I went to the Legion tonight for a meeting that was billed as make-or-break for the survival of the club. We were told the club is running at a loss and currently has debts of around £20,000.
As you’d expect at meetings like this, lots of people wanted to know why and how things have reached this point, and what can be done to fix it. A group from head office went through some facts after the club accountant presented the financial position. The biggest drain is the wage bill, but any changes would have to be handled legally and fairly. The steward — who is the highest-paid — has apparently been off sick with stress for a long time. The other three bar staff cost less, but nobody really addressed what would happen if those four weren’t there. Someone still has to open and run the club every night, so it’s not as simple as just getting rid of staff.
In my opinion, the biggest problem is the small group of regulars who are there every night. One of them said, “I put £200 a week over the bar — I’m not the problem.” But in reality, that group of 10–15 people is part of the problem because they resist any change and make newcomers feel unwelcome.
The club doesn’t feel welcoming at all. It’s “members only,” and even occasional members can feel like outsiders because the atmosphere is dominated by this small crowd. There are no young people coming in who might become future regulars. There’s no passing trade, no effort to attract local people looking for somewhere to socialise, and events — when they do happen — aren’t advertised. The place feels stuck in the 1970s.
Volunteers were asked to step forward to form a committee to move things forward, and a few people did — but I suspect they’ll face the same resistance from those who don’t want change. Some even suggested breaking ties and turning it into a “working men’s club like the good old days.”
Give me strength — it’s 2026, not 1972. Society has changed. Women are just as much part of social spaces, families go out together, and young people — even if they drink less — still have money to spend and want places to go. They could be a vital source of income if the club adapted.
Social habits have changed, and I worry the Legion may already have missed the chance to save itself. One thing I am sure of is that those at the meeting who insist they’re not the problem could well be drinking elsewhere in 12 months’ time, looking out at new flats built where the club used to stand — unless change happens quickly. And even then, I fear the outcome may already be inevitable.
