Save the Jubilee Hall – yet again!
The Jubilee Hall gym on Covent Garden Piazza is under threat of closure. Plans have been halted to sell the 85 remaining years of its lease to a commercial body. We are working to get it back into community hands and secure its future.
The Jubilee Hall includes the high space with huge windows above the market that is used as a Gym.
The sports hall was established in 1984 after a campaign by the local community secured a 125 year lease on the upper floor at a peppercorn rent. It had already been 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.
With its spectacular, light and airy main hall, it is unique. And it is now the only gym in central Westminster that is community-focussed.
Of course, like all historic buildings, the Hall also has some challenges with maintenance costs. But 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 to cover more health and wellbeing services, 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.
A CGCA poster from the 1980s campaign to save the Jubilee Hall from demolition.
Sadly, plans to sell the lease were conducted behind closed doors; the community was not offered the opportunity to comment or to be involved. But since things became public we have been working hard with others to save the space for local people and for the wider community.
We have been successful in designating the building as an ACV (Asset of Community Value) and in April 2025 were given the right to put together a bid to acquire the lease. We will be doing all that we can in the coming months to make this happen.
Meanwhile, we appeal to everyone who uses the gym as a member or trainer, to stick with us and to continue to use Jubilee Hall. We want the business to be in the best shape possible when, as we hope, it is put back in community hands.
Thank you to everyone who has come together in support. There was a lovely atmosphere at a recent public meeting as you can see from the Save Jubilee Hall video here, with 150 people attending and sharing their views. There are more details in our post about the meeting in March, below.
A petition has been set up by local people that already has over 1500 signatures. Please add yours at: https://www.change.org/p/halt-the-closure-and-secret-sale-of-the-jubilee-hall-gym-in-covent-garden.
A ‘Friends of Jubilee Hall’ group is being set up. Please let us know if you would like to be kept informed by emailing us at SaveJubileeHall@CoventGarden.org.uk.
Covent Garden itself has about 7,000 residents, but being so central, the gym serves people from a far wider area. It actively serves the disabled and provides many unique services for the disadvantaged. Things like free blind yoga classes and free memberships for the homeless. It is an important facility for Central London, which has surprising pockets of deprivation and need. As the Jubilee Hall Trust website proudly says “We’ve been at the heart of Covent Garden since 1978. We are part of the community …” See https://www.jubileehallgym.co.uk/facilities/.
Jubilee Hall has a long history of serving the entertainment industry, with actors, ballet dancers, and performers as its members. It was also one of the first safe spaces in London for the gay community. It is an accessible space where older residents can work out, too, and meet people socially.
Even without changes to its strategy, the other three gyms operated in London by the charitable company (Jubilee Hall Trust) generate enough to cover the day-to-day costs of Jubilee Hall. This is typical of many charities, who operate profitable enterprises to subsidise the less profitable ones that are at the core of their purpose. More details on the charitable company can be found on the charity commission website at https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/273562/charity-overview and on the website of Jubilee Hall Trust at https://www.jubileehalltrust.org/.
Although there are private gyms nearby they are typically expensive, offer few concessions and they demand contracts. The Hall provides many additional services not all catered for nearby, such as wellbeing, acupuncture, podiatry and psychotherapy. In its own words, Jubilee Hall “emphasises community engagement by offering group fitness classes, social events, and supportive networks that help individuals connect with others who share similar interests in leading a healthy lifestyle.” Please support the campaign to retain it.
