The public is getting a rum deal from London’s historic gin mill. The House Mill is held in trust for public benefit, yet under current management, the site is failing to meet that purpose — leaving Londoners locked out of one of the city’s most extraordinary cultural and heritage assets.

Despite its iconic status, privileged location, and remarkable potential, the House Mill remains rarely open, underused, and disconnected from the communities it exists to serve. The Trust is not delivering public benefit — and you’re losing out.

Heritage at risk — and a charity in trouble

The House Mill appears on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register. While efforts have been made to safeguard the building fabric, heritage is about more than masonry. A site that is closed, inactive and inaccessible loses relevance — and, over time, value. Its absence from public life is itself a risk.

Historic England emphasises thriving places and active participation as essential to sustainable conservation. Yet the House Mill Trust is falling short on both counts.

Years of limited public access, minimal programming, fragile volunteer-only operations and a lack of professional management have left the site drifting, with no clear plan for revival.

What needs to change

Reclaim Your House Mill is campaigning to restore the House Mill and Miller’s House to public life through an ambitious programme of cultural activity and partnerships — bringing together heritage, hospitality and the arts in a year-round, professionally run venue capable of serving London.

To achieve this, the House Mill Trust needs new leadership, professional governance, and independent oversight to fulfil its charitable purpose. At a minimum, this requires:

• Appointment of an independent Chair

• A transparent, skills-based recruitment of new trustees supervised by the Charity Commission

• A shift to professional management to deliver regular public access and a sustainable cultural programme

Despite formal concerns raised over governance, public benefit and regulatory compliance, the Charity Commission has not taken effective action.

Reclaim Your House Mill is therefore exploring legal avenues to seek accountability and intervention in the public interest.

The cost of inaction

Every year the Mill remains closed or underused, London is losing:

• A heritage site of national significance and a cultural landmark

• A potential hub for arts, culture and creativity

• An economic and community asset

Its 250th anniversary is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to bring the House Mill back to life — and the public should not be made to wait any longer.