AMIR Khan’s £11million “Dubai-style” wedding venue has left neighbours fuming as it booms out noisy music, they claim.
The former boxer’s latest business venture in his hometown of Bolton has rattled locals since being open after a whopping decade build.
Hosting its first do on Saturday, the extravagant Balmayna disturbed residents in nearby terraced houses with “hundreds of guests” piling into the three-storey building and blocking roads.
The imposing glass-fronted building’s location is a far-cry from the United Arab Emirates’ city as it stands next to a tyre fitters, a car wash and several takeaways.
Inside however looks lavish boasting marble floors, chandeliers and a real-life waterfall – along with some plastic palm trees.
One resident – who said the location was an “odd place” for the wedding venue – said she’d been disturbed by loud music on its opening night.
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The anonymous homeowner said: “I’m also worried it might lead to too much traffic.
“It is a concern because lots of families have more than one car and we have parking problems already.
“It’s an odd place to build such an extravagant wedding venue for hundreds of guests.”
The woman added that her family had lived in the area for 25 years and she would have preferred the former brownfield site to be converted into a “green space for locals to enjoy”.
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Another resident said she had no choice but to keep her windows closed last Saturday to shut out the noise.
“I was trying to watch TV, I heard someone playing music outside but I didn’t realise there was a wedding on at first.
“It seemed to start around 5pm and last until 9pm.
“I also saw cars turning around in the road outside. They were causing a bit of congestion and didn’t seem to know where they were going.”
She added: “We’ll just have to see what happens when they have more weddings.
“The noise and traffic issues could bother some people.
“Personally, I’m not that bothered – but I don’t have a car any more.
“I’d be more worried if the music goes on to two or three in the morning.”
Other residents said they weren’t concerned about The Balmayna being so close to their homes.
Amir Khan’s business empire
WITH a fortune estimated to be worth £40million, Khan has made some shrewd decisions for a life after boxing.
His reality show Meet the Khans: Big in Bolton gave us a glimpse into his world with wife Faryal Makhdoom and their family.
Khan is also the co-owner of India’s Super Fight League, which has attracted hundreds of millions of viewers.
He also founded the Super Boxing League in India, which boasts a multi-million TV deal with Sony ESPN.
The former world champion has launched his own promotion company called Khan Promotions.
Khan’s first signing as a promoter was English amateur champion Tal Singh.
And he will have his pick of local fighters from Bolton and Peterborough, as well as its surrounding areas thanks to his boxing gym, the Amir Khan Academy.
Khan also launched his academy in Islamabad with the aim of training Pakistani amateur boxers to compete in future Olympics.
Mohammed Mubashar Ecohsan, 42, described Khan as an “icon”, adding: “I am sure he’s followed all the correct protocols.
“The council must have looked at the potential problems.”
Ali Hai, 35, who runs the nearby RB Cornershop convenience store, said he hoped the venue would bring in extra customers.
“I think it’s good for businesses and good for the area in general,” he said.
“But I’m not sure all the residents won’t have problems.”
The venue has previously been blighted by fly-tipping and some residents have complained that it doesn’t fit in with the local area.
Some locals even moaned of rats scurrying around the streets.
The Balmayna – named after the Arabic word for enamelled – is a project between weddings and events company Excellency Midlands and Bolton-born Khan, 37.
Khan received planning permission for the multi-million project in 2013.
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But in the following years it was repeatedly rocked by setbacks as costs spiralled to more than £11m.
The venue was contacted for comment.
Amir Khan’s boxing career
AMIR Khan shot to fame as an amateur, aged just 17, when he won a silver medal in the lightweight division at the 2004 Olympics, becoming Britain’s youngest boxing Olympic medalist.
He made his professional debut against David Bailey in July 2005.
In 2007, he was named ESPN prospect of the year.
He later became one of the youngest ever British professional world champions, winning the WBA title at the age of 22.
On 6 December 2008, Khan scored a comeback win against Oisin Fagan with a second-round stoppage; Khan won the vacant WBA International lightweight title.
It was announced on 8 April 2009 that Khan would move up to the light-welterweight division to fight Andreas Kotelnik for the WBA light-welterweight title on 18 July. Khan won by unanimous decision and became the third-youngest Brit to win a world title, at the age of 22.
In early 2016, it was announced that Khan is moving up two weight divisions to middleweight, to fight Canelo Álvarez.
Khan lost to Álvarez by way of knockout in round six.
On 13 May 2022, Khan announced his retirement from boxing with a record of 34 wins from his 40 fights.
Khan received a two year ban in April 2023, backdated to April 2022, after a doping test revealed the presence of ostarine following his fight against Kell Brook.
The tribunal ruling over the case accepted Khan’s argument that the violation was not intentional.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
