| Working Mens Clubs/ Constitutional Clubs. 22:07 - Jan 15 with 5500 views | Discodroids |
Those of a certain age on here will remember these places dotted in their legion all over the UK.
Working class peoples living in their concrete esso parrafin asphalt jungle council gaffs and prefabs could get together to escape the 24/7 knuckle duster of life and the slow motion riot of the 238 bus to the local injection moulding factory for their 8-4 shift , and have a few pints of Long life and a double diamond in the local labour/conservative/lib dem club .
I remember the East ham working mens club, ( now a block of flats) , Blokes in pringles and wexmans at the bar, Their women at the tables knocking back skol white top while the club secretary in his knock off Eton Rifle regimental blazer badge sculpted in bullion wire with hand-finished embroidery , was flogging raffle tickets for a beano to Thorpe bay to a pissed up joyus crowd. An organic collective of people who share a bond.
The word 'community' to me has been rendered down over the years i distilled into a saline nothingness.. imo Working mens clubs are at the heart of the 'community'. To me 'Community' means shared values and a shared background where we were spawned from, those shared hardships , those shared parameters of living in a gilded cage of the working class area you grew up in. Like our Grandads, nans, mothers and fathers that put the slog in during the week and then came together for a piss up at the weekend at the local working mans club.
Most of them are gone now. Flats, chicken shops and fu cking paddy powers with electronic roulette wheels have taken their place. Evil.
Well, today i joined one. These Dojo's of working class culture for good or bad are dying out.
I'd love to know who is a member of one on here. We should support them. I come from the East end so i don't know if they were as popular in west london as they were in the east..
I hope they are/were.
[Post edited 15 Jan 22:24]
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| Working Mens Clubs/ Constitutional Clubs. on 15:24 - Jan 16 with 1425 views | Boston |
| Working Mens Clubs/ Constitutional Clubs. on 23:20 - Jan 15 by Lblock |
Some of my earliest and fondest memories would be the times in the LT District Club in Acton with my Dad and his motley crew
“Safest place in London to get a drink through on a Sunday” was their strap line….. you’ve still gotta stop and remember pubs shut at 3pm and re-opened at 6pm back then!!!!!
It really was separatist in terms of the sexes an all.
Women on the tables; men at the bar with the occasional drift to the fruit machine and us kids in a corner on Pac-Man or outside if the meteorological conditions allowed (ie anything apart from rain - which it did although the summers felt longer).
Every club had their own bag man knocking out hooky gear, snide Gallini or a book of fake LV’s
The place would be run with an iron fist by the Steward of the day, until he came up with three bars on the one arm bandit and the jackpot meant additional consumption of Courage Best with a snowball with Tia Maria for any lucky lady in the vicinity
Sadly these places are the most dying of breeds and if you’ve found one to join then fair play.
The last one I was a member of was run into the ground by a crooked Treasurer who sent us bust and the bitch didn’t do a minutes time, got a payback fine of a grand all despite coughing guilty to serious fraud charges.
Place was sold with proceeds divided by members
The one nearest me now was knocked down for flats with the proviso a new bar was built as the ground floor. They did that but never actually fitted a bar and the doors have never opened three years since finishing.
The only community clubs I see thriving now are the Somalians |
Sunday's was closed from 2 - 7pm. Unless you went to a private club or popped down to the Embankment and hopped on a boat or... |  |
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| Working Mens Clubs/ Constitutional Clubs. on 15:29 - Jan 16 with 1390 views | kensalriser |
| Working Mens Clubs/ Constitutional Clubs. on 14:18 - Jan 16 by MrSheen |
Out of interest, why is the beer so much cheaper? Some tax concession, volunteer staff, no rent to pay or margin targets to meet? Combination of the above? |
Typically they'll be run on a mutual basis, so no one taking out profits. Socialism in action! |  |
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| Working Mens Clubs/ Constitutional Clubs. on 15:33 - Jan 16 with 1366 views | Boston |
| Working Mens Clubs/ Constitutional Clubs. on 07:51 - Jan 16 by Malintabuk |
What a thread and what memories.
As a miner in the East Kent coalfields our club was Betteshanger, what a place
On Sunday morning it use to open at 10am for the pit football teams, amazing how many supporters we got on a home match, who never actually saw the game
Then the Sunday lunch strippers... most were .... well let's just say experienced, and one day one of the lasses paid the cardinal sin of doing the floor.... she sat on one the lads laps and plonked here left breast into his beer.... pandemonium ensued, where teeth and snot was everywhere.... as her minders were taken apart by hairy @rsed miners
Then the Sunday mic session... old Harry or Ted crooning into the mic with Sinatra or Bennett numbers, forgetting half the words, and then getting, never mind the words Harry, just sing the song
Finally closing the proceedings with Ghost riders in the Sky.... great days
Think most miners clubs have morphed into something and glad to say mine is still going strong
https://camra.org.uk/pubs/betteshanger-social-club-betteshanger-142674
Went just before Christmas for a lunch for ex miners.... and so sad to see most are now gone, and those that are left, so old and frail. A generation apart [Post edited 16 Jan 7:54]
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I'll take this opportunity to apologize for all those crude, unsympathetic songs we sang to your Brother's located further north in the country. I now cringe at the thought of waving wads of money at them. [Post edited 16 Jan 15:33]
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| Working Mens Clubs/ Constitutional Clubs. on 17:24 - Jan 16 with 1224 views | PinnerR |
| Working Mens Clubs/ Constitutional Clubs. on 10:59 - Jan 16 by BrianMcCarthy |
My family ran The Village Inn in '85 and '86. We lived upstairs.
No strippers in our day, y'r honour! |
A bit of history for you. The Village Inn was previously The Railway Hotel. In March 1944 Hitler ordered the Luftwaffe to make a last ditch bombing attack on London with the dwindling numbers of planes left . It became known as the "mini Blitz"
Dad was working at Bratt Colbran in Lancelot Road, which was then making aircraft parts. As the chargehand in the toolroom (yes, he was a toolmaker, but I'm not Keir Starmer) he was in a reserved occupation so not called up. My mum's dad, my grandad George was 64 and not working. Mum told him that he must do something for the war effort, so dad got him a job as a night watchman at the factory. Every night he'd get two trolleybuses from Willesden up to the Railway Hotel, where he'd sink several pints then totter down to his reinforced concrete "bombproof" night watchman's hut. Same routine on 30th March, except his hut got a direct hit. RIP Grandad George, but at least he died with a smile on his face after his last visit to the Railway. [Post edited 16 Jan 18:40]
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| Working Mens Clubs/ Constitutional Clubs. on 19:55 - Jan 16 with 1090 views | numptydumpty |
I guess on a similar line, the many social clubs run by the British legion.
My mates dad was an army man and I got in to play snooker at the local legion as a teenager and played in a few tournaments where as a young kid, I thought it might be wise not to win this game !!!
The Sunday Meat Raffle was a highlight !!! |  |
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| Working Mens Clubs/ Constitutional Clubs. on 20:38 - Jan 16 with 1041 views | FredManRave |
| Working Mens Clubs/ Constitutional Clubs. on 01:15 - Jan 16 by Boston |
...and as for strippers, Village Inn, Wembley High Rd. Get in about 11.45am on a Saturday, two pints and an eyeful before heading down to Hanger Lane on the way to Loftus Road. [Post edited 16 Jan 1:16]
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So you saw some Bush before going to the Bush. |  |
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| Working Mens Clubs/ Constitutional Clubs. on 21:18 - Jan 16 with 1004 views | Malintabuk |
| Working Mens Clubs/ Constitutional Clubs. on 15:33 - Jan 16 by Boston |
I'll take this opportunity to apologize for all those crude, unsympathetic songs we sang to your Brother's located further north in the country. I now cringe at the thought of waving wads of money at them. [Post edited 16 Jan 15:33]
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Thanks Boston.... horrible times.... and horrible things done to us mostly by the government
Up to few years ago I know guys who would still not talk to "the scabs" and cross the road if they saw them in the street
My family were from the NE Blackhall and I went up there years ago back in the 90s.... to visit family. I remember in the Blackhall club lads still bitter and angry about those times
I guess being the last generation of pitman I had a chance to go onto other careers, but for the older guys it was literally the end of a way of life... | | | |
| Working Mens Clubs/ Constitutional Clubs. on 21:28 - Jan 16 with 986 views | GaryHaddock |
| Working Mens Clubs/ Constitutional Clubs. on 21:18 - Jan 16 by Malintabuk |
Thanks Boston.... horrible times.... and horrible things done to us mostly by the government
Up to few years ago I know guys who would still not talk to "the scabs" and cross the road if they saw them in the street
My family were from the NE Blackhall and I went up there years ago back in the 90s.... to visit family. I remember in the Blackhall club lads still bitter and angry about those times
I guess being the last generation of pitman I had a chance to go onto other careers, but for the older guys it was literally the end of a way of life... |
Classy response.
Back on topic but still related, quite a few miners welfare clubs going strong in Notts too. [Post edited 16 Jan 21:34]
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| Working Mens Clubs/ Constitutional Clubs. on 08:38 - Jan 17 with 782 views | slmrstid |
| Working Mens Clubs/ Constitutional Clubs. on 21:28 - Jan 16 by GaryHaddock |
Classy response.
Back on topic but still related, quite a few miners welfare clubs going strong in Notts too. [Post edited 16 Jan 21:34]
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There were some really good podcast series done on BBC Sounds last year around the 40th anniversary of the miners strikes, one series done by BBC Leicester about the "Dirty Thirty" who were the only ones to go on strike in the county and the effect it still has four decades on.
Well worth digging out to listen, there was lots I learned on the social history that I never really knew. |  | | |
| Working Mens Clubs/ Constitutional Clubs. on 08:52 - Jan 17 with 768 views | SydneyRs |
My dad was a regular in Harlesden Labour club when I was a kid. We were often there too and a coke/lemonade and some crisps kept us happy. As mentioned, a place many went to forget the stresses of everyday life and work.
Other clubs in the area we also visited but less often were Harlesden Working man's club (known locally as "up the steps"), the railway club and the welsh club. As kids it was always enjoyable especially at Christmas when they would have great parties and give us good presents.
My dad still goes to St Gabriels club in South Harrow. Even in my 20s when I thought I was too cool for such places, it was great for a late lock in after being out somewhere else earlier. Last time I was there in 2016 we left after 4am on a Monday morning and they seemed to have no concerns about sending us home before that! | | | |
| Working Mens Clubs/ Constitutional Clubs. on 08:58 - Jan 17 with 750 views | BexleyHoop |
I have certainly had a few cracking nights out in the East Ham WMC back in the day with all my wife's family who were all from Canning Town. Double Diamond in big 'Len Fairclough' pint pots. Been to a few others over the East End, most sadly are now gone.
The most bizarre club I used to go to was the Gothic Lodge over in Balham with my friends big Irish family and it had a bar were no women or kids were aloud - rolled out there at some ungodly hours in the morning. |  | | |
| Working Mens Clubs/ Constitutional Clubs. on 10:31 - Jan 17 with 654 views | HamptonHoop |
| Working Mens Clubs/ Constitutional Clubs. on 08:01 - Jan 16 by Lblock |
Surprised no mention of The Cobden Club here as yet.
That was a den…. |
My great grandfather was the steward there, back in the day.
All family before and since were members and most family parties were held there, and most if not all ended in a punch up. | | | |
| Working Mens Clubs/ Constitutional Clubs. on 12:11 - Jan 17 with 539 views | GaryHaddock |
Anyone remember the Fairview Club in Wembley? | | | |
| Working Mens Clubs/ Constitutional Clubs. on 12:35 - Jan 17 with 515 views | MrSheen |
Anyone else a regular in the Catholic Club at Quex Road (more accurately Mazenod Avenue, crazy names like 1970s toilet paper) in Kilburn? Every Sunday lunchtime in the 70s with my dad and my Grandad and his brother Michael, the old boys having pipes with their Guinness while we played football in the school playground next door. Later my Dad would take me to play 25 on midweek nights in the school holidays, teaching me to drink. There was a huge dance hall there, wonder if it’s used at all now…Polish or Filipino weddings I guess. |  | | |
| Working Mens Clubs/ Constitutional Clubs. on 13:01 - Jan 17 with 490 views | W13R |
| Working Mens Clubs/ Constitutional Clubs. on 08:52 - Jan 17 by SydneyRs |
My dad was a regular in Harlesden Labour club when I was a kid. We were often there too and a coke/lemonade and some crisps kept us happy. As mentioned, a place many went to forget the stresses of everyday life and work.
Other clubs in the area we also visited but less often were Harlesden Working man's club (known locally as "up the steps"), the railway club and the welsh club. As kids it was always enjoyable especially at Christmas when they would have great parties and give us good presents.
My dad still goes to St Gabriels club in South Harrow. Even in my 20s when I thought I was too cool for such places, it was great for a late lock in after being out somewhere else earlier. Last time I was there in 2016 we left after 4am on a Monday morning and they seemed to have no concerns about sending us home before that! |
Was the Welsh Club also known as the Gwalia? |  | | |
| Working Mens Clubs/ Constitutional Clubs. on 13:20 - Jan 17 with 450 views | W13R |
Back in the 70s/80s my old man used to regularly frequent the Inverness in Brentford and also Eversheds in Boston Manor.
Eversheds was his main haunt, a cracking place back in the day with it's own football, cricket, darts, snooker and table tennis teams.
I pretty much spent my yoof there on the playing fields and various arcade machines with other kids whose mum and dad's were also on the piss 🤣.
It was pretty much a one stop shop with dinner & dances, stag & hen do's and cabaret nights with up and coming talent from back in the day (Russ Abbott and such like). | | | |
| Working Mens Clubs/ Constitutional Clubs. on 13:59 - Jan 17 with 413 views | W13R |
One of the best old skool clubs I went to was called the Cleland Miners Club on the outskirts of Glasgow.
To get a drink you had to have a drinks tray and queue up like a roller coaster ride as it had a handle rail system to stop people from jumping the queue! 😂
The drinks were so cheap..........no wonder everyone in there had high blood pressure bright red faces 😳😆 | | | |
| Working Mens Clubs/ Constitutional Clubs. on 14:11 - Jan 17 with 390 views | loftboy |
| Working Mens Clubs/ Constitutional Clubs. on 13:20 - Jan 17 by W13R |
Back in the 70s/80s my old man used to regularly frequent the Inverness in Brentford and also Eversheds in Boston Manor.
Eversheds was his main haunt, a cracking place back in the day with it's own football, cricket, darts, snooker and table tennis teams.
I pretty much spent my yoof there on the playing fields and various arcade machines with other kids whose mum and dad's were also on the piss 🤣.
It was pretty much a one stop shop with dinner & dances, stag & hen do's and cabaret nights with up and coming talent from back in the day (Russ Abbott and such like). |
I used to referee Eversheds in the London commercial league,was great facilities in that league. |  |
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| Working Mens Clubs/ Constitutional Clubs. on 14:40 - Jan 17 with 354 views | W13R |
| Working Mens Clubs/ Constitutional Clubs. on 14:11 - Jan 17 by loftboy |
I used to referee Eversheds in the London commercial league,was great facilities in that league. |
Yep, they had a lovely pitch with some really good players back in the day i.e. a couple of ex-professionals and semi-pro's so the level of football was great to watch. | | | |
| Working Mens Clubs/ Constitutional Clubs. on 14:56 - Jan 17 with 333 views | doogi10 |
behave the cobden was great full of gangsters
had a great friday disco paid man on the door 1 for 1 for the club. i will sign you in | | | |
| Working Mens Clubs/ Constitutional Clubs. on 16:21 - Jan 17 with 287 views | Boston |
| Working Mens Clubs/ Constitutional Clubs. on 12:11 - Jan 17 by GaryHaddock |
Anyone remember the Fairview Club in Wembley? |
The Fairview, Fusilier Pub,Sudbury Swan and to a lesser extent the Conservative Club, were known 'Copper's haunts', we rarely used them. | |
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| Working Mens Clubs/ Constitutional Clubs. on 16:50 - Jan 17 with 244 views | stevenagehoop |
Willesden Working men’s club Villiers Road - then Welwyn Garden City Trades and Labour Club ( now gone) and now Stevenage C I U - and pass card to enter all other associated clubs nationwide. Good value for money still. |  |
| I never lie but I don't always tell the truth |
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| Working Mens Clubs/ Constitutional Clubs. on 16:52 - Jan 17 with 238 views | GaryHaddock |
| Working Mens Clubs/ Constitutional Clubs. on 16:21 - Jan 17 by Boston |
The Fairview, Fusilier Pub,Sudbury Swan and to a lesser extent the Conservative Club, were known 'Copper's haunts', we rarely used them. |
This would have been news to my Grandad, a member for many years, who drove home pissed from there most Sundays haha. | | | |
| Working Mens Clubs/ Constitutional Clubs. on 18:31 - Jan 17 with 177 views | Boston |
| Working Mens Clubs/ Constitutional Clubs. on 16:52 - Jan 17 by GaryHaddock |
This would have been news to my Grandad, a member for many years, who drove home pissed from there most Sundays haha. |
If you weren't on their 'hit list', you could probably dance naked on the tables. The Old Bill were notoriously badly behaved.
At one time, I worked the door / took yer 50p entry money at the Windsor Castle on the Harrow Rd. We had a big bar upstairs that most of the punters never knew about as it was invite only after hours. It was occasionally used for functions / parties, including the 'Secret Policeman's Ball' every Christmas. I thought the PC's bash was wild, it paled in insignificance compared to the Officers do - raffling off ladies of the night, to then have sex on the pool table in the middle of the floor was an eye opener. [Post edited 18 Jan 0:37]
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| Working Mens Clubs/ Constitutional Clubs. on 20:25 - Jan 17 with 107 views | hantssi |
| Working Mens Clubs/ Constitutional Clubs. on 14:11 - Jan 17 by loftboy |
I used to referee Eversheds in the London commercial league,was great facilities in that league. |
We always tried to do pre-season friendlies against team from the Commercial league because of the great pitches, facilities and cheap beer after!! | | | |
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