But working men’s clubs in Sheffield and across the nation soon became less about education and more about entertainment, with members lapping up the cheap booze, bingo, music and comedy on offer. There were some 4,000 working men’s clubs across Britain in their 1970s heyday, a number which has reportedly more than halved since then amid rising costs and growing competition from home entertainment.
In Sheffield, working men’s clubs in Darnall, Handsworth, Woodhouse Mill and Ecclesfield are among those to have closed in recent years, though perhaps the most famous casualty is the one in Shiregreen where the final scene of The Full Monty was filmed before a live audience. Some clubs continue to defy the odds and pull in the punters, however, like the hugely popular Crookes Social Club, which was founded in 1919 as Crookes Working Men’s Club.
This retro photo gallery shows some of Sheffield’s numerous working men’s clubs during the 1980s and 1990s, when they were still a big draw despite the decline of the steel industry. Some of them are still thriving in these photos, while others are sadly boarded up or have been converted into pubs. The clubs featured include those in Pitsmoor, Burngreave, Handsworth and High Green.
All the photos featured are shared courtesy of Picture Sheffield.
This retro photo gallery shows some of Sheffield’s numerous working men’s clubs during the 1980s and 1990s, when they were still a big draw despite the decline of the steel industry. Some of them are still thriving in these photos, while others are sadly boarded up or have been converted into pubs. The clubs featured include those in Pitsmoor, Burngreave, Handsworth and High Green.
![The concert room at Colley Working Men's Club, on Margetson Road, Sheffield, in 1989](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjQ5MmRkZDQzLWY2ZDUtNGRiZC1iY2Y0LTAwMmVmZmNlNDUxMzoyMTlmY2EwZi1lOTkzLTRkNzctYTUyYi0xMTBlMWNiZDE5ZWU=.png?crop=3:2&width=640)
5. Colley Working Men's Club
The concert room at Colley Working Men's Club, on Margetson Road, Sheffield, in 1989 Photo: Picture Sheffield
![Pitsmoor Working Men's Club and Institute, on Pitsmoor Road, Sheffield, in 1991](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmMzYWQ3YmU2LWFhMzYtNGI3Ny05NDFjLTBmNTAzZTlkMzEyYTplMzA5MTI1My04MDQzLTRiOWUtYjlhMS1lMTI1NzRhZjU5MDM=.png?crop=3:2&width=640)
6. Pitsmoor Working Men's Club
Pitsmoor Working Men's Club and Institute, on Pitsmoor Road, Sheffield, in 1991 Photo: Picture Sheffield
![High Green Working Men's Club, on Westwood Road, Sheffield, in 1985](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmE5NzFkMThkLWQwNDQtNGFmYi1hYjQxLWMzNWU4MGI0MDNkODpiZmYwZDA1YS0xZmZiLTRkYzAtOTgzNy0xNGM3NmNhMjczZTk=.png?crop=3:2&width=640)
7. High Green Working Men's Club
High Green Working Men's Club, on Westwood Road, Sheffield, in 1985 Photo: Picture Sheffield
![Woodhouse Central Working Men's Club, on Beighton Road, Sheffield, in 1987](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjczY2FhMThmLTk2ZDAtNDA1My05M2MwLTU3ZDRlM2JmZDY1OTplNGI4YTgzMC05YTljLTQyNmUtOTczNi0xYjliMTMxNWE4NzU=.png?crop=3:2&width=640)
8. Woodhouse Central Working Men's Club
Woodhouse Central Working Men's Club, on Beighton Road, Sheffield, in 1987 Photo: Picture Sheffield