It's impossible to overstate the importance of Bethnal Green Working Men's Club.
A key player in London's LGBTQ+ and alternative scene, the venue first opened as a traditional working men's club in 1953, and two decades later reopened with a remit to stage cabaret, comedy, drag and alternative events — which over the years has included the Sink The Pink queer club night, and the David Lynch-inspired Double R Club. Bethnal Green Working Men's Club (BGWMC) has also played host to everyone from Bjork to Liam Gallagher, and been a filming location for the Netflix series Baby Reindeer.
Last summer, the future of BGWMC was thrown into turmoil, after its owners announced that it was looking to sell the club at the earliest opportunity. With fears that whoever the club's new owners might be could get rid of it altogether, Friends of Bethnal Green Working Men's Club (FoBGWMC) managed to get the Mayor of Tower Hamlets on its side in a bid to protect the club — but there is still a danger it could wind up in the hands of unsympathetic developers.
Now, a Crowdfunder campaign for a £12,000 'fighting fund' has been set up by FoBGWMC, the aim of which is to pay for a planning bid (including detailed building survey and valuation) to persuade Tower Hamlets Council to save the club. From here, FoBGWMC would hope for one of two outcomes: Tower Hamlets to purchase the club and then lease it back to FoBGWMC; or for the council to allow FoBGWMC to purchase the club themselves. At time of writing, the Crowdfunder has reached 20% of its target — the deadline being 8 April 2025.
As well as helping secure the future of the club, those who donate will receive special rewards such as limited edition BGWMC prints and beer mats.
BGWMC is not the only beloved London indie venue on the ropes at the moment. Leicester Square's Prince Charles Cinema is tussling with its landlord in an attempt to secure its own future. These are treacherous times, and Londoners who value independent venues must dig in their heels against those who wish to threaten them, or are otherwise indifferent to their cause.
While all the above is going on, note that events at BGWMC are now back on, so go and enjoy a show or two in the meantime.
