The surprising boxing mecca of East London

by Will Cooling

Over two years may have passed since I’d last travelled to York Hall but, as I got off the 388 bus, it was reassuring to see that some things hadn’t changed at all. As bemused Londoners got on with their lives, the queue of wrestling fans from across the country snaked around the corner of Old Ford road.

Among those patiently waiting was men’s lifestyle podcaster Andy Ogden. “As York Hall is generally a boxing venue, security expects a certain type of clientele attending, so expect a big double pat down before you make it through the turnstiles at the door”.

The wait is made all the more galling by watching gym goers walking past to enter the bits of the building that are not playing host to combat sports. After all, the wrestling is taking place in only one part of a sprawling leisure centre that contains a gym, swimming pools, spas, and even traditional Turkish bathing houses.