Your Venue Needs You! ❤️
Crowdfunder link in bio
The fight back starts here. Help us to protect the jobs and livelihoods of performers and staff at BGWMC, and take the campaign to the next step!
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.
@equityuk is backing the campaign as part of the union’s work to save small venues that are essential workplaces for many Equity members, especially those working in drag, cabaret and variety.
#SaveBGWMC
What Is The Fighting Fund?
Since the rally in July, Friends of Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club have been working behind the scenes to protect the club. The club is now an Asset of Community Value, and it now officially has the planning protections of a Cabaret Theatre (Use-class Sui Generis).
However, BGWMC is very much still in danger of being sold to developers.
The good news is that the rally, the petition and the open letter to Tower Hamlets at the end of 2024 have succeeded in bringing the local Mayor to the table.
13k of you signed the petition in July, and almost 5000 of you wrote directly to the Mayor. We are now in direct contact with the Mayor’s office discussing how they can support our community bid for the building.
Now we are ready to take the campaign to the next stage and start laying the groundwork for a community purchase.
We are pushing ahead to do a chartered valuation of the building, a robust business plan, and financial projections in order to develop our bid for the purchase.
But all this costs money.
A community purchase on this scale will be no small task.
We are trying to be absolutely 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.
We are determined to build that case, and make sure that the cultural and societal value of BGWMC is clear for all to see.
🚨Friends of BGWMC Wrapped!🚨
2025 has been busy! Check out our full end-of-year review, being shared to the mailing list today!
(Join the mailing list, link in bio)
Keep London’s cultural heartbeat alive.
London’s nightlife is at risk from all angles. The fight to Save BGWMC shows us that communities and working people need to organise and work together to resist the constant pressure from gentrification and profiteering property development.
This community has already defied the odds in keeping the club open. A lot of people might not realise how close we came to losing BGWMC for good on 29th July 2024.
The rally outside the club was on eviction day. The public outcry (and the legal advice) came through right at the last moment.
We must fight to own our spaces.
Otherwise our culture will always be at the mercy of landlords.
This campaign has received invaluable support and advice from activists involved in Sister Midnight, The Black Cap and The Joiner’s Arms.
That sharing of knowledge has been crucial. Recognising the shared struggle is powerful, so we would encourage people to also go and support these campaigns in any way they can.
Read more in our interview with Made In Shoreditch.
Link in Bio.
Fighting Fund - Target achieved!
Friends, we are overwhelmed by the response! You have raised the £18k stretch target in just 3 weeks!
You have helped take this campaign one step closer to saving your BGWMC.
We are so grateful for every single donation, and every single person who has shared or posted to help build this campaign.
The battle is not yet over, but this bodes very well for the future.
We might be a little bit quieter now, while we go and do the vital work which we can now afford to do! We will have limited capacity during this time.
But please be ready for the next stage of the campaign! We will still need all of your tremendous support as we start to build the community bid for the building.
The Crowdfunder page will stay open until 8 April, for anyone who hasn’t yet had the opportunity to get the limited edition print of BGWMC by Lawrence Brand.
In solidarity
Friends of Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club
#SaveBGWMC 👇
Highlighting just some of the people of BGWMC.
Photographed by Poppy Pray aka @whoretographer
Please donate to the crowdfunder
Link in bio
Book a ticket, see a show, have a drink, bring a friend, have a turn on the pole, support BGWMC.
Image description: high contrast photo of performer @king_len_blanco with a white and pink shirt and glittery moustache. White graphic of a heart shape and a logo saying “Friends of BGWMC”.
#SaveBGWMC 👇
Highlighting just some of the people of BGWMC.
Photographed by Poppy Pray aka @whoretographer
Please donate to the crowdfunder
Link in bio
Book a ticket, see a show, have a drink, bring a friend, have a turn on the pole, support BGWMC.
Image description: high contrast photo of performer @goodtimemamajojo with a pink feather duster and rubber gloves. White graphic of a heart shape and a logo saying “Friends of BGWMC”.
This very special #SaveBGWMC event is happening tomorrow! It sold out more than a week ago, but @figsinwigs have just done a very limited last minute ticket release! Grab them while you can!
Link in bio
Once they’re gone they’re gone!
🎤 Help Save Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club! 🎤
This iconic London venue, with over a century of community heritage, is at risk of being sold to developers.
The Friends of @bgwmc are rallying to secure its future through community ownership. They’re raising funds for essential building surveys and a robust business plan to present a strong bid.
Your support can help protect this historic space and ensure it continues to thrive for generations to come.
Head to the link in our bio to support the campaign!
#SaveBGWMC #CommunityPower #SupportLocalVenues
#SaveBGWMC 👇
Highlighting just some of the people of BGWMC.
Photographed by Poppy Pray aka @whoretographer
Please donate to the crowdfunder
Link in bio
More of these portraits to come...
Book a ticket, see a show, have a drink, bring a friend, have a turn on the pole, support BGWMC.
Image description: high contrast photo of performer @vanillaparkerballs with black hair and a white dress. White graphic of a heart shape and a logo saying “Friends of BGWMC”.
Lots of exciting events coming up at @bgwmc
Make sure you check the website and come down to support your BGWMC! See you there on Saturday ❤️
Link in bio
