The Jubilee Hall Gym on Covent Garden Piazza is under threat of closure. Plans are underway to sell the 85 remaining years of its lease to a commercial body.
The Jubilee Hall includes the high space with huge windows above the market that is used as a Gym.
The Gym was established in 1984 following a campaign by the local community which secured a 125 year lease on the Hall at a peppercorn rent. It was already being used as a successful community space since 1977, and was part of the famous ‘Battle for Covent Garden’ that saved the area from the bulldozers.
The centre is now the only Gym in central Westminster that is community-focussed, with concessions and classes for residents and workers.
With its spectacular, light and airy main hall, it continues to be an important facility. It is quite unique in Central London, which has surprising pockets of deprivation and need.
A CGCA poster from the 1980s campaign to save the Jubilee Hall from demolition.
Of course, like all historic buildings, the Hall also has some challenges with maintenance costs. However, we believe that an updated strategy could overcome these.
A new vision for the building could expand on the current offering of the Gym and its other facilities, involve more local people, and generate more income to cover its costs.
The answer is not to sell this precious asset, which can never be replaced.
The sale of the lease has been conducted in secret; the community was not offered the opportunity to comment.
Sunday, 12th May 2024. 11am to 5.30pm in St. Paul’s gardens.
The nearest thing that we have to a Village Fete in Covent Garden.
Everyone is welcome to this beautiful, fun, free event in the garden of St. Paul’s by the piazza.
The weather is forecast to be almost entirely sunny! Please come, chat to your neighbours and get in the mood for Summer.
Local volunteers for CGCA will be at our stall all day. We always have some plants for sale … but that’s just a front for catching up with everyone.
There are plenty of other stalls, games, food and perfomances to enjoy.
Of course, the main event is Mr. Punch’s 362nd anniversary – since Samuel Pepys first recorded seeing him in May 1662.
Punch and Judy ‘professors’ come from all over the UK, and even internationally, to present their versions of the more-than-incorrect puppet drama.
Things kick off with a Grand Procession and band at 11am, followed by the special church service at 12 Noon with Mr. Punch in the pulpit. Then music, workshops and dance performances continue until 5.30pm.
Here at Covent Garden Community Association (CGCA) we are looking forward to seeing our neighbourhood re-open for business. For those of us who can, we will need to support our local businesses more than ever in the absence of many visitors.
However, the situation also carries some concerns for the community. For example, we are working very hard to get an amendment to the ‘Business & Planning’ Bill that went through the House of Commons rather quickly on Monday 29th June. We believe that measures to deal with the full impact of some points have not been dealt with in the wording. Westminster council, and the amenity societies in central London, are aligned on this. As is Nickie Aiken, our MP on the Westminster side. But we need to work fast. To this end we have chosen what we believe to be the most glaring issue to highlight for amendment. (more…)
Here at Covent Garden Community Association (CGCA) we are continuing all our usual planning, licensing and environmental work – especially in relation to community safety which is, unfortunately, quite an issue at the moment. There just won’t be any live presentations from developers until restrictions are eased. And, sadly, the May Fayre has had to be cancelled so we won’t see you out in the sunshine then.
Local organisations are are dividing things up between us to support our community, trying not to duplicate efforts. (more…)
FESTIVAL TO CELEBRATE 30 YEARS OF THE (NEW!) SEVEN DIALS PILLAR
Saturday 29th June 2019, all around Seven Dials from 11am to 6pm.
Street performers, Children’s games and painting, Story telling, Community stalls, Music, Food and more, as part of ‘Festival 30‘…
… as well as two exhibitions at 19 Earlham Street that explain and celebrate the history ancient and modern of this remarkable area – the only surviving streets of Stuart London. (more…)
The nearest thing that we have to a Village Fete in Covent Garden.
