WM Clubs in Sunderland area, long since gone!


Played three times a week between 95 and 2000 throughout the North East in a band called Slipstream. It was amazing how badly the venues smelled after the ban came in. Although my lungs were very grateful. Played at Mill View, Ivy Leaf, Farringdon, Pennywell Comrades, South Hylton. Happy days 🙂

Ivy Leaf was a terrible carry, really tight staircase to get a full lighting rig and bass bins up. Never forget the graffiti half way up that said "Chris Bonnington was our roadie ... And he turned back" 🤣
I know, I started a job around that time 2007ish, they literally stunk of stale sweat and piss and the walls and ceilings were yellow. The bogs alway had a certain whiff and you could smell it the next day after a Sunday session. I remember I got laughed at for washing my hands at one club🤣, something 'hahaha he's washing his hands and that haha'
 
I worked in a Working Mens Club about 20years ago, and me and one of the other barman where trying to get live bands (touring bands) booked in to the concert room (about 300 capacity), we where close to student digs and would have been able to fill it at the time, but the old farts in charge where not intrested as it was not the type of music they were in to.

Someone was complaining in a club bar about a 50th birthday party that was on in the concert room because it stopped the Saturday night turn being on that would’ve had a fraction of the people in.

The chairman couldn’t get it through to him that the money is far more important than tradition and it’s decisions that are needed like that for survival.
 
each to their own but it was never my cup of tea like. Lads where i live couldnt wait to get their “ clubcards” cos thats what there fathas did.
the same ones im on about never went to the town or out, just the club 🙈
CIU affiliated was like a badge of honour when you turned 18
Like you I though WMC's were pretty dire, never bothered unless there was a band I wanted to see.
The only other time I used them was on a dodgy away day.
Tottenham's Liberal & Radical Club just up the road from WHL is one I remember, pretty sure there was one behind West Ham's ground as well
 
My local WMC is spot on.

Good beer, pool table, snooker tables, four massive flat-screen tellies on the walls that only show sport.

Bar and lounge were done out a few years back to give them more of a pub-like feel.

Massive changes to the rules around membership in recent times to try and get a younger crowd in.

It was always our starting point when we were young 'uns - four or five decent, cheap pints before heading into the town. This was every Friday, Saturday and most Sundays.

Nowadays, we only go in on a Friday and even then we alternate between other places - WMC, somewhere else, WMC, somewhere else, and so on.

It would be a huge miss if it closed.
 
My father used to be secretary at chevington comrades club in the 60s ,women were not allowed in the public bar area.If my mother wanted a drink she had to shout through to my father from the lounge or get her own.
 
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I became a member of the Southwick Club in 1975 ish as my future wife’s family used the place, kept the membership until the place closed.
I’m a member of the Cleadon Club, cannot remember when I was last in.
 
I was passing Steels the other day and it looked shut. Very rarely get in to Sunderland, so it’s probably closed down, and I’ve just not noticed.

Edit. Just checked and it looks as though it’s still going.
 
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I was passing Steels the other day and it looked shut. Very rarely get in to Sunderland, so it’s probably closed down, and I’ve just not noticed.

Edit. Just checked and it looks as though it’s still going.
It always looks shut, even when it's open.

Reminds me of the control room in 'Aliens' when they close the blast-shutters over the windows.
 
Worked as a pot boy in Farra club in the early 90’s, unbelievable how busy it was pretty much every night of the week. Shame the club scene was killed off, think the nail in the coffin was likely the smoking ban, helped by a generation coming through not interested in it all.

Now I go there to get shopping in as it’s turned into a Herons!
 
They were great places in their day, sadly in decline due, as said, to them being founded on close working communities where nearly everyone knew each other. Now a lot of people don’t even know their neighbours.
Good venues for local bands to learn their trade
A lot of clubs are adapting to keep going as best they can to attract young’ uns, no choice really as their older members are dying out. Often used by the young’uns to tank up on cheaper booze before moving on to trendier establishments to get their eyes took out.

You have to be careful where you sit mind.
About 20 years ago me and the missus were going out for a meal with another couple but the lad had to call in to see somebody at Dawdon Club en route. We decided we would have a drink while waiting and being early were first in the concert end so sat at a table. Shortly after an old woman came in, looked shocked to see us and sat at the next table before putting her coat on the back of my chair! As soon as we made to leave she was up and was sat on my chair before I got two yards.
 
I was passing Steels the other day and it looked shut. Very rarely get in to Sunderland, so it’s probably closed down, and I’ve just not noticed.

Edit. Just checked and it looks as though it’s still going.

Steels was class back in the day..if the weather was bad we’d go upstairs on a Friday night..watch the band..game of bingo..9 pints..class.
 

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