Tower Hamlets Council say Bethnal Green Working Men's Club can only be used as a cultural venue

Equity has been told by Tower Hamlets Council that it would not support the use of Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club (BGWMC) for anything other than a cultural venue.  

In a letter to the union on Wednesday 30 October, Tower Hamlets Council said: “any proposed development which would not retain the existing cultural venue (along with its important LGBTQ+ focus) would not be supported.” 

BGWMC has been closed since July this year, after its owners – comprised of members of the Boro of Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club, the longstanding friendly society which used to function as a social club – indicated a wish to sell the club. While the club is yet to be put up for sale on the open market, the Boro have told Equity that this is imminent. 

Now, according to Tower Hamlets Council, any property developer hoping to buy the currently closed club would not be able to use the building for any other purpose. However, this does not mean the club does not still face significant risk. 

Nick Keegan, Variety Organiser at Equity, says: “While we welcome Tower Hamlets’ response saying they will not allow developers to use the venue for non-cultural purposes, Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club remains at risk. As has happened to so many other LGBTQ+ venues, such as the Joiners Arms, the biggest danger the club faces now is being bought by a developer as an investment, and then being kept closed and allowed to fall into a derelict state for years to come.  

“If you’re one of the thousands of people who have enjoyed a night out at the club and want to stop yet another iconic queer performance space from closing, please sign our open letter to urgently call on Tower Hamlets Council to step in and save BGWMC. The council have the power to buy the venue and lease it back to the community – before it is lost in a battle between developers and planning protections.” 

Equity is supporting Friends of Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club, a community group of performers, punters, programmers, and trade union members, set up to keep BGWMC open as a community and LGBTQ+ venue after it was revealed the club was at risk of sale this summer. 

The Friends hold the Asset of Community Value status on the building, which means they have a community right to bid and 6-months to fundraise for ownership if the club goes on the market. 

Tower Hamlets Council’s response 

In response to an application from Equity, the Principal Planning Officer for Tower Hamlets has confirmed the position of the Local Authority in relation to the existing use class and policy protection for cultural venue retention.  

They have recognised the significance of the venue saying, “From the range of evidence available to the public online, along with representations submitted and internal records, it appears that the lawful use of Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club is as a performance venue, nightclub and members club (Sui generis use class) … It is clear and common knowledge that the site is a cultural venue. It is also well known that the site has become a key LGBTQ+ night-time space in London.” 

They go on to outline reams of policy protection within Tower Hamlets Local Plan, GLA’s London Plan, and City Fringe Opportunity Area Planning Framework which would seek to protect and retain the existing use of the venue.  

They also say that: “If a proposed development did not retain the existing cultural venue then it would adversely impact on race, age, gender reassignment and sexual orientation protected characteristic groups, which would further weigh against such a proposal from a Council perspective.” 

This refers to the Council’s obligation to pay due regard to The Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) contained in Section 149 (1) of the Equality Act (2010).