Historic Stalybridge Working Men’s Club fights to survive amid financial crisis

One of Stalybridge’s most treasured institutions, the oldest Working Men’s Club in its original building, is facing its toughest challenge yet - and it could be the final round unless the local community rallies to its aid.

Located in the heart of Stalybridge and established in 1861, Ridge Hill Working Men's club has stood firm through two World Wars, a pandemic, and decades of economic ups and downs. But now, it faces closure due to severe financial difficulties.

Paul Bishop, the club’s long-time chairman, has issued a heartfelt appeal to the community in a bid to save the club from going under.

“We’ve been through worse,” Paul said, “but this time it’s different. There’s just nothing left in the bank. We’ve tried everything from cutting costs to taking out loans during COVID. But we can’t keep putting money in from our own pockets. It’s just not sustainable anymore.”

The club has a vacant flat upstairs which has been empty for years. The committee initially considered renovating and renting it out but with no funds to cover the necessary work, that plan was quickly shelved.

“We decided the only real option left was to sell the upstairs altogether,” Paul explained. “If someone buys it, they can rent it out themselves. But even just putting it on the market costs money, we need £5,000 up front just to cover the solicitor fees and legal transfers.”

To raise that initial £5,000, the club is appealing for donations and small loans from the public. Paul and his team are promising that anyone who contributes will get their money back once the upstairs flat is sold.

“It’s not a donation you lose. Whether it takes six months or six years, every pound will be paid back,” Paul stressed. “And when it’s done, we’ll throw a party for everyone who helped - free food, entertainment, drinks. It’s our way of saying thank you.”

Those interested can contribute in person at the club, through committee members, or by contacting the club via phone or email for bank details. Paul can also be contacted on bish13@live.co.uk

Paul, who has been involved with the club on and off since 1976, has led the team since 2011. Under his leadership, the club managed to slash a staggering £200,000 debt down to around £20,000. But COVID-19 hit hard and the club, like many others, never fully bounced back.

“Before COVID, we even got a boost from being featured on BBC One’s The One Show, it really lifted us. But the pandemic changed everything. People stopped coming out, and sadly, some never returned.”

Despite everything, the club remains a hub for the local community. It runs multiple darts teams, women’s groups, live sports, and local events - open seven days a week with a loyal team of staff still in place.

But now, it’s a race against time. If the £5,000 target isn’t met soon, Paul says closure might be unavoidable.

“We’ve had to watch other clubs nearby shut their doors and become flats. We don’t want that. We want to keep the club alive for future generations - it’s a piece of Stalybridge’s history.”

“There are not many places left like this. It’s more than a bar, it’s where people connect, where we’ve shared decades of memories. We just need one last push.”

Any donations made to the club will be acknowledged with a “Save the Club” donor card and an invite to the post-sale thank-you celebration. 

As Paul puts it: “We’ve survived wars and pandemics. Let’s not let solicitor fees be the thing that shuts us down.”