Arch-based small businesses are not reassured by landlord’s new Tenants’ Charter

Promises of a new “tenants first” approach from the landlords of London’s archways has failed to allay fears of devastating rent increases for small businesses.

The Arch Co., who acquired the arches from National Rail in 2018, released its new Tenants’ Charter this week. It contains a number of commitments to improve relationships between themselves and the businesses that rent arch spaces from them. However, the charter does not dispel the probability that the company will be increasing rent demands, which could force businesses out of their current locations.

The charter states: “We know that some tenants might have affordability issues. In these specific cases, we are committing to work with long-standing small businesses, including not-for-profits, on an individual basis to agree suitable rent profiles.”

Located in the arches on Poyser Street in Bethnal Green there are several small businesses, including a recording studio, an indoor gardening centre and the cultural gem Resistance Gallery (ResGal).

Hundreds of people show up to ResGal multiple times monthly to see high quality professional wrestling that is streamed around the world. Further to that, ResGal offers wrestling lessons, which have had positive impacts on the lives of countless attendees.

Greg Burridge, a professional wrestler and head trainer of the London School of Lucha Libre, which is based at the ResGal, said: “We're not just a wrestling school, we're more than that… We're family… it serves more of a purpose than to teach people wrestling… We get people fit, we cure people's anxieties, people who have problems outside can leave them at the door, it heals depression… it changes their lives, and from that they meet girlfriends or husbands and have babies, and it all comes from just this arch in Bethnal Green.”

Should ResGal be forced out of their home in Bethnal Green’s arches, the UK pro wrestling scene would suddenly be without a communal hub. The cultural loss would be significant, as there are few arenas in which people of all abilities, sexualities and genders are welcomed so warmly.

Fans waiting in the rain outside ResGal for the latest bout of Pro Wrestling: EVE, the extremely popular all-female event, were keen to express the value and uniqueness of the venue and its shows.

Grant Mitchell, 32, said: “It's world class wrestling in there without a shadow of a doubt, some of the best you'll find, but it's very, very different.”

Catherine Nichols, who was introduced to the ResGal scene by her brother Alex, said: “I just come every month to see everything... You can't go wrong when you come here.”

Resistance Gallery along with several of their neighbouring businesses in Poyser Street’s arches have added support to the Guardians of the Arches group, who are helping arch-based businesses fight injustices brought on them by their landlords.