Jewish community leaders in London allege that the Troxy, a historic music and events venue in the city’s East End, has been refusing to host Jewish-related events.
Activists have filed a complaint with the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), calling for an investigation into claims that since the October 7 Hamas terror attack, the theater has adopted a policy of discrimination against Jews.
According to the Jewish Community Council (JCC), several event organizers and charities have had their booking requests rejected in recent years, allegedly because they were associated with the Jewish community, The Telegraph reported.
Troxy management has denied the allegations, saying its decisions “are never based on faith or race.”
Among those calling for an inquiry is a children’s charity that accused the venue of canceling a planned January concert because the organizers were Jewish. The event was meant to raise funds for orphaned and disadvantaged children and was to feature ultra-Orthodox singer Yaakov Shwekey.
Other Jewish events reportedly rejected by the theater included a concert by Benny Friedman, an American Hasidic performer, and a charity fundraiser supporting a Jewish medical organization.
In response, Troxy said it had declined the events because they “did not meet standard safety requirements.”
In a formal complaint, Rabbi Levi Shapiro, director of the JCC and founder of the United Jewish Fund, wrote: “I personally tried to book the Troxy for a community event and was also turned down — again, with no justification other than the Jewish identity of the organizers. This blatant form of discrimination is unacceptable in modern Britain.”
“Despite repeated attempts by myself and other community representatives to build constructive ties with the owners and to clarify that our events are local and unrelated to Israel, the response has consistently been, ‘Sorry, we can’t help you.’ This pattern has understandably caused widespread anger and deep concern among the local Jewish community.”
Rabbi Shapiro told The Telegraph that during a phone call, a member of the Troxy’s management team told him directly, “We don’t take bookings from Jews,” before abruptly ending the conversation.
The JCC also claims that since the Hamas massacre on October 7, several ultra-Orthodox Jewish event organizers have reported receiving hostile treatment from some of the theater’s staff. Troxy’s management has strongly rejected the accusations, describing them as “completely false and baseless.”
Jewish residents in London called the situation “deeply troubling,” especially given the venue’s prominence and central location, which make it ideal for community and cultural gatherings. Several expressed anger that Jewish groups were being excluded from what they see as a vital public space due to alleged antisemitic bias.
Community groups also noted the irony that the Troxy was founded in 1933 by Maurice Chipen, a Jewish refugee who fled Nazi Germany.
“It’s absolutely clear what’s happening, and the Jewish community has had enough,” Rabbi Shapiro said. “The Troxy has become openly antisemitic. Being told we can’t use this venue is deeply upsetting and strips our community of a cherished space.”
Responding to the allegations, Tom Sutton-Roberts, the Troxy’s managing director, told The Telegraph that the rejected concert by Benny Friedman “did not meet the venue’s requirements.”