Boxing club faces being 'homeless' after eviction

A boxing club said it would be left "homeless" and faced the prospect of closing after being given four weeks to find new premises.

Triumph Amateur Boxing Club in Coventry has been running for 60 years and currently supports about 100 children, many who come from deprived or challenging backgrounds.

The club currently sublets space at the Standard Triumph Recreation Club, but the main leaseholder's lease has ended, requiring the site to be vacated by the end of June.

The site's owner, Bottle Top Leisure Limited, said it recognised the club's history and importance to the local community, but it had to act to "preserve the commercial viability of the whole site".

The boxing club has sublet a unit at the site for 40 years with the lease due to end next year, but it said it was told two weeks ago it must leave by the end of the month.

Head coach Dinesh Darbar said eviction would leave them "homeless" from July.

"It was devastating to start with, we knew it was coming in the sense that the lease runs out in 2027, we didn't expect we'd get a four-week period to move on," he added.

"We are actively looking for premises, I hope something turns up."

Triumph ABC has been based at the Tile Hill Gym on the grounds of the Standard Triumph Recreation Club since 1987, and has produced many boxers over the years.

Coach James Flinn, once ranked fourth in England in his weight division, has been training with his daughter Phoebe.

"She was having a bit of trouble at school, so [she] got into it because of that," he said.

"Her mum said she'd improved by doing this. It shows how important it is."

He said he hoped the people of Coventry would get behind them.

"Worst case scenario and we couldn't continue, the kids would be coming to mine in the back garden," he added.

In a statement, Bottle Top Leisure Limited said the expiry of the lease had "long been known to the tenant" who has had a "significant period" in which to plan for their future and sub-tenants.

"We have been in discussions regarding the future of the site for approximately 12 months and, the date for vacant possession was brought forward to mid-July 2026 following an offer by the The Standard Triumph Recreational Club," a spokesperson said.

"We have had no involvement with the boxing club or any sub tenants at all," they added.

"While we recognise the club's history and importance to the local community, we must act to preserve the commercial viability of the whole site and will be considering all such options as we go forward."

The BBC has previously contacted Standard Triumph Recreation Club for comment and received no response.

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