Legal dispute
This project aims to raise funds to resolve a claim, or other type of dispute.
SAVE HOP KINGDOM
London, Greater London, United Kingdom
All or nothing
This project needs 100% of its target
Aim
Save our community Skatepark from the greed of The Arch Co and aggressive capitalism!
Hello beautiful people,
We are Hop Kingdom - as many of you know, a skatepark, taproom, bike shop, and community space based in Bermondsey. We are a registered Community Interest Company (CIC), and have been trading for nearly 8 years! We have had a huge impact on people's lives (see testimonials below) but our Landlords, The Arch Co (owned wholly by BlackStone - one of the worlds largest companies) have decided to try and shut us down with no conversation! 8 years of hard work building a community and The Arch Co (AKA Black Stone) don't care - they just want to extract profit and shut us down. They came in and tried to change our locks in the middle of the night which would have left us with 1 week's wages and that's it! Luckily the locksmiths did not successfully secure the place so we are trying to keep operating arguing the lease is not legally forfeited! The Arch Co remain committed to getting us out however so now we have had to resort to 247 security to stop them from forcing their way back in!
We need your help to pay legal costs and rent arrears so they cannot kick us out! If we can get enough people to donate £1 then we can pay the arrears and beat this giant cooperation! We are really hoping the Power of the people will prevail! It is such a shame to think that a foreign asset company can destroy local independent businesses like this and we need to stand up for our rights.
Over the years, we’ve built something that goes far beyond a typical venue. It’s a place where people of all ages and backgrounds can come together, get active, learn new skills, and be part of a supportive and creative community.
At the heart of Hop Kingdom is our skatepark, which welcomes everyone from complete beginners to experienced riders. We run lessons, beginner sessions, and work with qualified instructors, including Skate GB coaches, to make skating accessible to as many people as possible. Alongside this, we operate a bike shop that helps people get out on their bikes, offering repairs, maintenance, and support for the wider cycling community. We also work closely with local councils and organisations to deliver bike maintenance courses and encourage more people to get active.
Our bar and event space brings everything together. It’s a place where people meet, relax, and connect. We’ve hosted music nights, art events, charity events, poetry and spoken word, and countless community-led gatherings. There are not many spaces like this left in London.
Our situation
On Monday the 20th of April, we awoke to find the locks changed and a notice of forfeiture from our Landlords, The Arch Co, AKA Black Stone - the world's largest asset finance company! Like many businesses in London, since the covid-19 lockdowns, the increased costs of living/energy/rates/etc, and the general economy, we have accrued some rent arrears. We were in constant communication with the landlords explaining we are a CIC for the benefit of the community, were applying for grant funding and could crowdfund if needs be. I always asked for communication and to work together, but despite this, and still paying them on going rent, they decided to try and shut us down with no communication at all and no consideration for our staff or community! They will argue they have been patient, but literally no one from the Arch Co spoke to me for the last 6 weeks!
I think this is both immoral and illegal - by accepting rent of us less than 2 weeks prior, we believe this waives their right to forfeiture, and the lease is still valid. All I am asking them for is the opportunity to crowdfund to give them the money. They are saying that we are trespassing and must leave immediately. But then Hop Kingdom has to shut, stop trading, somehow pay the staff, and find thousands of pounds trying to take them to court. I would have had wages for 1 week and that was it. 8 years of hard work to build a community and safe place and they were just happy to shut it and everyone lose their jobs and the community their home.
I dont want to bullied by the world largest company. They are trying to kick us out and I really dont know why. I just want to pay them the rent they owe. Luckily they did not secure the premises well so we were able to keep operating, so we can still pay staff and host the community. However, The Arch Co are being super aggressive in there attempts to take the property back so we now need to have 24/7 manned security to stop the bailiffs repeated attempts to take the unit. To clarify, all we want to do is pay rent keep operating as we have been for the last 8 years.
How the money will be used
The one thing we need to give the Landlords to force them to allow us back in, is paying them all the rent we owe, as this is their only argument for us to not be there. I hope that we can agree a sensible payment plan with them but worst case scenario we will need to pay them in full and take them to court.
All of the money raised from this crowdfunder will go directly towards paying off our outstanding arrears with our landlord the arch co as well as potentially the legal fees to prove our case in court.
I really believe that the Arch Co are acting like bullies and obviously have no motivation other than profit. I have heard so many stories of independent businesses being kicked out of places unfairly without the resources to fight the might of Black Rock. We do not want London, or anywhere else for that matter, to be bought and exploited by the World Largest Company! I think this is time for us to come together and show these companies the power of the community! If we can get £1 from enough people, we can show them we are here to stay and can't be pushed around!
Why is Hop Kingdom important
I, Ben Hopkinson, am the founder of Hop King and been a full time volunteer for the last 5 years. The statement above is the reason I do it. That quote is just one of many similar ones that people have either written to me and said to me personally. I found myself very depressed in my 20s and realised the healing power of friends, community, exercise, and fun! We don't want everyone drugged up on anti depressants sat at home alone! We want everyone out having fun lives, being active, creative, unique, within a loving community! That is why this is so important! We are literally saving people's lives and massively improving the lives of thousands of people, young and old, from all kinds of backgrounds! We just want to continue to make our world better for everyone and need your support!
In conclusion
In conclusion, we at Hop Kingdom really want to continue to provide this space to everyone in our community and we are asking for your help to continue that. We really want to work with our landlords and pay back these rent arrears and further a relationship into the future but also dont want to be bullied out by them! We hope that everyone reading this has felt the impact of hop and recognizes that we could really use your help at this point. Many of us know that once spaces like this are gone, they don't come back. Alone we stand are individuals, together we stand to hopefully show the power of community and doing the right thing! Peace and love always!
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Ben and the Hop King community!
I leave you with some testimonials from our community:
- "I’ve met so many great and likeminded people here. Having a space like this has really helped me gain confidence and progression in skating whilst feeling welcome and supported by everyone here. Having these kinds of places and and the people that fill them are so important for many of us. A lot of love for everyone at Hop!"
- "The skatepark means a lot to me. It’s where I go to switch off, stay active, and feel good both mentally and physically. Skating helps me deal with stress and clears my head, while also keeping me fit in a way that doesn’t feel like a chore. Just as important, the park brings people together. You turn up on your own but never really skate alone. It’s a place that helps me with loneliness, builds my self confidence, and creates a real sense of community, and that’s priceless."
- "Hop Kingdom is a rarity which deserves to stay in London and the community would be at a massive loss without it."
- "Hop Kingdom has been my third space and community home for nearly five years. I was first taken to the space by a friend, and since then have made many more friends within skateboarding and cycling. Hop King are continously striving to curate a community, I can so clearly remember watching an older cyclist hand out doughnuts to the young skaters coming out of the kids session. From the bar to the warehouse the staff and regulars at Hop King are kind, warm, and friendly above all else, they have fostered a community spirit for all to indulge in."
- "Hop Kingdom is unique in this city (and beyond). Not only is it a safe and welcoming space where people respect each others opinions, beliefs and possessions, it empowers individuals to help one another with no expectation or reward. The Hop Kingdom family is real! and I'm thankful for them everyday."
Funding method
All or nothing – this project will only receive pledges if it reaches its target of £50,000 by 18th July 2026 at 2:14pm