Reader letter - Will The Covid-19 pandemic claim the life of this local historic landmark?

August 1919 saw a group of pigeon fanciers incorporate their club and from then until 2002 we had Crookes Working Men’s Club.

In 2002 the Club changed its name to Crookes Social Club and for the first-time ladies were welcomed as members.

We survived the end of the Flu epidemic in 1919, World War II, Asian Flu in 1957, The Hong Kong Flu epidemic in 1968. But we are asking ourselves will The Covid-19 pandemic claim the life of this local historic landmark.

We understand times are changing and at the club we are doing our utmost to adapt. We offer a safe, socially distanced venue but the rules surrounding the pandemic are making it more and more difficult to continue.

The current curfew has cut our hours and has removed the most profitable trading hours we had between 10pm and midnight.

A 10pm curfew realistically means no sales after 9:15. Customers feel pressured into rushing their last drinks and cutting short their conversations and social activities so that the doors can be locked and the lights switched off for 10pm.

Traditionally our evenings wouldn’t start until 8pm with all our entertainment and activities starting at 9:30. All this has had to be brought forward with entertainment starting at 7:30 to make sure its all done and dusted by 9:15.

No more dancing to the singers, no more chatting to friends you’ve been meeting at the club for the last 30 years. It’s come in, sit down, we’ll bring you your drinks. No more bingo because you cannot shout out when you win. No more letting off steam by singing along to all your favourite songs with the band.

Please don’t misunderstand, it’s not that we’re doing a Donald Trump and denying the virus. We are simply saying that the regulations put in place will kill this and many other hospitality venues both locally and nationally.

We’ve reduced our capacity to allow for social distancing, we’ve put stringent measures in place to keep both our staff and our customers safe. Is it not time our government allowed people to act as adults and keep ourselves and those around us safe?

We accept that not all will, but good management and common sense will ensure those visiting our pubs and clubs do so safely.

The reality is, we’ve got less trading hours, serving less customers and we have increased staff costs to accommodate table service. Unless things change, we are looking at a very bleak future.

The clubs, pubs, bars and restaurants of Sheffield need two things. Firstly, we need the Government to rethink the current pandemic control measures. They are not working and unless help is given, they will lead to the closure of many venues.

Secondly, we need our customers and our communities to help. They need to help by visiting their local and using the facilities on offer, buy a drink, play a game of snooker or pool. In short, spend some money in these venues.

Here at Crookes Club we have seen a drop of over 70 per cent in takings. All Christmas functions have now been cancelled and for the first time in over 80 years there will be no Christmas panto at Crookes Club.

If the current plans remain in place, we will celebrate the arrival of Christmas day at 9pm on December 24th and we will be forced to share our New Year celebrations with Addis Ababa who welcome the new year three hours before us.

Until the Government realises that the current regulations will not control the virus and allow us to implement sensible regulations, we need the British public to help out by coming in earlier and using the venues.

During World War II we shouted out ‘Your Country Needs You!’

Today our battle cry should be ‘Your Club Needs You!’

Crookes Social Club

Mulehouse Road, Crookes