The Bike Shed Motorcycle Club

The Bike Shed Motorcycle Club
Location
  • 384 Old St, Shoreditch, London, England
Key people
Anthony 'Dutch' van Someren, Vikki
WebsiteBike Shed Motorcycle Club

The Bike Shed Motorcycle Club is a private members club in Shoreditch, London with a branch in Los Angeles. Described as a "social club for motorcycle enthusiasts", it was founded by Anthony "Dutch" van Someren. The Bike Shed is best known for hosting an annual exhibition of custom motorcycles in Tobacco Dock, Wapping.

London Club

Prior to founding the Shoreditch-based Club, founder, Van Someren ran a motorcycle news blog aggregator under the domain name BikeShedMotorcycleClub.com. The Bike Shed shows were founded in response to the perceived poor quality of British motorcycle exhibitions. Van Someren developed the concept of the private member's club after their second show was well received.

The founders envisaged Bike Shed as a "Soho House for Bikers", attracting a younger demographic than traditional motorcycle-friendly venues.[1] Proposals to open the facility were initially opposed by the Shoreditch Community Association and the Shoreditch Town Hall Trust.[2] The club in Shoreditch was opened in November 2015 in three railway arches adjacent to Old Street.[3]

The Old Street venue was opened with the support of British TV presenter Charley Boorman,[4] and is now considered to be one of the UK's best motorcycling social venues.[5] Despite objections, Hackney Council granted the club a license to serve alcoholic drinks to members until midnight.[6] In 2019 the club installed the UK's first motorcycle-only recharging points.[7][8]

Bike Shed community response

The club's founders were awarded the British Empire Medal for their work organizing a volunteer motorcycle courier-style service in which its members helped deliver food and medical supplies to patients at home.[9][10][11]

Los Angeles Club and Future Expansion

The Los Angeles facility, was opened in Autumn 2020 in the city's Arts District.[12] The facility includes a restaurant, cafe, bar and lounge, a barbershop, tattoo studio, events and retails space.[13] A Dubai venue will be opening in 2026 based on a franchise model rather than a corporate extension. The new venue is planned to be bigger than the existing sites.[14]

Exhibitions

The annual Bike Shed Motorcycle Show takes place at Tobacco Dock in Wapping. It is considered to be the UK's largest exhibition of custom motorcycles.[15] In 2018 the exhibition featured 230 motorcycles including track-bikes and custom-built machines.[16]

Festival

The first Bike Shed Festival took place in October 2019, at Lydden Hill Race Circuit, billed as a day to introduce new motorcyclists to track riding.[17]

References

  1. ^ "Hell's angels: meet the capital's female bikers". Evening Standard.
  2. ^ Vyas, Sheka (6 August 2015). "Anger over alcohol plan at Shoreditch motorcycle gallery". Hackney Gazette.
  3. ^ Hayzel, Justin (23 September 2020). "Anthony "Dutch" van Someren: The man who spearheaded one of motorcycling's hottest venues". Motorcycle News. Motorcycle News.
  4. ^ "Biker groove: Charley Boorman on The Bike Shed". The Week.
  5. ^ "The UK's best biker cafés of 2019". MCN.
  6. ^ Bartholomew, Emma (4 May 2017). "Bike Shed Motorcycle Club gets permission to open later – despite fears of noise and 'too much booze in Shoreditch'". Hackney Gazette.
  7. ^ "UK's 'first motorbike-only charging point' lands in Shoreditch". Energy Live News.
  8. ^ "Bike Shed Motorcycle Club set to open its doors for cool customs". The Mirror.
  9. ^ "Local bikers deliver shopping to young Dorset carers". www.mags4dorset.co.uk.
  10. ^ "Police share secret life of PCSO Dave Bunker". www.skegnessstandard.co.uk.
  11. ^ ""Bike Shed founders recognised in the New Year's Honours List"".
  12. ^ "The English social club for motorcycle enthusiasts, which counts Pink Floyd's Nick Mason and 'The Long Way Round's' Charley Boorman as investors, will debut a 30,000-square-foot West Coast location in the fall of 2020". Hollywood Reporter.
  13. ^ "Bike Shed Opening in Los Angeles!". motorcycle.com.
  14. ^ ""Dubai beckons: The famous Bike Shed is on the move"".
  15. ^ "Bike Shed London preview". Carole Nash.
  16. ^ "What to expect at this year's Bike Shed show". Evening Standard.
  17. ^ "Bike Shed Festival set for Lydden Hill". MCN.

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