A working men's club calls time

"If the people are not walking through the door we just can't carry on"

After almost 130 years of business, Anstey Working Men's Club has closed its doors for good.

Although it still has around 300 registered members, the club has struggled to tempt in regular large crowds.

With debts of more than £160,000 the club has decided it can no longer survive in the Leicestershire village.

Wednesday 23 September marked the last night of a place that will be sadly missed by many Anstey residents.

Bar manager Lynda Allen says that over the last few months business has been incredibly slow, often with only 11 or 12 punters making an appearance on once busy weekend evenings.

Anstey Working Men's Club first opened its doors in 1880

"I've kept the entertainment going, although people have said I was wrong to do that, but if we hadn't kept the entertainment going then we wouldn't have had those 12 people in.

"I know we've not took a lot of money over the bar by doing it, but it's just trying to keep people happy and that's what I've tried to do really."

Many struggles

Lynda says the business has struggled to keep paying its bills, most notably the mortgage and to the brewery.

She believes the failure of the club stems from a number of sources, including the smoking ban, the recession, and the cheap alcohol sold by supermarkets.

Modern young adults have less ties with the working men's club so there are also few new faces.

"What we're really catering for are the older generation and that personally is who I feel sorry for because they love to come out, have a night out, game of bingo, natter. They've lost really everything."

I don't know what I'm going to do to be honest because the club's been my life. Lynda Allen, bar manager

Sue Iliffe has worked behind the club bar for 18 years. She agrees that they have done all they can to save the place she has known for half her life.

"We put on entertainment, we do everything possible for it. If the people are not walking through the door we just can't carry on, because bills still need to be paid."

Lynda is unsure what the future holds now she has lost her job; "I don't know what I'm going to do to be honest because the club's been my life.

"Not only my life; my children have worked here and even my grandchildren have worked here. I'm absolutely devastated by it."