W12 bar hopes Lily Allen can save it

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Ginglik counts on celeb supporters this Saturday

Popstar Lily Allen, Richard Herring, and TV and radio crews are expected at a protest by Ginglik, a bar and alternative arts venue in Shepherd's Bush Green.

The protest will take place on Saturday, September 20, between 5pm and 7pm at the club venue, and there will be a free bar and sausages, as well as entertainment from rock band, Fast Lane Roogalator and other special guests.

Ginglik is facing closure, after it was refused a new lease by the council due to the planned £3.3million redevelopment of Shepherd’s Bush Green.

 

The club, which is located in a converted Victorian public toilet and counts comedian Jimmy Carr amongst its fans, needs £300, 000 worth of repairs if it is to stay open.

 

Owners Colin Welsh and Tammi Willis have launched the campaign to persuade their landlords, Hammersmith and Fulham Council, to re-think their plans.

Councillor Stephen Greenhalgh, leader of Hammersmith and Fulham Council, said: "Delivering value for money is the council's number one priority and the reality is taxpayers

cannot afford the £300,000 it would cost to make this building safe.

"With limited funds available, the regeneration of Shepherds Bush Green, which will benefit thousands of residents, had to be prioritised before these extensive and costly repairs. We will be working with the club to help them find an alternative venue."

Colin Welsh said: “I’m gutted, and quite a few of other people are as well.

"The redevelopment of Shepherd's Bush Green may well benefit thousands of local residents. But are we not forgetting the simple fact that Ginglik which was voted best club in Hammersmith and Fulham by myvillage.com, has built up a membership database of close to 25,000, with each of these members bringing up to four guests at a time?”

 

For more information, go to http://www.ginglik.co.uk/saveginglik.html

 

September 19, 2008