Gym loses alcohol licence after man found dead outside in illegal meet-up to watch horse racing manchestereveningnews.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from manchestereveningnews.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Paul Lees was found collapsed in a barrow outside the gym, as reported earlier this week. The 61-year-old had been watching the Cheltenham Gold Cup and drinking with up to 14 friends at the Gorilla Warfare Gym in Walkden on March 19. Gym owner Paul O’Dee said he was under pressure from his step-father, who travels to Cheltenham every year with his friends to watch the horse racing. Covid rules forbid fans from attending this year, and two of his friends were terminally ill, he said, so this would be the last race they could watch together. Mr O’Dee allowed his step-father to watch the horse racing with five friends at the premises, formerly called Club 147 – but they had to bring their own beers.
VENUE: The Club 147/Gorilla Warfare site in Walkden AN illegal horse racing gathering - at which a man died - has led to a licensing review for a Greater Manchester venue. Paul Lees, 61, was found collapsed in the car park of Linnyshaw Mill in Walkden, according to council papers. He is said to have been at a 15-strong gathering at the former Club 147, now trading as Gorilla Warfare Gym, but left at some point. Police say the meet-up on March 19, during the third lockdown, was banned under Coronavirus Act legislation and licensing officers have lodged a review application with Salford Council.