Debts force the closure of Eastleigh social venue (From Daily Echo)

What a travesty. Yet another old building allowed to go the way of so many other historic addresses. Dare I say it but were the right people in place to move the Comrades on and appeal to new members. Clubs like this have failed up and down the country because of the inability to change because of old hands at the helm. I dare say for instance that the line up of ale amounted to John Smiths and if they were lucky a London Pride in amongst the usual lagers. Food is the mainstay of successful pubs today, too many CIU's etc seemed to think a tray of cheese and onion rolls would suffice. Sadly until these places and many pubs offer people something better, the Comrades won't be the last to go.

BrixtonSaint wrote:
What a travesty. Yet another old building allowed to go the way of so many other historic addresses. Dare I say it but were the right people in place to move the Comrades on and appeal to new members. Clubs like this have failed up and down the country because of the inability to change because of old hands at the helm. I dare say for instance that the line up of ale amounted to John Smiths and if they were lucky a London Pride in amongst the usual lagers. Food is the mainstay of successful pubs today, too many CIU's etc seemed to think a tray of cheese and onion rolls would suffice. Sadly until these places and many pubs offer people something better, the Comrades won't be the last to go.

clubs have died out largely due to competition from places like Wetherspoons who have cornered the market for cheap drink. Unlike clubs Wetherspoons only lease their premises and have much fewer overheads.

Condor Man wrote:

BrixtonSaint wrote:
What a travesty. Yet another old building allowed to go the way of so many other historic addresses. Dare I say it but were the right people in place to move the Comrades on and appeal to new members. Clubs like this have failed up and down the country because of the inability to change because of old hands at the helm. I dare say for instance that the line up of ale amounted to John Smiths and if they were lucky a London Pride in amongst the usual lagers. Food is the mainstay of successful pubs today, too many CIU's etc seemed to think a tray of cheese and onion rolls would suffice. Sadly until these places and many pubs offer people something better, the Comrades won't be the last to go.

clubs have died out largely due to competition from places like Wetherspoons who have cornered the market for cheap drink. Unlike clubs Wetherspoons only lease their premises and have much fewer overheads.

Competition from places like Wetherspoons are a big problem in inner city places like the Comrades, but it's the breweries that are killing clubs, they don't care where their products are sold, in the supermarket or big pub chains, they hike prices on smaller places, larger organisation like Wetherspoons get bigger discounts because of the ordering powers.

If all CIU clubs in the city got together and purchased from one brewer the discounts would be bigger, the same goes for Legion as well, those discounts could be passed on to the customers.

Another reason why Wetherspoons is so cheap, they buy beer with shelf life of week left, that is cheaper, those beers are olny offered to places like Wetherspoons because of the amount they order also the brewer offers them sale or return on those barrels, which they offer the smaller establishments either pubs or clubs

SMALL ERROR

Another reason why Wetherspoons is so cheap, they buy beer with shelf life of week left, that is cheaper, those beers are olny offered to places like Wetherspoons because of the amount they order also the brewer offers them sale or return on those barrels, which they DON'T offer the smaller establishments either pubs or clubs

old news is better than no news eh echo !!!!!!

Can't EBC take this over and spend the £840,000 earmarked for the Dance Hall and turn this into a youth club instead of evicting the dance school?

I am a member of a club where the committee work hard to get good deals with breweries in order to keep the prices at a reasonable level. Sadly some brands, like Guinness, are too expensive. If we lose pubs and clubs it's just another nail in the coffin that is society.

It closed over a month ago.
Still, tough week for news in Eastleigh.
How I wish it would snow again.
What about police objections to the new bar at the swan centre?
Race you there!

It closed over a month ago.
Still, tough week for news in Eastleigh.
How I wish it would snow again.

Sad news indeed, but Brixton Saint did make some insightful comments on the problems surrounding clubs today regardless of cause. I hope that the ex-members will be welcomed straight into the nearest British Legion because they are struggling as well.

Condor Man wrote:
I am a member of a club where the committee work hard to get good deals with breweries in order to keep the prices at a reasonable level. Sadly some brands, like Guinness, are too expensive. If we lose pubs and clubs it's just another nail in the coffin that is society.

Its being so cheerful that keeps you going, isn't it, Condor Man?

Having said that, is there not some activities that can be done which do not involve pouring alcohol down someone's throat. Booze is not the end of the world in any case.

Donald2000 wrote:

Condor Man wrote: I am a member of a club where the committee work hard to get good deals with breweries in order to keep the prices at a reasonable level. Sadly some brands, like Guinness, are too expensive. If we lose pubs and clubs it's just another nail in the coffin that is society.

Its being so cheerful that keeps you going, isn't it, Condor Man? Having said that, is there not some activities that can be done which do not involve pouring alcohol down someone's throat. Booze is not the end of the world in any case.

Clubs are less about drinking and more about the social outlet they provide. In most clubs members know most people there so can go out without fear of being attacked or abused. They perform a different function to pubs.

Condor Man wrote:

Donald2000 wrote:

Condor Man wrote: I am a member of a club where the committee work hard to get good deals with breweries in order to keep the prices at a reasonable level. Sadly some brands, like Guinness, are too expensive. If we lose pubs and clubs it's just another nail in the coffin that is society.

Its being so cheerful that keeps you going, isn't it, Condor Man? Having said that, is there not some activities that can be done which do not involve pouring alcohol down someone's throat. Booze is not the end of the world in any case.

Clubs are less about drinking and more about the social outlet they provide. In most clubs members know most people there so can go out without fear of being attacked or abused. They perform a different function to pubs.

Nailed it!

Many of these old clubs are dying out as the older members pass on and very few youngsters are into bingo or old fashioned entertainment. However - many of them attract a family clientele although the sprogs can sometimes run riot and upset some of the old codgers.

At least these WMCs are fairly safe (apart from the way there and back) as opposed to 'trendy' (lol) drinking sheds that attract the chavs.

Money is tight and a great deal of people just stop at home glued to the big TVs with cheap supermarket booze to take their minds off whatever life chicks at them.

They lose on an important word 'social' club. Nice to have a moderate drink and chat with people. Let's face it - we all love intercourse!

Yes, it's sad that a social club is going. I'm more concerned at the thought of a landmark building being replaced with another pile of breeze block and plasterboard! More hutches, err ...flats - just what the town needs..!

My family who were regulars in the Army during the war use to take us kids to the Comrades Club, was it known as the British Legion? Prices were low, all amenities and special events in which the family could go and was affordable. Nowadays if a family, or even just the ex veteran on his own the prices were very reasonable, not like all these 'clubs' sprouting all over the City. In any case old codgers as some call us old'uns don't want rampaging kids disturbing the old Comrades reverie! Ah! for the old days when kids could be seen and not heard.

goard