© Copyright of Bishop’s Stortford Social Club 2015
About Us
A Brief History of the Bishop’s Storford
Social Club
The
founder
of
Bishop’s
Stortford’s
Working
Mens
Club
was
Rev
Richard
Alliot,
Headmaster
of
the
town’s
Non-
conformist
grammar
school
(now
Bishop’s
Stortford
College),
which
began
after
he
convened
at
a
public
meeting
held
at
the
Corn
Exchange
on
4
December
1873.
Supported
by
two
members
from
the
Club
and
Institution
Union,
90
men had joined the club by the meeting’s end.
Most
Working
Mens
clubs,
even
though
they
were
teetotal,
started
in
public
houses.
It
was
soon
conceded,
even
by
the
Church,
that
a
pint
of
beer
would
not
hinder
the
men’s
mental
and
moral
stimulation
for
which
the
clubs
were
intended.
Bishop’s
Stortford’s
club
wasn’t
established
in
any
of
the
town’s
many
public
houses,
but
in
a
small
private
property
behind
the
Corn
Exchange
that
had
previously
been
used as a wine shop.
That
property
was
No
6
Market
Place,
owned
then
by
a
Mr
Heath
and
today
by
Nockolds
Solicitors.
Seeing
the
house
now,
it’s
hard
to
believe
so
many
members
could
have
crammed
themselves
inside
it,
despite
the
owner
opening
up
the
old
wine
cellar
to
accommodate
them
all.
Needless
to
say,
the
club
quickly
outgrew
the
premises
and
moved
to
a
much larger Georgian house in South Street.
Women
and
commercial
travellers
were
welcomed
at
the
club
from
the
start,
and
a
coffee
room
was
opened
for
their
use.
Members
also
had
access
to
a
large
library
and
reading
room,
academic
studies,
billiard
tables
and
‘refreshment’.
The
club
did
in
fact
surpass
all
expectations,
so
much
so
that
even
the
new
premises
was
becoming
overcrowded.
The
problem
of
finding
additional
space
for
recreational
needs
was
solved
in
1878
with
the
purchase
of
the
old
Agricultural
Hall
in
Kilburn,
London.
Dismantled
and
brought
to
Stortford,
it
was
then
re-erected
on
land
behind
the
club.
During
the
next
fifty
years,
both
club
and
hall
endured
much
social
change
but
their
aspirations
contributed
a
great
deal
of good for the benefit of the town and its’ community.
In
the
1930s,
commercial
interest
in
the
freehold
of
both
the
Working
Mens
Club
and
the
Great
Hall
led
to
discussions
on
its
possible
sale,
and
by
1936
purchase
of
a
new
site
for
the
club
was
firmly
on
the
agenda.
The
availability
of
a
derelict
plot
of
land
next
to
Holy
Trinity
church,
costing
only
£500,
somewhat
hastened
the
decision
and
an
offer
of
£8,500
for
the
freehold
of
both
club
and
hall
was
accepted
in
December
1936.
It
was
a
controversial
decision
that
led
to
much
protest,
but
a
deposit
of
£50
was
paid
for
the
site
and
by
April
1937
plans
for
a
new
club,
costing
£5,500,
were
produced.
Built
within
a
year,
it
was
ceremonially
opened
by
C. W. Randall on 23 November 1938.
The
club
membership
continued
to
expand
post
Wolrd
War
II
and
a
decision
was
made
to
expand
the
premises
with
the
addition
of
a
3
bedroomed
flat,
garage
and
committee
room
being
built
at
the
raer
of
the
property
during
the
1970’s.
This
allowed
a
bigger
cellar,
bar
and
storage
space
as
well
as more room for the members.
The
Club
continued
to
thrive
but
it
was
not
until
the
1980’s
that
women
were
afforded
associate
membership
but
were
not
allowed
access
to
the
snooker
room
or
have
any
voting
rights.
Eventually,
in
1995,
women
were
allowed
to
become
full
members
(with
access
to
the
snooker
room!)
and
they
have
proved
to
be
complicit
in
the
promotion
of
the
Club
as
a
welcoming
and
friendly
place
to
pass
the
time
and
enjoy
oneself.
In
2010,
following
a
great
deal
of
discussion,
the
Club
decided
to
change
its’
name
to
the
Bishop’s
Storford
Social
Club
in
an
effort
to
change
its’
genrally
perceived
image
of
a
‘Workingmens
Club’
to
a
more
inclusive
establishment.
In
addition
to
this
the
Club
underwent
a
considerable
refurbishment
program
to
further
enhance
the
facilities
with
the
addition
of
a
Function
Room,
professional
kitchen,
carpets,
furniture
and
fittings.
Good
quality
food
is
available
on
a
daily
basis
with
the
Sunday
roast
dinner
proving
very
popular..
The
Club
has
always
boasted
that
their
wide
variety
of
lagers,
real
ales,
cask
beers
and
wine
prices
are
the
most
competetive
in
the
local
area
and,
despite
the
opening
of
other
establishments
offering
some
cheap
drinks,
we
maintain
that
we
are
still
in
that
position.
This
has
been
enhanced
of
accreditation
status
from
the
Cask
Marque
organisation
for
the
quality
of
our
real
ales.
Thanks
for
this
are
largely
due
to
the
negotiating
skills
of
the
Manager
and
the
prudent
stewardship
of
the
Club
by
the
Managing
Committee.
Live
entertainment
features
on
a
regular
basis
which
is
well
attended
and
appreciated
by
the
members.
Families
are
encouraged
to
use
the
club
and
facilities
for
such
are
available.
A
well
appointed
and
sunny
patio
with
it’s
own
bottle
bar
is
very
popular
during
the
summer
and
outdoor
functions
including
Music
Festivals.
The
spacious,
modern
lounge
is
fully
air
conditioned
with
a
relaxed
and
friendly
atmosphere.
There
are
a
wide
range
of
facilities
and
activities
in
the
Club
which include the following: -
Live
music,
Music
Festivals,
karaoke,
juke
box,
gaming
machines,
darts,
snooker,
pool,
crib,
raffles,
prize
draws,
probably
the
biggest
Christmas
Draw
in
the
area,
bingo,
poker
nights,
members
and
family
outings,
SKY
TV,
BT
TV,
large
screen
projector,
6
large
screen
televisions
including
an
85”
screen
in
the
function
room,
family
fun
days,
spot
prize
nights,
horse
and
dog
raceday
outings,
golf
days,
free
newspapers, library, private function room, etc.