The Carlton Club is one of the quirkiest venues in Manchester. Not only does it have a pub with a wonderful range of beers and ample space to watch the football, but on weekends it has Capoeira classes, during the week you can play backgammon or start a quiz.
It is a club that serves the people near it, and there is currently a real risk that it will close.
Here is the story.
It is a club that serves the people near it, and there is currently a real risk that it will close.
Here is the story.
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NewsTranscript
00:00Hi, I'm Theo and welcome to Manchester World. Today I'm at the Carlton Club.
00:04Now, the Carlton Club is really a Manchester institution. It's in Wally Rains, so just a little bit out of the centre.
00:10The reason that I'm here today is because they're currently facing a challenge to be shut down.
00:14They received an eviction notice from the people who control the building, who want to set up their own business here,
00:19and the community have launched a campaign around the club to try and keep it going.
00:22So I'm going to talk to Evan, who's one of the management team here,
00:25and just sort of try and get an idea of what this place does for the community.
00:29Hello, I'm Evan Woodall. I work at the Carlton Club as an assistant bar and general manager,
00:35and I'm working on the fundraising and some of the events as well.
00:38Obviously there was a big shock amongst a few of us,
00:41because I think we thought that we were starting to develop a better relationship with them.
00:45A disappointment, I guess, and we think we've been doing a really good job here,
00:49and it's a shame that they feel that we aren't the people they want in there.
00:53So I think for BSCIC, it's really a lot of what we do is about creating a space for community activity,
00:59community organisation, people to come together and do things like, you know,
01:04we have, like you say, the drink and draw, which is on tonight.
01:06You know, it's all different people from local areas putting on things.
01:12You know, they come into the club, they have a drink.
01:14The campaign's obviously been launched over petition, where we've been amassing signatures
01:19in order to show the community's belief and support of the club, which has been really important for us.
01:25We've also got a GoFundMe going with a very good, strong team of people,
01:28and volunteers might I add, people who believe that this club should be the communities to use and enjoy.
01:35As I said, it is a community hub.
01:37It's something with such import to the people who live around here, and it really does matter.
01:42So if you get the chance, please try and support the campaign,
01:45but the thing that they're asking more than anything else is try and come down.
01:48We're only about a half hour walk from the centre.
01:50Come down, have a couple of beers, take part in one of their classes, and try your best to support the club.
01:55I'm Theo Houston-Betts with Manchester World.
01:57Follow us for more. See you again soon.