“Being made ‘club of the year’ by our local CAMRA branch is fantastic news for our club,” says Ian McGibbon, Secretary of Stretton Social Club following last night’s presentation. “We are very grateful to CAMRA for the recognition. The most important part of any club or pub is the quality of the beer. To that extent this award is testament to the brilliant work of our Bar Manager Ian Woolley and his fantastic team of staff headed up by Katrina Worthington, they keep a great pint and serve it with a smile.”
“A club should be an asset to and be at the heart of its local community,” Ian continues. “As a family friendly club, we definitely aspire to be that in Stretton. The support from our members, old and new has been terrific as the club has developed and improved over the last few years. Long may that continue! We are also very grateful to John Brandon at Rolleston Club for his, support, encouragement and advice, the fact we have taken the crown as club of the year from such brilliant club as Rolleston suggests we are getting a few things right,” says Ian with a smile.
“We stock Pedigree and there are two further rotating guest ales, featuring popular national guest beers and the best local beers we can source,” Ian explains. “Visitors are welcome but as can be seen by the expansion of membership, people tend to join once they have been in a few times.”
Stretton Social Club has seen a significant rise in membership, from 250 in 2015 to around 1,000. This has led to re-investment and improvements in the facilities.
“Both the bar and lounge have been refurbished and there are plans to build new toilets, disabled facilities and a ‘snug’. The club though remains a family friendly village club.”
The club has a long and varied history that Ian now tells.
“Following the war a group of Stretton men decide to build a club on the current site in 1946/47. Originally it was known as Stretton Labour Club. It was a corrugated iron structure which allegedly blew into the canal almost as soon as it was built! A more substantial structure replaced it and in January 1951 the club became a ‘social’ club and adapted new articles of association. It is wholly owned by its members. The club was a real focal point of the village, a place where families could spend time but bingo was sacrosanct!
“A new structure was built above the original building and the bar as it is now (more or less) was created during the 1960s. In 1967 a lounge was added, with the support of Bass. A bowling green to the rear of the club was also added.
“The club’s heydays were the 1960’s and 1970’s, stories of people getting off the ‘Blue Bus’ in Beech Lane at 7.00pm on Friday and Saturday night and racing in to get a seat are retold regularly.”
Alas like many clubs they struggled in the 1990’s, selling off the bowling green for houses, the club then downsized in the 2000’s.
“The club still struggled though and faced closure several times,” Ian says sadly. “Finally following a sustained effort by former Secretary and Treasurer, Mick and Marina Gray, supported by a small committee, the club was put back onto a sustainable footing. Alas though as they moved on in 2015, footfall was reduced and the future looked challenging. A new committee was formed in May 2015 and there was a sustained effort to turn the club back into what it had originally been, a club for and owned by the village, a community asset.”
If you live in Stretton and have never been to the club, there is plenty to tempt you.
“We host regular live bands and acoustic acts and a number of family parties throughout the year. We show live football, have regular bingo nights along with zumba classes, karate for under 16’s and a poker league. Darts, pool and dominoes teams also compete from the club.”
Congratulations to Stretton Social club, worthy winners of Burton & South Derbyshire CAMRA Club of the Year 2019.
@strettonsocial1