Social clubs don't have to charge excise duty, or VAT, or something, on beer, because in theory they're private "members only" clubs (a bit like golf clubs, only at the other end of the social spectrum). "Members" mind you tend to only have to fill in a form and pay a nominal sum (like £1) to become members. And so yes, as a result, the beer's incredibly cheap compared to "proper" pubs. Most northern towns are full of them - Bamber Bridge has got a couple, and Blackpool's got more social clubs than pubs. I play snooker in one in our village that is supposedly the Catholic Church's social club - it's £1.80 for a pint of Strongbow, which I'm not sure the Pope would necessarily approve of.
They were originally a vehicle for working class self-improvement and education - although they became social clubs relatively quickly (ironically since I'm pretty sure temperance was one of the original goals). My great-greeat grandfather, was quite active in the Burslem club and its educational wing, and through that eventually became an alderman and mayor (where he unsuccessfully fought municipal amalgamation).
my grandad used to "work" the door at his local WMC in Dewsbury. By working he meant sat down on a stool checking members card and drinking halves of bitter all night.
Maybe the WMC is where he learnt that you could drink 2 halves faster than you could a pint - according to him anyway - i would never indulge in binge drinking.
My grandfather didn't really hold with the football. An eggchaser, he (runs in the family - my cousin is the one of the all-time leading scorers for workington or warrington, I can never remember which...I guess it was whichever was the weaker team in the 70s). To the extent that he cared about football, he was vaguely disapproving of supporting a London side but no more than that.
My time in the north of england was always spent in either oldham or sheffield (where my Mom grew up), though. My grandparents left Staffordshire sometime just before or during the war, I'm not sure why.
I would love to go to Vale park some day. My great grandfather had a trial with them before going on to be (as far as I can tell) a professional ne'er do well.
Comment