, editor of the London SE1 community website, told the Evening Standard: “There has been a pub at that road junction with that name for 250 years.James Hatts, editor of the London SE1 community website, told the Evening Standard: “There has been a pub at that road junction with that name for 250 years.
“To lose that will be a historic turning point for this part of London, even though the modern pub itself is undistinguished and rundown.”“To lose that will be a historic turning point for this part of London, even though the modern pub itself is undistinguished and rundown.”
Foxtons, which specialises in high-end real estate, has become a symbol of gentrification. In April, a Brixton branch of the estate agency was targeted by demonstrators, who shattered a large window pane and wrote “yuppies out” on the shop front. Foxtons, which specialises in high-end real estate, has become a symbol of gentrification. In April, a Brixton branch of the estate agents was targeted by demonstrators, who shattered a large window pane and wrote “yuppies out” on the shop front.
A spokesperson for Foxtons said: “We’ve been operating in Elephant and Castle for years now from our nearby London Bridge office, so we’re really excited at the prospect of opening an office right in the heart of the area.A spokesperson for Foxtons said: “We’ve been operating in Elephant and Castle for years now from our nearby London Bridge office, so we’re really excited at the prospect of opening an office right in the heart of the area.
“In the last year alone we’ve dealt with hundreds of properties and people there and having a new office on their doorstep will allow us to provide exceptional service and local expertise, whilst playing a more active role in the community.”“In the last year alone we’ve dealt with hundreds of properties and people there and having a new office on their doorstep will allow us to provide exceptional service and local expertise, whilst playing a more active role in the community.”