Bethnal Green Working Friends Club: Preserving a cultural hub for a community that loves it

A cornerstone of local life since the 1800s, Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club is one of East London’s oldest social spaces. The past two decades have seen it flourish as a celebrated hub for LGBTQ+ nightlife – a home to drag artists, DJs, cabaret performers and community events. 

But a recent turn of events put all that under threat.

When it was announced that the club would be sold off for private profit, a group of campaigners sprang into action to save it. 

They quickly set up an un‑incorporated co‑operative – the Friends of Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club – so they could register the building as an Asset of Community Value to block any sale and give them time to organise and rally support.

To set up as a legally constituted co‑operative organisation, they were helped by the Business Support for Co-ops programme, delivered by Co‑operatives UK in partnership with The Co‑operative Bank.

The Business Support for Co-ops programme is a partner in the Centre for Democratic Business’ initiative to revitalise Britain’s social clubs – so supporting Bethnal Green Working Friends Club also fed into this valuable piece of work to save an important part of Britain’s cultural heritage. 

The team were awarded business support from consultant Lenny Watson. ”She’s been invaluable,” said Ian. “She talked us through the options, helped shape a business plan and showed us how to make a credible case to the local council and potential funders.”

For fellow campaigner Nick Keegan, the difference that support made has been  transformative. “We’d been scrambling at short notice, trying to respond to a complex legal and financial situation,” he said.

”Lenny helped us incorporate properly as a community benefit society (CBS) – Bethnal Green Working Friends Club – which gave us the structure to move forward effectively. Without this structure we couldn’t have acted quickly enough – and we might have lost the opportunity altogether.”

The group also used Co‑operatives UK’s registration service – significantly subsidised by The Co‑operative Bank – to register as a community benefit society with the Financial Conduct Authority. Co‑operative UK’s Advice Team assisted with drafting their rules, provided governance advice and dealt with the FCA as registrar on their behalf. 

Operating as a CBS now empowers the group to raise funds and apply for grants – and it’s given them the credibility to work with the council on next steps.

“We’ve created a pitch to take to Tower Hamlets local authority to persuade them to undertake a purchase of the building,” Nick said. “Lenny helped put the skeleton of that together, having done that for other people – and she’s been brilliant. 

“Ideally, the council will then give us a lease which is fit for purpose and will allow us to continue the legacy of BGWMC and expand the social value that we provide to the local area.” 

The group’s ambition is to make the building fully accessible and broaden its use – from cultural events to after-school clubs and wider community activities. To do that, they’ll need to raise significant funds. 

“With the right plan, we could raise around £300,000 through a share offer for renovation and accessibility works. Lenny’s helping us develop a solid business plan to show the council it’s viable.”

For Nick, the Business Support for Co-ops programme gave the campaign legitimacy and momentum. “It allowed us to raise money properly and speak to the council with credibility. We wouldn’t have achieved half as much without that help.”

The future of the Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club is still uncertain, but its supporters remain united and optimistic. “This has always been a place for the community,” Ian said. “It’s been here for over a century and we want to make sure it stays that way.”

Find out more

Friends of Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club – Website | Instagram