A Glimmer Of Hope ?

News has reached us, which many indicate a change in direction in the plans for the Hamptons. We understand that Hamptons have been in touch with some of the dance groups, offering to negotiate a return, when the pandemic restrictions are lifted in June.

Of course, there are many variables to consider. Who knows what time slots are available still, any increased costs and if they will clash with “other activities” like worship or religious instruction.

This may also come as a bit of a surprise to the Muslim community, who were rather expecting their generous donation of £2.35 million to be used to create “the biggest mosque in Essex” that they were promised.

Parking will become an issue locally. With the new parking restrictions in force, car parking (if more than one event is taking place) could prove tricky.

With the bars gone, and no sign of the much publicised cafe, the venue is less attractive for use by dance classes. Perhaps the “business model” that the Chelmsford Muslim Society devised for Hamptons has scared off any potential tenants for the kitchen and cafe, who probably found the rumoured £50,000 a year rent a little unrealistic. When you’ve been tripping the light fantastic for a few hours, you’ll probably need more than something from the vending machine, a flapjack from the Reception Desk or a cup of tea in a paper cup.

We are sceptical that this is really only about money: the club has suffered huge financial losses during Covid. Plans to convert the old Members Bar for ritual ablutions, and to carpet the prayer area needs around £65,000. Currently there is only a low key fundraising effort by the Iqra Academy (who run the religious instruction classes on Saturday) to help fund the work.

There is also the matter of around £335,000 to be repaid as part of an Islamic loan used to purchase the centre (possibly more if they did not make the first £280,000 repayment in 2020).

With the Hamptons able to fully reopen in June, some of the staff will have to come off furlough and possibly face being made redundant. This could obviously cause more hardship to the club as they may struggle to make the redundancy payments.

The future does sadly look bleak for the Hamptons, and without the profitable revenue stream that the bars and social events provided, we believe the business is unsustainable.