Plans for three major charities to receive money from the historic House of St Barnabas in London’s operations have been ceased as an inquiry and legal dispute progress.
The King’s Trust, Crisis and Centrepoint were all due to receive money from the House of St Barnabas-in-Soho (SBIS), the charity custodian of the site of which the Explorers Club (Soho) is the sole trustee.
Funding for the charities was to be generated by fees from a private members club in the Grade-I listed Georgian building as part of a deal struck in February.
However, no money has yet been transferred due to the site being shut and the Explorers Club (Soho) stated this week on its website that plans to donate to the related charities have either ceased or are due to end.
The announcement came after the Charity Commission last week opened a statutory inquiry into SBIS due to concerns that its building is at “serious risk”.
Meanwhile, a legal dispute has erupted over the site between those claiming to represent the Explorers Club (Soho) and the firm’s global partners.
Legal row
The Explorers Club (Soho) became the sole trustee of SBIS in February as part of an agreement for the site to be run as a private members’ club with a portion of the fees collected going to the partner charities.
This agreement, intended to “honour the house’s charitable legacy”, meant that the previous linked charity House of St Barnabas, established in 1862, was removed as SBIS’s trustee and is in the process of closing.
The license allowed a separate organisation called the Explorers Club (London) to operate the private members’ club.
However, a director at the Explorers Club (Soho) has since announced legal proceedings against the wider Explorers Club operation, based in the US.
In a statement to Civil Society, Robert Croucher, commercial strategy director at the Explorers Club (Soho), alleged that an attempt had taken place to divert income from the UK charity, which he described as “obvious and indefensible”.
Croucher said that he and founding Explorers Club (Soho) director Stephen Boxall were pursuing criminal proceedings against the executive directorate of the Explorers Club New York, its London branch and former directors of the Soho arm.
In response, a spokesperson for the Explorers Club said: “The Explorers Club (London) welcomes the Charity Commission’s inquiry and will cooperate fully with it and with any other relevant authorities.
“Our purpose with the Explorers Club (London) project has always been to support the charitable work of 1 Greek Street and the charities it serves.
“The individuals currently claiming to operate the charitable trustee Explorers Club (Soho) were separated from the project in March and April 2026.
“They have no authority to act or speak on behalf of the Explorers Club.”
The commission opened its case last week after receiving a report alleging SBIS had fallen victim to fraud.
The charity reportedly had a loan secured against the building, and the creditor is now seeking repayment.
A commission spokesperson confirmed yesterday that its investigation was ongoing.
