Friends of Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club launch fighting fund to save BGWMC

Equity is encouraging members to support the Friends of Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club (BGWMC) as they start fundraising to save the iconic London venue.  

Equity has backed the campaign by the Friends of BGWMC since last summer when the programming team at BGWMC were given two months' notice to shut down and vacate the venue.  

Equity has backed the campaign by the Friends of BGWMC since last summer when the programming team at BGWMC were given two months' notice to shut down and vacate the venue.  

In May 2024 the Friends of BGWMC formed to save the much-loved East London venue. The campaign has achieved a lot since its formation. The building is an Asset of Community Value, it is Grade II listed, and it now has a Certificate of Lawfulness acknowledging the use class of the building as a cabaret theatre. These are vital protections, but they don’t guarantee it will be protected from developers. 

Now Friends of BGWMC are taking the campaign to the next stage and laying the groundwork for a community purchase. They will conduct a chartered valuation of the building, develop a robust business plan, and financial projections to develop their bid for the purchase.  

Commenting Nick Keegan Equity Variety Organiser said: “A community purchase on this scale will be no small task. We are trying to be realistic about this. We believe a partnership between the community of BGWMC and Tower Hamlets Council does have the ability to achieve this. We believe it is essential to save this unique cultural facility and give it a chance to continue serving the local community of Tower Hamlets, the LGBTQ+ community, and the wider cultural tapestry of London for future generations, as well as providing vital jobs for Equity’s variety members.  

“We are determined to build that case, and make sure that the cultural and societal value of BGWMC is clear for all to see. 

“BGWMC is a crucial and irreplaceable fixture of London’s cultural heritage. It has been a catalyst for the development of new artists and cultural workers in the city, a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community, and it is a building with more than 100 years of history as a community owned space. It is vital that we protect BGWMC for future generations and allow its legacy to live on.”