Forum Topic

Ginglik Comedy Club Threat

I am not sure if anyone has been to this unique little club in shepherds bush green.  I have frequently seen some of the best comedy acts in an intimate atmoshphere there.  It is being threatened with closure by the council - they want to fill it in with concrete rather than bring it up to date!!  It would be so sad to see this club go - the owners Tammi and Colin have done a fab job for several years now.  Please sign the petition if you feel the same way as I do. http://www.PetitionOnline.com/ginglik

Caroline Castle ● 6073d12 Comments

I don't think that kind of thing seems to matter two hoots to the council. We just had our first meeting with the valuers to negotiate for a new lease and feel like we're back at square one. They told us in no uncertain terms that as long as we pay for all the work we can have a new lease. We knew that already so this meeting was pretty pointless. Our very expensive solicitor says that's unreasonable and that the council should be paying for some of the work at least. So that's where we are. At least we know now that whatever happens we have a few more years left, even if the work can't be done and they do eventually serve notice, it can be drawn out for years, which is exactly what we'll do.

Tammi Willis ● 5940d

I see Robin Williams appeared there recently - with acts of that calibre survival would seem more likely.

Andy Jones ● 5940d

Yes we tried that. They say they can't legally offer us or anyone the freehold. Something to do with it being common land. We have a backer all ready to buy it for a pound and do all the work himself. They didn't like that.Anyway, as you'll see from other replies/threads, they've now decided to leave us alone and get on with developing the rest of the Green in the hopes that we can come to some kind of arrangement before they will want to start work on our bit.

Tammi Willis ● 5995d

What your post seems to suggest is that the Council have decided to fill in the site and are making prohibitive demands to squeeze you out. Would another solution be to ask them what they want for the freehold. If they really think it will cost so much to bring up to standard you should get it cheaply. You can then have it resurveyed to see if they were giving you a true picture of likely expenses.

Andy Jones ● 5996d

Actually the flooding is a small proportion of the costs (only £8,000 of the £300,000 estimate!), to fit a non-return valve in the drain. The council don't think this is actually their jurisdiction, that it is Thames Water who are liable. Obviously Thames Water say the opposite. I have strong reason to believe that certain people at the council were well aware of the flood issue before we took on the property but of course they deny this. The previous owners of the lease only told us about it once we had exchanged!The biggest portion of costs is for damp proofing the entire building, something we simply don't think is necessary. So, we have one or two damps walls! We're underground! The second biggest cost is for putting a waterproof membrane on our roof to stop a few leaks we have coming through. They believe the leaks will get much worse when they rip up all the old railings and the 3 massive trees above us. We agree on this work being needed but don't agree that it would cost what they say it will cost. I have requested a copy of the survey they had done (I had to formally request it under the Freedom of Information Act as they said they didn't want to give it to us) so we can use the survey (which we believe was done in good faith as we worked closely with the Surveyors) to get a second opinion on costs.  However, the council are yet to provide us with this document, even though they should have given it to us by the 23rd October.

Tammi Willis ● 6004d

Thanks for the clarification, Tammi.Presumably the persistent floods are what is necessitating the upgrading of the premises in the first place. Was it not possible to claim back the costs from the Council as the lease presumably obliges them to provide you a unit that is waterproof!

Andy Jones ● 6004d

Thanks for clarifying, Tammi. I'm not one for music venues myself but would be sad to see the club go. It's all very well having a shiny new shopping centre but we need some culture too! Otherwise Shepherds bush will become devoid of any character. I think those who oppose it should see the bigger picture.

Lina Leaman ● 6007d

Hi All, Just to clarify our position so you're all clear. We would contribute money to the repairs needed if we had any but we've had to contend with 3 major floods in the last 4 years, costings us tens of thousands of pounds so we don't actually have any money.We also don't believe, under the terms of our lease, that we are liable to contribute but if borrowing more money or finding a backer is the only way we will stay then we will go down that path, if and when necessary.You say it's not fair that residents pay for the work needed but if it is not repaired it will no longer be an asset which earns the council money. Sure, it will take a few years before our rent pays off the cost of repair but after that it will be earning the council money again. If they fill it with concrete they are wiping one of their assets off their books. Whatever they do with our rent at the moment will have to be funded another way.The latest news is that the council have realised what an asset our club is to the community and have taken us off their development plans for the time being, hoping that in time, we can collectively reach a solution. So many thanks to all those who showed their support and to those that have never even experienced our club, maybe you would like to come down to a comedy night or live music night and see what all the fuss is about yourself. We'd be more than happy to give you a good night out!

Tammi Willis ● 6008d

Interesting.I also notice that a lot of the club's supporters on the petition are not from the area. So they expect local residents to stump up but don't see the need to do so themselves. If I lived in H&F I wouldn't be very happy about this.

Andy Jones ● 6008d

There is more discussion of this on www.hammersmithtoday.co.uk.The club's supporters seem to be simply asking for a large amount of cash to keep the place going. With cutbacks and increased charges at the Council I can't see this happening.Perhaps if the club and its claim large number of supporters asked the Council to match any funds they raised they would have more chance of survival.

Karen Cooper ● 6009d

I've never been to Ginglik as I always thought it was a bar not a comedy club. This is despite at one point me living just a couple of hundred yards away from the place. Their current marginal status might have something to do with lack of local awareness that they are there.My understanding of this issue is that the Council is the freeholder of the property which requires substantial investment (£300,000) to bring it up to standard. Ginglik's owners are not willing to make a contribution to this and therefore the Council are going to fill the site with concrete.In these financially straightened times I can't really see the argument for what would effectively be a huge subsidy to a private enterprise. There are lots of comedy venues throughout West London.

Andy Jones ● 6010d

Thanks for the link Caroline.I have signed up. There have only been 1798 signatures so far. I am sure many more are to follow.

Paul Maguire ● 6066d