Hanslope Working Men's Club, Buckinghamshire
Hanslope Working Men's Club in Buckinghamshire – known as 'The Club, Hanslope' to locals – was founded in 1898 and continues to be a cherished part of village life. Indeed, it has tripled its membership and revenue in the past eight years thanks to its forward-looking leadership
Situated on the High Street of the Buckinghamshire village of Hanslope, just eight miles from Milton Keynes, lies Hanslope Working Men's Club – known simply as 'The Club, Hanslope' to locals.
This remarkable venue has not only preserved a rich heritage which stretches back to 1898 but has also fully adapted to the 21st century.
Every great club starts with a great committee, and Hanslope WMC is no exception. Treasurer Millie Mitchell ACM is quick to praise the team she works alongside, describing them in glowing terms.
"Our committee is second to none," she says. "We seem to work together like a well-oiled machine and it really helps that we have a real mix of backgrounds, professions and skills. We believe this has led to the huge success we have seen over the last eight years since this committee has been in charge. In that time, we have tripled membership and revenue. We came out of COVID unscathed due to our diligence and forward thinking. That means implementing modern events, technologies and experiences for our members whilst retaining our links to our history and honouring our traditions."
That success has allowed the club to invest significantly in its future. "We recently carried out the renovation of our lounge and bar, completed last January, and it looks beautiful and has been really popular with the members. It was time for an update and we were fortunate enough to be in a position where we could invest in our facilities."
The facilities are certainly impressive and include a Members Bar; upstairs Games Room with a pool table and dartboard; a large Lounge at the rear of the building with a dancefloor and projector screen; and a large garden with a covered seating area and adjoining car park.
The club is very much at the heart of the village and makes huge efforts to engage with local people of all ages. "Our committee is really community focused and we really try and facilitate things within the village and give local groups the opportunity to meet in the club," says Millie.
Recently, the club hosted a vital training evening teaching locals how to use a defibrillator and severe bleed kit.
"We got people in to run the course for free and invited everyone in the village, including all the local groups we could think of – the scouts, the local football teams, etc – to come in and gain some knowledge of how to use the equipment and perhaps save a life at some point in the future."
While steeped in tradition, Hanslope WMC has a distinctly modern, family-focused atmosphere. The club has worked hard to ensure that families feel welcome, and the results speak for themselves.
"It's lovely to have such a broad spectrum of things that you can offer," says Millie. "And it's great to see the children really feel comfortable here. We really try and make it so there's something for everyone at the club, and families are a big proportion of our membership base."
The club runs a packed calendar of events for younger members.
"We do all sorts of kids events throughout the year," says Millie. "Parties for the big occasions like Christmas and Easter, plus we recently had a kids' bingo event which was fantastic fun. It's important to have these sorts of events as they are the members of the future."
When asked about preconceptions people might have about members' social clubs, Millie acknowledges the challenge but relishes the normal reaction when newcomers walk through the door.
"It's always pleasing when someone steps inside the club for the first time and says, 'It's not what I expected' and then goes on to have a fantastic experience. We want our members to be proud of their club and be eager to bring in their friends and family and show it off. One of the ways you can do that is by it looking lovely and being a comfortable space that you want to spend time in."
Hanslope WMC has long been a favourite among cask ale enthusiasts and has earned plaudits from the local branch of the Campaign For Real Ale (CAMRA). "Cask ale is really popular with our members," says Millie. "We always have three ales and put on a varied selection of real ales throughout the year."
The club's commitment to quality is unwavering, thanks largely to Bar Manager Pauline Garlinge.
"She's incredible," says Millie. "We're very, very lucky to have someone so meticulous running the bar and ensuring that the beer – and the rest of our drinks offering – is just top quality across the board."
This dedication has paid off handsomely with the club a regular inclusion in the prestigious CAMRA Good Beer Guide. Their entry means that a steady flow of cask ale enthusiasts visit the club regularly from far and wide.
The annual beer festival, held on May 1-4 in 2026, is another highlight for beer lovers. "This year we had around 18 ales available – as well as the three on the Bar – and there was food and live music throughout the festival."
The event also serves as a recruitment tool. "We open to the public over the festival which means it's an opportunity for people who aren't members to come in and experience the club."
Other special events held at the club include regular live music acts and comedy events. Indeed, for the third year running, Hanslope WMC has been asked to host the semi-finals of the British Comedian of the Year contest.
"If you look at the list of other places that hold the various stages of the competition, they're not small village social clubs," says Millie. "But we're fortunate that one of our members is associated with the Blithering Idiot Group.
He very kindly organises comedy nights for us, and we've had some really good names here. We always say to our members: 'Where else can you leave your house, walk to your local club, watch proper big-name comedians, have a fantastic night, and then not even have to get a taxi home again?'"
For sports fans, the club is also a 'go-to' destination. "We show all the football and rugby on Sky Sports and TNT Sports on multiple screens around the club," says Millie.
"There's a significant number of members who really enjoy the sport, and it is definitely a draw." Darts has also seen a resurgence at the club with younger players drawn to the oche by the 'Luke Littler effect'.
"We have two darts teams, one of which just won the league and we're about to add a third team. We've recently added two new dart boards and recently held a junior darts tournament that was a huge success. Two of the children that played in the event are now at a darts academy, so watch this space!"
Hanslope WMC is immensely proud of its CIU affiliation. Millie completed the CIU's Award in Club Management (ACM) a couple of years back with Union President Ken Roberts CMD ACM as tutor, and found the three-part course invaluable.
"The ACM course was incredibly useful and really interesting," she says.
"I was really lucky because I got to do it with Ken, who is now President. The wealth of knowledge he imparted over the three day sessions was fantastic, and I use it day to day in the club. I also refer back to the notes and the information that they gave us quite regularly. I'd really recommend it to other people who are getting involved with running their club."
The club also maintains close contact with the South East Midlands Branch. "Our Branch Secretary Angela Hudson ACM is fantastic and keeps us really up to date with local stuff that's going on. She's incredibly helpful," says Millie.
So, it all adds up to a very positive picture for Hanslope WMC with their membership currently capped at 850, meaning a fairly lengthy waiting list for prospective new members. "We are really lucky to have this club and live in such a beautiful village," says Millie. "We've got very supportive, happy members so it's a lovely club to be a part of."
With a dedicated committee, a refurbished venue, award-winning ale, a focus on families, and an enviable entertainment programme, Hanslope Working Men's Club – The Club, Hanslope – is a shining example of what a modern CIU club can be.
