Meet the grafters who transformed ‘old school’ miners’ welfare into a place the community can’t get enough of
There are now children’s activities, football-watching TVs, and a new beer garden.
There are kid-friendly fairground attractions, a kids’ soft play area, an outdoor bar and a beer garden. This is a far cry
from Nottingham’s old-fashioned members-only club two years ago. Basford Miners’ Welfare went into liquidation
and liquidated in 2022.
Ordinary people were shocked when Josie Hart vowed, “Over my dead body.” Two years later, with new trustees in
charge, the club’s perspective has changed.
While there’s still bingo, darts and dominoes, there’s now a children’s soft play area in the garden and on Bank
Holiday Monday, August 26, the club is hosting fun day from 12pm with funfair rides for youngsters and games such
as hook a duck.
Josie said: “A lot of people can’t afford to take their children to Goose Fair so we’re doing a mini fair. We are
charging £3 at the gate for each child and then it’s free to go on as many rides as you want, as many times as you
want.”
A member of the committee, she was at the forefront of a campaign to save the club that’s located within the historic
18th century Basford Hall, benefitting from a few extensions since.
“We fought to keep it open and we have gone from strength to strength. We have done loads of events for the
children. We really are a success story thanks to our trustees and committee. If you want something bad enough you
can get it,” she added.
Decades ago, the club was founded to cater to the families of miners at the defunct Babbington colliery. After 142
years, the pit was closed in 1986. The well-liked club suffered after the epidemic when social separation was
implemented and alcohol that wasn’t consumed promptly was wasted. In the meantime, the annual utility
expenditures skyrocketed from £17,000 to £70,000.
For the trustees who put the club into liquidation at the time, it was the last straw. Membership was dropped when
the Goldcrest Road club reopened last year, and everyone in the neighbourhood was invited.
Read more news on https://sportupdates.co.uk/
Leave a Reply