Wedding dresses

AMIR Khan’s £11.5million wedding venue has finally hosted its first marriage after it was spotted surrounded by rubbish.The lavish Dubai-style tower is actually in Bolton and is next to a hand car wash.Amir Khan, with his wife Faryal Makhdoom, has finally opened his wedding venueCredit: Jam PressThe £11.5million venue has hosted its first weddingCredit: Jam PressThe venue has a Dubai theme but is based in BoltonCredit: Jam PressIt was first revealed in January and it faced further criticism after the surrounding roads were full of fly-tipped rubbish.Back in March, weirs were still visible on the metal corrugated roof.It was set to launch that month but the first wedding took place on May 18.Former boxer Amir, 37, wasn’t at his venue, he was in Saudi Arabia for the Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk fight.Read More on Amir KhanBut he said: “The Balmayna’s doors have finally opened.”Videos show the lavish marble floors and chandeliers inside as formally dressed staff in bow ties served guests.The bride arrived in a horse-drawn carriage and the groom in a Rolls-Royce.Guests were saved fruit canapés as they arrived as a violist performed to the guests.Most read in BoxingA Balmayna spokesperson said: “The first love story at the Balmayna.“So elegant, so magical, simply a dream.Amir Khan reveals how Tyson Fury’s cut will ‘work against him’ in training and says Oleksandr Usyk has ‘advantage’“We wish our bride and groom the most happiest of blessings.“Such a stunning backdrop for your memories.”The Balmayna – which translates as Enamelled from Arabic – is in Washington Street, Bolton, Greater Manchester.Former ring king Khan wed Faryal Makhdoom, 32, 10 years ago.The former welterweight and light-welterweight champ and US model – worth an estimated £31million – have three kids together.Previously, locals have slammed the extravagant site.Some said it doesn’t fit in with the area – and that it appears as though it should be in Dubai – while others said it looks a decade older than it is.The glass-fronted building is said to show off greenery and floral designs inside, alongside a water feature inside.Amir Khan’s boxing careerAMIR 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

It’s said to boast “state-of-the-art lighting”, sound systems and palm trees.One local Rakhee said: “It’s next to a dump.”A second – called Rahila – said: “The design is about 10 years out of date.”Yet another said: “It’s like a building from Dubai.”A fourth said: “Beautiful design.”The venue’s website says the site will be able to host “a wedding like no other in the UK” and promises it will exceed expectations.It reads: “This wedding venue is the brainchild of Amir Khan, the world champion boxer, ensuring a touch of magnificence and excellence in every celebration.”READ MORE SUN STORIESKhan rose to fame after claiming silver at the 2004 Athens Olympics.The now-37-year-old lost to Kell Brook in a catchweight bout in Manchester in 2022 but was later banned for two years for testing positive for Ostarine.The bride arrived in a horse-drawn carriageCredit: Jam PressThe groom got to the venue in a Rolls-RoyceCredit: Jam PressLocals said previously the venue was surrounded by rubbishCredit: Jam PressCritics said the design of the building was out of dateCredit: Jam Press More

FUMING neighbours have slammed Amir Khan’s £11.5million “Dubai-style” wedding venue – claiming it’s “crawling with rats” and surrounded by mountains of rubbish.The former world champion boxer, 37, is set to open the Balmayna building in his hometown Bolton next month.
Amir Khan is launching a wedding venue in BoltonCredit: Doug Seeburg
But locals are fuming about fly-tipped rubbish in a nearby alleywayCredit: CHRIS NEILL
The Balmayna has taken seven years to build at a cost of £11.5millionCredit: CHRIS NEILL
But residents say the venue is already a magnet for fly-tipping, with the alleyway next to it left in a “disgusting” state.
Snaps show dirty mattresses, fridges, settees, wheelie bins packed with rubble and bags of rubbish dumped behind neighbours’ homes.
Local shopkeeper Abdura Wadiya, 56, said: “It’s been a nightmare.
“People come and just dump rubbish and we’ve had a lot of rats everywhere.
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“There’s been a ton of rubbish outside my shop in the alley.”
Adbura added: “I spoke to Amir Khan about it and he said, ‘Don’t worry, I’ll sort it’.
“And it looks like he has. He’s a good man.”
Bolton Council workers were clearing the alleyway when The Sun visited.
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Team boss Clive Haslam said: “We struggled to drive a van down here when we arrived as there was so much debris.
“Fridges, beds, settees, wheelie bins full of bricks and all sorts have been dumped here.
“It’s not actually the council’s responsibility – but we were asked to come, so we did.”
THAT’S RUBBISH
Shopkeeper Rebaz Chalabe, 43, said: “It’s taken a long time to build – more than seven years.
“But it looks good and will be good for the area. I have been inside and seen it.
“It looks magnificent and will be a great place to get married.
“Hopefully it will be good for my shop with lots more people in the area.”
Rebaz added: “The only problem has been the rubbish.
“You get people coming from miles away dumping all their rubbish.
“It has become a real fly-tipping hotspot and a problem for everyone.
“But hopefully Amir will put up CCTV cameras and fingers crossed that will stop people.”
Neighbour Baber Sayed’s house backs onto the rubbish-filled alleyway.
Baber, 52, said: “The rubbish has been a real problem – and I worry about all the traffic when the venue opens.
“There will be a lot of cars coming here.”
BOXED OFF
Khan’s glass-fronted wedding venue looms above neighbouring homes.
The £11.5million building is lined with palm trees and boasts its own waterfall.
But some locals have said that the building looks it belongs to Dubai, not Bolton.
A spokesman for the Balmayna said: “With immense joy, the wait is nearly over.
“We will soon unveil the grand opening of The Balmayna, Bolton’s newest wedding haven.
“A splendid project between Excellency Midlands and Amir Khan, where elegance seamlessly meets excellence.”
‘TOUCH OF MAGNIFICENCE’
Khan, who splits his time between Bolton and Dubai, is set to open the luxury venue next month.
It’s said to be the “brainchild” of the boxer, who is married to and has three children with Pakistani-American YouTuber Faryal Makhdoom.
The venue’s website says the site will be able to host “a wedding like no other in the UK” and promises it will exceed expectations.
It reads: “This wedding venue is the brainchild of Amir Khan, the world champion boxer, ensuring a touch of magnificence and excellence in every celebration.”
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Khan rose to fame after claiming silver at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
The now-37-year-old lost to Kell Brook in a catchweight bout in Manchester in 2022 – but was later banned for two years for testing positive for Ostarine.
Amir Khan’s business empireWITH 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.

The run-down alleyway next to the BalmaynaCredit: CHRIS NEILL
A council worker clearing rubbishCredit: Steve Allen More