Committee is calling time on 'Scrappy Valley' working men's club
It was the smoky, laughter-filled club where pint glasses clinked, Engelbert Humperdinck sang and darts legend Eric Bristow stepped up to the oche.
But now, one of the largest working men's clubs in the Midlands is about to be wound up.
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The committee of the 900-member Scraptoft Valley WMC in Netherhall, Leicester – known affectionately as "Scrappy Valley" – has called time on the club.
City councillor John Mugglestone, who used to play darts there, said it was a sign of the times.
He said: "It is a great pity the club has closed. It used to have the best lounge of any working men's club in the country.
"But it is the victim of people buying alcohol in the supermarket and drinking at home. People just don't go out so much now."
It is understood the complex, which includes a 400-seat concert room could be sold and re-opened in the spring.
Mick Challinor, secretary of the Leicester Branch of the Club and Institute Union said: "It is a shame such a large club with such a rich history should be going.
"But it is just another one in a number of closures.
"People are simply not using the clubs these days. What with cheap booze in supermarkets and some pubs selling cut-price drinks, many clubs cannot compete.
"I spoke to the club members recently and they told me about the situation.
"It is simple. If people don't use their club they will lose it."
In recent times the club, which also has a 100-seat lounge, allowed charities to use the buildings for free.
It was also hired out for private parties, sports events and meetings.
The "Scrappy Valley" opened in a wooden shed in 1959, before moving to its purpose-built premises on Grantham Road.
Over the years, it attracted such well-known names as Eric Bristow, Norman Vaughan, Bernard Manning, The Krankies, Billy J Kramer, Englebert Humperdinck and the Barron Knights as well as many other lesser-known live entertainment acts.
As recently as 1997, the club won the 'best in the country' award.
Insolvency practitioner Situl Devji Raithatha has been asked to organise a meeting of club members to wind up the business. Mr Raithatha, of Leicester's Springfields Business Recovery and Insolvency Limited, said his first duty was to ensure that the creditors were paid from the assets of club.
A meeting is to be held for creditors and members on March 3, at 11am.
He said: "We would like as many members as possible to attend."
Members will be asked to vote in Mr Raithatha as the liquidator to wind up the club.
No members of the committee were available for comment.
50 Comments
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by Life member, cornwall
Wednesday, March 16 2011, 5:18PM
“The fall of this club is not only due to the subjects raised in all of your comments here. There are a few people whose names i will not mention who have had their hands trapped in the till for a long time! FACT!!”
by Dan, Loughborough
Tuesday, March 01 2011, 1:08PM
“What about the freedom to drive home after a few pints? That would help keep countryside pubs open too, loads of them have suffered with that restrictive legislation.”
by Phil, Leicester
Tuesday, March 01 2011, 12:28PM
“So Pete (Glen Parva) you would object to freedom of choice would you? You would object to a licensee having to make a decision which directly affects his business-or, rather, the lack of it! If licensees had choice then you and all the other millions of non smoking drinkers that were, apparently, waiting for the great day (July1st) would have your own smoke free pubs and smokers would have smoking pubs! Now what on earth can be wrong with that scenario?
Personally I think the smokers aren quite right to make a stand, they have every right to enjoy smoking pubs the same as we do non smoking pubs-except I'm not bigotted like you, I believe in freedom of choice. It would not bother me now if pubs were wiped off the map, they allowed the men in suits to dictate the terms (unlike the Dutch) and are now suffering horrendously for that apathy. Punch & Enterprise need to rid themselves of another 2,100 properties (minimum) as their estates are built on sand.
Pubs/clubs that allow smokers to participate will easily survive, but will 30,000 glorified cafes that sell beer do so?”
by Kwik, Leicester
Tuesday, March 01 2011, 12:08PM
“I wish people would not use the name Nazi to describe the actions of an elected political party in a liberal democracy. You may not agree with legislation but it is an insult to the millions who dies as a result of the real Nazis. Find a better word like "illiberal"”
by pete, g,parva
Tuesday, March 01 2011, 8:37AM
“also, smoking is now socially unacceptable!
And i thank the government for this, one of the best things they have ever done.”
by pete, g,parva
Tuesday, March 01 2011, 8:33AM
“I for one use pubs MORE now the smoking ban is in place.
I hated coming home stinking of stale smoke, it's disgusting!
And if smokers are saying "i'm not going out cause i can't smoke", well thats just plain sad isn't it!
Did us non smokers 'used' to say "i'm not going out, people are smoking"... i think not, we dealt with it. Time you lot did the same, some growing up needs to be done.. or quit smoking and quit moaning about it.
In fact, what a great slogan "Quit moaning, quit smoking - NHS". They can have that for free.
Health reasons aside, why should a smoker be allowed to make ME (a non smoker) smell bad???!
I pray to god that the ban remains in place, if not, all non smokers should be allowed to spray deodorant and air fresheners directly at smokers. And obviously douse themselves with febreze to mask the stench that the dirty smokers cause.
I never went to S.Valley club, but other clubs i've been to recently (e.monsell and glenhills) are packed of a weekend!!”
by Dan, Loughborough
Tuesday, March 01 2011, 7:51AM
“Phil, lots of pubs have closed since the 70s decades before the smoking ban kicked in. It is a change in society and general factors around the trade, the smoking ban has indeed made it worse but it is in no way the only change, you can't pin it all on the ban. WMCs had been badly affected steadily although bars in town centres had done well, that was in lage part around perception and how the younger generations viewed them.”
by DpD, le
Tuesday, March 01 2011, 7:38AM
“Bob, Vaz does not care pal!! The size of his house we all paid for is as big as the WMC and maybe he will have some nights in with his voters!! You will feel safe because i know policemen that spend most of their weekends checking his perimeter when he calls them out!! Real Labour value's”
by bob, leicester
Tuesday, March 01 2011, 5:31AM
“Nobody can deny that the smoking ban has been a direct cause of a lot of Working mens clubs closing,this fact was put to Patricia Hewitt (Nazi Labour Party )by representatives of working mens clubs in Leicester before the Nazi Labour Party decided to to have a total smoking ban in these clubs ,but not in Parliament.
So, the Labour Nazis decided that they didn`t need the votes or the revenue of the working class anymore and imposed the ban.
Are you listening Vaz ???? this club is in YOUR constituancy and YOU FAILED EVERY MEMBER OF IT WHO IS WORKING CLASS .
Will you apoligise to them for your failure ? I doubt it somehow ,the cushions are too comfortable .”
by Phil, Leicester
Tuesday, March 01 2011, 1:21AM
“Julie: 9 of my wife's family have died of cancer-none of them smoked and only 1 was a drinker (moderate). Age of death ranged from 34-87! Cancer runs in the family-rampantly!
m,le3: last year alone we wasted £500m on smoke cessation 'services' & losses in revenue from beer sales from pubs/clubs. Add on to that the colossal losses from Bingo hall operators who are also finding fewer customers. Add onto that the costs of ALL the benefits payed to those who once worked in the hospitality sector-you would be amazed just how much a country that wants to cut Glenfield Heart Hospital out is spending on something that is a freedom of choice. And (for the record) SHS smoke DOES NOT cause lung cancer!
ARDEN: Smokers all over the country who enjoy their cigarette with a pint are more than happy to desert their local pubs if they can't sit and enjoy one with the other-what is so difficult about that for you to comprehend?. Most of my friends smoke (I don't) but now they have stopped going to the pub I don't bother either. It's a boring, soul-less place that stinks of cleaning fluids & BO!
Dan: in the great recession of the 70's the pub/club trade peaked! Proven fact, more unemployment = more hours to wile away in the pub/club. Cheap supermarket booze has only come to prominence because of the ban. It has always been there, just never utulised. Now the ban is here smokers have found that drinking at smoking at home is cheaper and just as pleasurable!
hmmmm: "The difference with drinking BELINDA is that you cannot pass the effects short or long term onto others..."
so the cretins that have too many and either glass someone or stab them over something totally innocuous have not passed on any short term or long term effects haven't they? try telling that to the mother whose child has been murdered by some drunken idiot!
And as a bonus, for the Roy Castle believers: RC self diagnosed SHS as causation-not one medical person backed it up. RC was a 'social cigar' smoker and worked with much asbestos based props (a major cause of cancer) so don't go believing all you hear!”