BOLTON boxer, Amir Khan, surprised fans when he admitted just how much money he lost on one of his business ventures.
In his new reality show, Meet The Khans: Big In Bolton, Khan admitted that £5 million of his own cash has “gone missing” in the construction of his one-stop wedding mall.
(Instagram/@amirkingkhan)
In a discussion with his wife, Faryal Makhdoom, he said he had gone £7 million over budget while building the luxury wedding venue in Bolton.
Khan said Bolton’s Washington Road building would be transformed into a “one-stop wedding mall” with 18 retail units on the ground floor devoted to wedding businesses. The development will also include three wedding halls and a restaurant, alongside a rooftop shisha bar, and is expected to create as many as 200 jobs.
(Instagram/ amirkingkhan)
Construction on the site began in 2015 with the aim to have it completed by 2020; but these plans have since been delayed.
However, his dream has proven to be much more challenging than first thought, complaining that delays and “unprofessional management” have put a dent in his bank account.
He said in the show: "It was my dad's idea, he wanted to start a wedding hall business saying 'it'll be good when you retire to keep you busy and to build something in Bolton for the Bolton community.'
"It's such a headache though."
He continued: "I was told it would cost £3.2, it's now cost about £11.5m.
"It hurts you knowing how much money has gone to waste, you're talking millions. I'm talking £5million has literally gone missing."
Amir asked his wife to step in and take control of his finances before he sinks any more money into the business.
Amir told the 29-year-old: "You are a bit more ruthless. You can say no to people, whereas I tell them it's ok they can have it for free.
"We need you in charge of that side to make sure we don't spend too much money."
Faryal also agreed that Amir can be too generous with his money.
She said: “The trouble with Amir is he says ‘yes’ to everything and that’s why he needs me.'
In response, Amir admitted: “They always sell me a dream. They say we’re going to do this and that for you.
“I can’t wait for it to be finished, there’s so much weight on my shoulders that will be taken off.”
Last August, the couple posed for an Instagram photo on the roof of their wedding hall, and the boxer revealed the project had been delayed.
(Instagram/ amirkingkhan)
Amir wrote: 'Me and @faryalmakhdoom on the rooftop lounge balcony of our wedding hall in bolton.
'We planning what we should build on the back. We have 4 acres of land. Send me your ideas?
'I know it’s taken a little longer than it should have to finish, due to unprofessional management, it was out of my hands then.
'But now I’m fully involved I’ve given it to a new team, 7 months to finish all the interior and being furnished so we can all use this amazing building. AK x FMK x Bolton.'
You can watch BBC One’s Meet the Khans: Big in Bolton on Mondays at 10:45pm. Alternatively, watch the entire series on iPlayer.
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