UK CLUBLAND
As so many club closures have made certain clubs slip from our memory, while others continue to reinvent themselves and strive for survival, one thing is for sure. So many of the old working men’s clubs have stories to tell, especially the venues which have disappeared, leaving only memories and a wealth of anecdotes behind. We also look at some of the praise being heaped upon clubs, as they market themselves as community social clubs in the 21st century. Mark Ritchie runs the rule over some of the stories from yesterday and some going forward.

The former Tramways club in York was closed back in 2018 after an approach from a property developer. Mark Ritchie takes up the story and reveals a fascinating piece of century-old history. I remember working the club once and, on a warm evening I stepped out of a door for a little cool air, just after I had finished my P.A set-up. Glancing casually across a wall which partitioned the clubs land from a cemetery, a look at the gravestone nearest to me left me gobsmacked. The name of the deceased was that of highwayman Dick Turpin, who was executed at the Knaves mire in York in 1739. With his familiar exhortation’ Stand and Deliver’. Mr Turpin could possibly have secured a place on one of the old club committees.
Central Division W.M.C in Bradford stands on a main road heading down into what is, we are told, this year’s UK City of Culture. The premises has been taken over by a religious group known as The Redeemed Christian Church of God. Described by religious insiders as ‘A Pentecostal Mega-Church’, the old premises will be missed by many Bradfordians.
The Pop and Pastie club in Keighley West Yorkshire would have probably won the prize for the most unusually named social club in Britain. Originally the club which has now closed for good, was part of the Liberal party affiliation of clubs, but since its closure the building is now dedicated to Islamic studies.
The National Club Awards was staged recently in Leicester and the accolade King of Clubs went to Walthamstow Trades Hall and Institute, who celebrated by booking DJ and pop-star Fat Boy Slim for a special night. The club picked up plaudits for diversity and inclusion. The C&IU Club of the Year award was shared jointly between Sandhurst social club and Wombwell wmc, which was featured recently on this very page.
Little Lever club in Bolton Lancashire has been praised for holding events aimed at people with special of additional needs. The club hold Be You-Disco nights, which provide what has been described as ‘a safe and non-judgemental space for those with autism learning challenges and physical disability’.

We continue to look for area correspondents who could collate and send us information across the national club scene. If you have a Clubland related story to tell, please e-mail all your Clubland information to mark.ritchie@ukcabaret.com