Last orders called at Derby Labour club
3:50pm Tuesday 22nd January 2013 in Local
TIME has been called on a Labour club which has existed in Bolton for more than 90 years.
Derby Ward Labour Club in Deane Road has ceased trading, with former club bosses blaming changing drinking habits and the recession for its demise.
Accountants CLB Coopers, based in Manchester, have been appointed as liquidators and four staff have lost their jobs.
The club had existed since 1921 and had between 350 and 400 members, but its Deane Road premises has already been sold by the brewery — one of the club’s major creditors.
Diane Hill, business restructuring and insolvency partner at CLB Coopers, said: “I will be writing individually to all of the members, and anyone who is owed money by the club, to explain what happens next and how the club’s affairs will be wound up.
“The club is unable to pay its debts, it is insolvent and as there is no appropriate rescue procedure available it will now go through a formal liquidation process.”
Club secretary Vera Bragg has been associated with the club for seven years.
She said: “There’ll be a meeting of members and creditors on February 1. It made me quite ill because I took it personally. I did my best, I kept it going for six months.
“It was just one of those things, but I saw membership and trading going down. It was just one great pity.”
Mrs Bragg also said the smoking ban had impacted trade, along with cheap alcohol in supermarkets.
She added: “There’s so much cheap booze now available in supermarkets, there are a lot of shops near the club where you can buy alcohol cheaper than we could buy it.”
Labour’s Bolton South East MP Yasmin Qureshi said: “Derby Ward Labour Club has had a long and proud association with the Labour Party in Bolton and it is very sad to see it finally close after struggling financially for some time.
“I’m committed, along with friends and colleagues in the Labour Party, to supporting Farnworth and Kearsley Labour Club — the last one left in my constituency.”
Comments(12)
hoboh2o
says...
6:42pm Tue 22 Jan 13
“I’m committed, along with friends and colleagues in the Labour Party, to supporting Farnworth and Kearsley Labour Club — the last one left in my constituency.”
Does she actually know where it is seeing Farnworth and Kearsley are treated to funding well below £4 mill + spent on a park!!!
Maybe she once passed by on the A666/M61 bypass
macauley
says...
10:10pm Tue 22 Jan 13
BoltonLancs
says...
11:04pm Tue 22 Jan 13
The Bullet
says...
12:08am Wed 23 Jan 13
boltonnut
says...
12:08am Wed 23 Jan 13
sunfun
says...
12:21am Wed 23 Jan 13
sunfun
says...
12:22am Wed 23 Jan 13
tommy
says...
8:48am Wed 23 Jan 13
A business is closing because it can't afford to keep open. In what way has that ANYTHING to do with muslims or Bolton Council?
ALI MINIUM KHAN
says...
1:12pm Wed 23 Jan 13
tommy wrote:because all my brothers own everything around there
Sometimes I feel like I'm the only non-xenophobic person on here.
A business is closing because it can't afford to keep open. In what way has that ANYTHING to do with muslims or Bolton Council?
BIG ERN
says...
2:31pm Wed 23 Jan 13
tommy wrote:Agree with you, Tommy. It shut because it's a manky dive and people are skint these days. It's cheaper at an off licence. And your feet don't stick to your carpet at home.
Sometimes I feel like I'm the only non-xenophobic person on here.
A business is closing because it can't afford to keep open. In what way has that ANYTHING to do with muslims or Bolton Council?
macauley
says...
12:01am Thu 24 Jan 13
BoltonLancs wrote:deffo mate.
Mosque anyone...?
boltonnut says...
2:36pm Tue 22 Jan 13
cation,who wants to go in that area anyway.The last time I went to that club the taxi driver escorted me right to the door saying it was an unsafe area.His words to me where you'll be safe with me, I blend in around hereTo his credit when I asked how much the fare was he gave me his card and said give me a call when you are ready to leave and I'll make sure you get home safe.When I eventually paid my fare (which was very fair)he quipped the advice was free, best to stay away.