Join your local social club

woohoo_postingid

So, beer, wine etc is going through the roof. Have you ever thought of joining your local social club ? There are many social clubs throughout the UK, most of them affiliated to an organisation eg Royal British Legion, CIU etc - which then grant you access to all other clubs within that organisation.

Give your local club a look - you will be pleasantly surprised at what you find

ohbilly

Love going to the local CIU club it's like stepping back in time with the d!cor and the prices just a shame so many of them are closing down where I live.

Fishingtime

I joined my local social club last year after moving to a new area.
I paid £15 membership and then found out the only sell 2 beers Tetleys and John Smiths.
I don't like either of them.
I later found out that a pub close to the social club is actually cheaper for beer, But of course the club does have many other attractions :j

Coopdivi

To be fair, if it's a CIU club you can get Associate membership which allows you to use other affiliated social clubs as well as sign in two guests.

woohoo_postingid

ohbilly wrote: »

Love going to the local CIU club it's like stepping back in time with the d!cor and the prices just a shame so many of them are closing down where I live.

Unfortunately, many have been poorly managed and do suffer from being stuck in the past. But not all. I've been in some great clubs (I'm a member of a couple).

Of course, many are closing because they aren't being used. They're not being used because they're old or outdated.
Because they're not being used, they have no money.
With no money, they can't upgrade the club.
So the circle continues.

But it's always worth sticking you're head in. Many stand for a lot more than just a social club eg Royal British Legion Clubs are there for a much bigger reason than just cheap drinks. For me it's a cheap drink & doing my bit for charity.

colmil

As it happens, I have a small company that designs and fits out social clubs, we have done this for 30 years working throughout the UK!

We have managed to survive ourselves, but without doubt, the reason a lot of Clubs are closing is down to bad management.

The smoking ban didn't help, but I would rather be doing business in a clean atmosphere!

On a brighter note, we have recently refurbished a Club where the takings are 60% up since we completed the work last December, and this is a consistent figure. However, the Committee made the decision to borrow the money as they knew that it was invest or die.

Fortunately, I have an excellent contact who arranged the funding for them, but most Committees simply do not have anyone with the drive to do anything, they sit there wringing their hands when some of them are sitting on a property that could be used to provide the monies needed.

It is very frustrating for us as specialists in this type of work, but all we can do is offer free quotes to show how their Club can by upgraded.

[Deleted User]

I'm a member of a local CIU club. Same decor for 50 years and committee that won't spend a penny on updating or anything to get new people in.

Also must CIU these days don't require membership (in my area anyway) and simply allow people to just walk in off the street.

colmil

Dear Lee,

Re your comment about your Committee, it is the members fault for not getting rid of the committee and doing something themselves, a classic example of people sitting on their hands!

[Deleted User]

colmil wrote: »

Dear Lee,

Re your comment about your Committee, it is the members fault for not getting rid of the committee and doing something themselves, a classic example of people sitting on their hands!

I have loads of ideas, but it's the old lifers that sit in there all day every day that aren't bothered. I can't force anything on my own.

missprice

When I moved into this house all of nearly 20 years ago I had a great idea of joining the local WM club. Its about half a street away and would have been fantastic for me and my then youngish kids to go sometimes. I knew they had some child friendly activities.
So off I trot and ask at the door to be told I MUST have a man sign up then I could be a member through him. Also a man had to be recommended by 2 members.
They shot themselves in the foot with that stupid rule as I never went back.
Now of course since the smoking ban and recession they are doing very badly and I smile when I walk past and see the empty car park and the decay in general.
It still may have gone the same way even if I had been a member of course but it may have delayed the end result.

xbethanyx

The club near my house will only give membership if you are recommended by 2 other members. I don't know any other members so can't get a membership. No wonder these clubs are closing down when they have rules like that.