Drag queens rallied to rescue an iconic London venue – now it’s a step closer to being saved

It has been a focal point of east London’s nightlife for decades.

Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club, the iconic LGBTQ+ friendly venue in Pollard Road, was facing closure in what would be another epic blow to the capital’s night life.

Its ‘sticky carpets soaked with queer memories’ faced the threat of being washed away after the owners announced their intention to sell the building.

It sparked a campaign to save it with more than 100 people turning out for a rally outside, with many holding up purple Your Venues Need You placards.

Tower Hamlets Council has now stepped in and designated the club as Asset of Community Value, meaning the community now have the right to bid on the building if it goes up for sale.

Regulars said it offered a performance space for emerging artists – many of whom had just moved to London on their own – making the club feel like a home away from home.

ShayShay, who is a performer at the venue, said: ‘This place is like no other. I saw my flatmate have a trans awakening and my vegetarian friend win a hot dog eating contest here.’

They told Metro that working at the club soon after moving helped put a roof over their head.

‘It’s not just a venue – it’s a workplace and for many people their most consistent home,’ they said.

The club is just one of 3,000 in London which has been forced to close since the pandemic.

Mayor Sadiq Khan appointed ‘night czar’ Amy Lamé – who is being paid £117,000 a year – in an attempt to pump some life back into what he claims to be a 24 hour city.

Yet venues are still closing in droves, with those already feeling marginalised most affected.

Helen, who is originally from Manchester, said she chose to move down to London after visiting the venue.

She said: ‘This is the type of place where you can walk in on your own and feel like you’ve already got loads of mates, and where the world’s problems can be solved in the smoking area.’

Oscar, 22, who is a performer, said: ‘I cried when I found it was closing, none of us expected it.

‘We started coming here after another venue, Matchstick Pie House, closed down and we couldn’t put on our show anymore – and Bethnal Green’s Working Men’s Club helped us so much and let use their basement.’

Franky, who has worked at the venue both as a performer and a bar tender, said the building was their ‘livelihood’.

They told Metro: ‘This venue supported me while I was struggling artist, they were always there when I needed to pick up shifts.

‘I feel like the closure has taken away part of my future – people make plans to showcase things and organise events here.’

Elly Baker, member of the London Assembly, said closing the venue would be an was ‘an absolute tragedy’.

She said: ‘This place deserves a lot better than to just disappear. Everywhere in London is becoming homogenised and sanitised while places with real character are being closed.

‘If we continue to lose small venues, we are going to hollow out the eco-system of our nightlife and our arts systems, and it crumble.’

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