Campaigners outside the High Court on Friday

A MAN’S bid to obtain a legal injunction in order to pause the sale of the world’s first YMCA has failed.

Patrick Joy said he was disappointed with the outcome of a High Court hearing on Friday but said afterwards “sometimes in life you have to take a stand and fight for a cause”.

The application came amid a campaign to stop the Central YMCA in Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury from being sold off with users warning of the effects on the community.

They want a six-month pause on a deal set up with buyers Criterion Capital.

Mr Justice Trower said he “fully accepts that the claimant feels very strongly about what has happened to the club”, but was unable to grant an interim injunction due to a shortage of evidence to support Mr Joy’s intended course of action.

Mr Joy said: “We gave it a try but it didn’t work. It’s not only me but for the membership. We’re the ones that are going to lose out.

“The support has been great, and the work my barrister has done has been unbelievable. I’m not concerned about the costs against me. You don’t get blood from a stone, simple as that.

“If you ain’t got it they can’t have it. I mean I was pre-warned by them that I would be billed, but I took part knowing that and someone had to stand up and fight. Now I’ve got to look around for another gym.

Former postal worker Patrick Joy – who made the bid for an injunction – and said ‘We’re the ones that are going to lose out’

“Sometimes in life you have to stand up and fight for a cause.

“I was the one who stood up as a figurehead. Taking on a multi-million-pound company like Criterion… it’s the chance you take, but if you don’t fight you’ll never find out.”

The hearing was told that the buyer of the site was Zedwell North Oxford Street Limited, part of the Criterion Capital group.

David Peachy, for the Central YMCA, said the closure of the club “is what it is,” and added: “What we have here is a Titanic situation whereby the boat has been hit by the iceberg and the applicant is shovelling more coal into the coal room to reach New York.

“An injunction would be a futile exercise.”

The club, which is the largest gym and wellbeing centre in central London, is due to close today, Friday.

But David Bieda, a member of the Save the YMCA Club campaign, said: “Our campaign will continue with the same dedication, energy and attention to detail that we have shown so far.

“Rest assured we will subject to scrutiny all future planning processes regarding the Great Russell Street site.”

A Central YMCA spokesperson said: “We remain deeply saddened at having to take this course of action and are all too aware of both the ill-feeling and distress it has caused among the community, and of the work we will have to achieve as a charity in the years to come to validate the decision in the minds of public opinion.”