Patrick Joy

A RETIRED West End postal worker is challenging a property development giant in the High Court in a bid to halt closure of the world’s first YMCA club.

Patrick Joy, 74, who covered New Oxford Street to Leicester Square on his rounds for decades, is seeking an injunction against Criterion Capital Limited and the Central Young Men’s Christian Association. He wants to pause a process that is expected to force the closure of the largest gym and wellbeing centre in central London on February 7.

He told Extra: “I have taken this option because all attempts to negotiate with Central YMCA and Criterion Capital have been stonewalled, and the planned closure of the club is imminent.”

Mr Joy, who has been a member of the club there since 2018, said he depends on it for rehabilitation after a diagnosis of diabetes and two knee operations.

“The YMCA does a lot of work with local hospitals when it comes to rehab and they’re going to lose this. All these people that go to the YMCA for rehab will now have to go back on the waiting list of the NHS which, as you know, is longer than ever. The ethos of the YMCA usually is to help people mentally and physically but what they’ve done here is they’ve just thrown it all out the door.

“It just doesn’t make any sense. And the way the Central YMCA told people was via an email.

“If you were a person that wasn’t on email you’d never know unless someone told you. I felt sorry and sick finding out it was closing. It’s a very nice place.”

Mr Joy added: “It’s one of the biggest gyms in London and I’ve always found the people down there, the managers and trainers, to be very good.

The Central YMCA in Great Russell Street

“At the court we will be trying to ask what’s happened, why were the members, staff and councils not consulted, and get some answers.

“We’re going with this evidence hoping the judge will give us a hearing at another time where all the questions we need to ask could be answered.

“You simply cannot throw away these facilities because there’s no facilities like them.”

The Extra has covered the growing campaign to save the Central YMCA club in Great Russell Street after news broke of the closure and potential hotel takeover in early December.

Central YMCA said it is no longer financially viable, but supporters want any incoming operator of the building to provide space for similar services.

A flash-mob protest was held outside earlier this month and thousands have called on Criterion to put any plans on hold.

Soho’s David Bieda, from Save the Central YMCA Club campaign group, said: “This action has been taken by a 74-year-old who depends on the Central YMCA for health reasons.

“While he has taken on this decision independently, and not a part of the campaign group, we salute his courage in taking on a multi-billion pound company.

“We will be there to support him on the day.”

A YMCA spokesperson said: “Central YMCA are proactively engaged with the court’s process and as such are unable to comment at this time.”

Criterion Capital – owned by billionaire Asif Aziz – declined to comment on the legal challenge.

It has previously said the “acquisition is a partnership founded on trust and mutual respect”, adding: “From the beginning, our shared vision with Central YMCA has been to recognise the importance of this historic site, while transforming it into an economically viable and vibrant space that meets the needs of future generations, ensuring it remains relevant and meaningful to contemporary needs.”