High Green Club, Sheffield
Founded in 1900, High Green Club in Sheffield is planning a three-day party in October to mark the 125th anniversary of a venue which has always been at the heart of the local community.
Nestled on the outskirts of Sheffield, High Green Club – in the village which gives it its name – has been a cornerstone of its community for generations.
This October, the traditional social club will mark a major milestone – its 125th anniversary – with a weekend of live entertainment, reflecting the vibrant spirit that has kept it thriving for over a century.
For Club Treasurer Alan Hawksworth, a member since he was 18, the club is more than just a venue – it's a labour of love.
Now 71, Alan has witnessed decades of change but is proud that the club is going strong with over 1,000 members and a major role as the social hub of the local area.
"For the club to be doing so well when many venues are struggling is a major testament to all the hard work that goes on behind the scenes," says Alan.
"We recently held our AGM and reported a very healthy surplus across the financial year so we're delighted to be in such a strong position to be able to continue to invest in the club and its facilities. "
The club has continued to evolve right from its earliest days and the current Committee is always looking at ways to improve what we offer to our members.
"When I joined 53 years ago, membership was a tradition which was passed from father to son but these days you don't have people just joining automatically so we have to work harder as a club to ensure we're fit for the 21st century.
"Being an old building, maintenance is a big issue as it seems there is always something which needs doing, but as a builder by trade my entire working life, I'm always happy to come in and do any jobs which need doing in order to save money for the club."
Indeed, during the pandemic lockdown five years ago, Alan and a team of fellow Committee members opted to roll their sleeves up and refurbish the club while it was shut.
It meant that the club was ready to hit the ground running when it reopened with members flocking back and trading levels soaring almost immediately.
"That was a worrying time for all clubs," says Alan.
"But we were determined to get the club in the best possible shape for when
the pandemic ended.
"We really feel that the club is just such a vital part of the local community that we will do anything to ensure we continue to flourish.
"Like a lot of clubs we have many older members and the club is their social life, the place where they feel safe and comfortable and they know that the staff and fellow members will look after them whenever they come in for a game of bingo or dominoes, or just for a drink.
"People keep saying, 'If this place ever shut, we'd be lost,' and I think that is probably the case with many, many CIU clubs across the country."
As well as first-class facilities, the club is also mindful of the cost-of-living crisis and always drives a hard bargain with suppliers in order to keep bar prices as low as possible.
"We don't have an exclusive deal with any breweries so that means we can negotiate prices more effectively," says Alan.
"So, for example, our premium lager Cruzcampo is very popular with our members at the moment. We sell it for £3.50 a pint compared to £5.50 at the pub down the road.
"Carling and John Smith's are also very popular at our bar and very competitively priced."
Traditional sports and games are another attraction at the club with snooker, darts, cribbage and dominoes played regularly.
"We have a snooker team which plays every Wednesday night in the local league," say Alan.
"Then when it's the off-season, the lads come in and have knockabout games between themselves and get ready for the next season.
"On Monday evening it's Games Night in the club, with members playing darts, dominoes and cribbage.
"It's a good way to get a bit of club spirit going and gives people a reason to come in on a traditionally quieter time of the week."
The club also invests in Sky Sports with several screens around the club showing live sport.
"As you can imagine, we have a lot of football fans at the club who will want to watch Premier League and England matches and the Championship is also a big draw, particularly when Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United are in action.
"Racing is also popular and there are some very knowledgable members who will place their bets and then come into the club to watch the afternoon racing, have a drink and see if they've backed any winners."
Alongside the day-to-day activities for members, the club's Function Room is much in demand for parties with birthday and anniversary parties taking place most Saturday nights.
"We've put a big emphasis on the private function side of things and it has become a key income stream," says Alan.
"It's great for bar sales as it brings a lot of people in through the doors and they realise what a brilliant venue it is.
"Then they will often become members in order to host their own parties and celebrations here in the future. It's a really positive thing for the club.
"In terms of staging our own events, we have acts on Friday and Sunday nights.
"We try and mix up the type of turns with solo singers, duos and bands all regularly appearing on the stage and performing songs from across a variety of eras.
"To mark the 125th anniversary in October, we are having three nights of live entertainment on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday – featuring a mix of artists and bands – so that will be a great chance for the members to come together and celebrate this fantastic milestone."
Meanwhile, one of the most celebrated English rock bands of the past two decades – the Arctic Monkeys – has a direct link with the club, key band members having grown up in Hall Green and performing in the club's Concert Hall as teenagers.
Alongside entertainment, the club plays a vital role in local charity efforts. A recent event in aid of dementia charities raised a stunning £3,500, with other charity nights planned for later in the year.
As the anniversary weekend approaches, High Green Club stands as a testament to community resilience, smart management on the part of its dedicated Committee, and old-fashioned camaraderie, not to mention sheer hard work – it really is a true Sheffield institution.
