Britain's Oldest Working Men's Club Forced To Close

[joeluke]

What a shame for it's members, and just because they don't allow women to members

I've lived in a northern town which had a WM club. Women could become 'associate members' (were allowed into the club if accompanied and signed in by a member). So what's the problem? It's not as if they don't let women in is it?

They're a place where men can go to get a cheap pint and have a game of pool, darts, snooker, or shuffle a few dominoes around a table - without having the hustle, bustle and noisy music of a pub.

Don't think many women (other than wives/partners of members) would want to drink in a WM club anyway, they're hardly you're average pick-up joint!

Equal rights strikes again

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2563647/Hanging-flat-caps-time-Britains-oldest-working-mens-club-forced-close-members-refuse-admit-women.html

[joeluke]

I agree they've been stubborn but they were backed into a corner

[emmie]

9th century men, is that a typo, one would think so.

[emmie]

in the DM heading in case you wondered.

[retrocop]

Well it is the OLDEST WMC emmie is'nt it?

[joeluke]

Well spotted emmie.....usual lack of DM proofreading

[emmie]

Those Romans get in everywhere don't they x

[emmie]

should be 19th Century i would have thought. Is that the only reason they closed?

[joeluke]

In the WM club I was a member of women weren't allowed on the snooker tables

[emmie]

perhaps this was another reason

But when a surveyor examined the premises in 2010, club members were told they needed to raise £50,000 to repair the crumbling brickwork and to bring the building up to safety standards.

The members applied for Lottery funding but were turned down because their archaic rules on men-only membership breached equality laws.

[joeluke]

Oops, just re-read my last post

'not allowed to play snooker' sounds better

'Although I'm sure 'women on snooker tables' is allowed in more private gentlemens clubs :-)

[retrocop]

Are not the Freemasons a male only society or do they have an exemption?

[anneasquith]

serves them right. a lot of old fogies, let the women become members put on bingo and they will make a fortune. ( well in some areas ) :)

[Mamyalynne]

I have to agree with Chewn's first post - what on earth did they think would happen if they allowed woman members?

It strikes me they just gave up and do not love that beautiful building as much as they protest they do, there is still a great need for clubs like this. Often they also provide a lifeline to the community.


In my late teens I lead a revolt to get woman allowed to play snooker in our British Legion - we won.

[albaqwerty]

oooh, mamya's a rebel! who'da thunked it? :-D x

If they allowed women in, (even as associate members) surely their cash flow would improve and they'd be able to save their building?

[joeluke]

Alba......the article states they do allow women in as associates

[albaqwerty]

sorry, Joe, missed that bit. One eye on the tv.

[sp1814]

Mamyalynne

"In my late teens I lead a revolt to get woman allowed to play snooker in our British Legion - we won."

Bet you didn't win any games though.

KIDDING!!!

[Mamyalynne]

Oh we did