Broad Street Amateur Boxing Club fears closure over rent hike

Broad Street Amateur Boxing Club (ABC) in Shadwell offers free coaching and mentoring and is open to everyone in exchange for members committing to training for five nights a week, and being willing to compete in matches.

Broad Street first opened in 1886 under the Highway Clubs charity, and was one of the charity’s many clubs for young people - but it’s now the only surviving one left.

The club, which is run by volunteers, says it has been trying to negotiate a new lease with the council after its 60-year protected lease ran out in 2017.

A council spokesperson said it was keen to work with the club to reach an "amicable solution".

As a non-profit organisation, the club relies on fundraising and grants and has paid £110 per year in rent since 1957.

But the council has proposed a new annual rent of £64,000 as part of a 15-year lease.

The club trains members for free (Image: Facundo Arrizabalaga/MyLondon)

The council has also offered a three to five-year lease at an 80 per cent discount, but the club has rejected it as it does not offer it long-term security.

The club is willing to pay £20,000 per year in rent and proposed this as part of a 30 year-lease but this was rejected by the council.

The club’s future now hangs with the courts, which will decide on the new market rent.

Head coach Ray McCallum says charging members is not an option because a lot of young people come from low-income backgrounds and are growing up in some of the most deprived areas in London.

Head coach Ray McCallum (Image: Facundo Arrizabalaga/MyLondon)

Ray went on to say Broad Street is the only boxing club in the capital to offer free training, and over the years has stopped a number of young people from going down a potential path of crime.

He said: “I just don’t think the council has taken into account what we’ve been doing and the service that we provide, it’s always been free.

“Ideally we want to stay here, this is where we’ve been since 1957. We are non-profit and all our bills are covered, and you want to put £64,000 on us to keep kids off the street and out of prison?”

“I think it would be a travesty if the gym was to close, but we won’t let it. We just won’t suffer.

“We’re a community asset, there’s loads of kids and young men in here who are off the streets and aren’t getting involved in anything. They’re in a safe space and the council want to get rid of that.”

The club has raised its concerns and has asked for support from the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, whose own brother has boxed at events hosted by the club at The Troxy in Islington before.

A spokesperson for the Mayor said City Hall is in contact with the club.

When the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) visited last month, Broad Street boxer Emma Judd was preparing for her first international tournament in Sweden.

Emma joined just less than two years ago and was initially going to a fitness club class once a week.

Young boxer Emma Judd (Image: Facundo Arrizabalaga/MyLondon)

But she fell in love with the club and now trains there for five nights a week and regularly competes.

She said: “It’s mad, there’s such a big legacy here. I don’t think people really realise how big of an impact all these people volunteering and this little family have on so many people who come through the doors.

“It’s helped me with confidence and I’m sure it’s helped loads of the boys here in lots of different ways.”

Emma, who came to the club to initially learn self-defence, added: “It’s one of those spaces where it doesn’t matter who you are, how old you are, what religion you are or anything, everyone is welcome.

“You just turn up, we all try hard and do the same thing. There’s no airs and graces which is quite rare in other places and other sports.”

As well as training for five nights a week, members are also required to go on a 30 minute run every morning.

A Tower Hamlets Council spokesperson said: “We are aware of the club’s preference to have a longer lease and note they have rejected taking a community lease, which could have allowed them to receive an 80 per cent rent reduction over three to five years.

“Because of their preference, we are required to go through the court process for the market rent to be determined and have instructed an expert to assess the case, which is currently ongoing.

“There is a range of support and funding options available for community groups and officers will liaise with the club to help them access these.”

A spokesperson for the Mayor of London said: “The mayor recognises the great value that grassroots sports and recreation facilities offer Londoners, contributing to their health and wellbeing.”