Wolstanton H S C - Social Club Celebrates its 100th Anniversary



Members raised a glass as their local social club celebrated its 100th anniversary.

Wolstanton High Street Club has been serving up pints since 1917 when it first opened its doors as the Wolstanton Workmen’s Club.

The centenary bash was almost thrown off course a few weeks ago when disaster struck.

Club secretary Brian Skelton, aged 81, said: “Our outdoor seating area was damaged due to the storms. It is now in the process of being rebuilt and updated."

He described the club as a 'very special place'.

"I’ve been coming here for more than 60 years now," he added. "It brings everyone who comes here a lot of pleasure that it has been going strong for more than 100 years.”

Over the decades, the club has tried keeping up with the times, a move that saw it change its name in 2014 to reflect the fact it had been accepting female members for a number of years.

And club president Barry Stanway was pleased to see the venue doing so well. The 81-year-old said: “It has been good that we’ve been able to reach this point. I’ve been coming here since I was five because I lived not far away and my parents came here.

“I really enjoy club life and it takes a lot of hard work to keep it going for this long.”

To entertain its members, the club offers line dancing on Tuesdays, and sequence dancing on Wednesdays and Sunday evenings.

It is also well known for its bowling green that boasts teams competing in no less than four different leagues.

There is a dart board that hosts both team games and knock-out competitions, as well as giving its members somewhere to practise.

Club member Barry Hughes says the venue is an excellent place to go and watch football matches and share a drink with friends.

The 69-year-old, from Wolstanton, added: “It is a really nice club. I’ve lived here for many years now and have always enjoyed coming here for a drink.

“A lot of people like to come here on a Sunday afternoon for a drink so they can watch the football – it’s perfect for those who can’t watch it at home. I’ve been a member here now for more than 30 years and I enjoy it.”

The club also has a concert room and bar, as well as a function room that is available to hire.

To find out more, call Barry Skelton on 01782 616736.