"I am prepared to give my 60,000 square foot, 4 story building"
Amir Khan has offered his wedding venue in Deane, Bolton, to the NHS amid the Coronavirus pandemic.
The £5 million building was set to become a wedding hall and retail outlet in August 2020 but in an act of goodwill, the boxer revealed his intention to donate the space to the health service.
Khan’s move comes as there are a growing shortage of beds.
The former world champion announced his offer on his social media pages.
He said:
“I am aware of how difficult it is for the public to get a hospital bed in this tragic time.
“I am prepared to give my 60,000 square foot, 4 story building which is due to be a wedding hall and retail outlet to the @NHSuk to help people affected by the Coronavirus.”
I am aware of how difficult it is for the public to get a hospital bed in this tragic time. I am prepared to give my 60,000 square foot 4 story building which is due to be a wedding hall and retail outlet to the @NHSuk to help people affected by the coronavirus. Pls keep safe. pic.twitter.com/MSpaEwPFuw
— Amir Khan (@amirkingkhan) March 25, 2020
Plans were first submitted for the 60,000 square-foot building back in 2013.
It was proposed that the building would be transformed into a wedding venue, banqueting suite and function hall.
The project would also incorporate a restaurant and bar, VIP restaurant and roof terrace.
However, shortly after work began in 2015, it stalled. In November 2019, work got underway again.
Many people took to social media to praise Amir Khan for his kind offer to the NHS.
One person posted: “Amir Khan is doing so much for people in need. He’s been doing it for years before it was in style. Much respect to him.”
Another user said: “His philanthropy is what he should be held as a role model for.”
One person wrote: “A great gesture by Amir Khan as he offers his £5m wedding venue to NHS to fight Coronavirus.”
One user commented: “Amir Khan is giving his 60,000 square foot, four-storey building to the NHS in order to help people affected by the Coronavirus outbreak.
“The building was originally going to be a wedding hall and retail outlet. Fairplay, what a gesture.”
This is not the first time Khan has made public pleas regarding Coronavirus.
He became a father for the third time in February 2020 and he expressed his well-wishes to his followers.
“With the little one Muhammad Zaviyar Khan at home. Stay indoors with your loved ones.
“It’s getting bad out there with the Coronavirus. Me and the little one send our best wishes to everyone.”
The kind gesture comes as 9,529 people in the UK have tested positive, with 463 of those dying from the deadly virus.