Time called on landmark club
18th November 2011
Dwindling membership has called time on a landmark of the Leicester working men’s club movement.
Spinney Hill Working Men’s Club, in Frisby Road, which closed at the end of August, is now up for sale with leading Leicester commercial property specialist Andrew and Ashwell. The property is currently on the market at offers around £600,000 and a closing date of Friday 25th November 2011 has been fixed for all offers to be submitted.
Located off the A47 Uppingham Road, a mile from Leicester city centre, on a half-acre site and with facilities totalling 16,263 sq ft of space, the club is attracting interest, mainly for ongoing community use.
The building has been adapted and extended over the years, offering ground and first floor accommodation, including a large rear concert room with a capacity of 365. A basement incorporates cellarage and a rear yard, accessed from Prestwold Road, provides on-site parking.
Spinney Hill WMC was among the movement’s first clubs in Leicester, established in Sherrard Road in 1897. As membership grew the Frisby Road premises was purpose-built by Shipstone’s brewery during the late 1920s. In its heyday during the 1960s membership reached 1,600, derived from the workforce of neighbouring factories living within the local community.
Spinney Hill WMC Secretary Mick Challinor, who runs the Leicester branch of the CIU (Club and Institute Union), said the club’s closure was a sign of the times. He cited a range of factors that have led to the general decline of working men’s clubs in recent years.
“The development of housing estates on the outskirts of the city was an early factor. Factories in the neighbourhood have closed and the whole club and pub scene has changed, with youngsters no longer joining. Drink driving laws, cheaper alcohol in supermarkets and the smoking ban have all played a large part in the decline.
“It’s a sad day for the club movement, but we’ve had considerable interest from people who want to use the building for the benefit of the community and it would be good to see it continue to run as such.”
Mike Allwood, Director at Andrew and Ashwell commented:
“With its long history the building is an important local landmark and has been an excellent club venue. Purpose built, with character and all the facilities a club building needs, it is attracting enquiries and we hope to see a successful transition.”
