HOLLAND Park Youth Hostel is being forced out by the council after 56 years.
The Historic Jacobean building, which has been home to the YHA hostel since 1958 and can name Sir Walter Scott, Lord Byron and Dickens among its visitors, will close in November.
This will leave the Royal Borough with just one YHA hostel in Earl's Court.
The backpackers hostel, which has been based in Holland Park House for 56 years, offers rare cheap accommodation in London's richest borough with beds from £17 and private rooms from £30.
Kensington and Chelsea Council are claiming that it was the YHA's decision to 'consolidate their operations elsewhere' however the charity refute this claim and say that it was the council's decision to get them out of Holland Park House.
Jake Chalmers, YHA Property Director said: "Our decision to sell was influenced by our inability to expand the operation within the restrictions placed on us by the council such as refusing to give us an alcohol licence for the restaurant.
"Kensington and Chelsea Council granted us a five year lease which they have chosen to break at year two, which they are entitled to do under the terms of the lease. I just want to make it clear that it is the council who have chosen to have YHA out at this time, not us."
A council spokesman said: “The Youth Hostel Association (YHA) has long been a feature of Holland Park but sadly in 2012 they informed us of their desire to consolidate their operations and move elsewhere and approached us to consider buying out the remainder of their long lease.
“This we agreed to do. However, so that they would have more time to develop their future plans, we then granted YHA a short lease on the building. This expires in December.
“We are now in the process of trying to find a new occupier.”
Jake Chalmers, YHA Property Director added: “In 2011 YHA surrendered the long term-lease on Holland Park to our landlords, Kensington and Chelsea Council, and with them negotiated a shorter 5-year lease.
"YHA did this as part of our wider planning for investment in our London Youth Hostels. As part of the new lease, either YHA or the council could give notice on the lease after 2 years. The council served us notice on the lease in March 2014. YHA will vacate the building in November 2014.”
The popular hostel is a five minute walk from Kensington High Street and the Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Palace and the main museums making it perfect for a cheap city break for tourists coming into the borough. The hostel also has a restaurant which opens onto private gardens.
