Southend Ironworks chest waxing fundraiser in Spread Eagle

The much-loved Southend High Street arts and community centre revealed last week that it would be closing its doors today "unless there is a miracle", despite a desperate fundraising campaign to secure its future over the past six months.

Tom Wilding braved a chest waxing to save the Ironworks (Image: Gaz de Vere)

The announcement sparked an outpouring of support for the Ironworks -  which hosts a wide-range of community events, including disability clubs, youth clubs, art exhibitions, festivals and gigs - with residents calling for the centre to stay.

Brave - Tom Wilding and Andy Webb (Image: Gaz de Vere)

This encouraged sisters Ami and Natalie Solomons, who opened the Ironworks in 2022, not to go down without a fight with a new membership scheme suggested in a last-ditch effort to save it from closure.

Shock - Customers were urged to spend £5 to pull a wax strip (Image: Gaz de Vere)

To show their support, Tom Wilding and Andy Webb braved a chest waxing event yesterday evening in aid of saving the Ironworks.

Residents were urged to take part in the event at The Spread Eagle, with pub-goers paying £5 to pull a wax strip.

Scream and shout - Tom and Andy (Image: Gaz de Vere)

Speaking to the Echo about the membership scheme earlier this week, Natalie said: "We are fighters, and we are trying, we have invested so much love and so much effort to see the Ironworks happen, this is a testament to those who use the Ironworks.”

Scroll down to see more photos from the chest waxing event

Un-phased - Andy with his bare chest (Image: Gaz de Vere)Sore - Tom during the event (Image: Gaz de Vere)

Proud - one woman with her wax strip (Image: Gaz de Vere)Look of regret? - Andy being waxed (Image: Gaz de Vere)