James St Club

firefighter753 · 06-10-2005, 19:51

Does anyine know what has happened to James St Club, I was only in on Saturday, I went past today and it is all boarded up.

Gayle · 08-10-2005, 12:08

That doesn't sound good!

park381 · 08-10-2005, 19:10

Did the guy that owns King st club not own james st.?

Gayle · 08-10-2005, 21:40

Not King St, I think he owned Oaklea - which I think, but am not sure, has also closed.

park381 · 08-10-2005, 22:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gayle

Not King St, I think he owned Oaklea - which I think, but am not sure, has also closed.

Ah yes I think you are right there gayle, not paid his bar bills eh

firefighter753 · 09-10-2005, 10:43

I have found out that the company that owns the two clubs as gone bust (the same bloke who owns Springhill nursing home), the Oak lea has remained open but is for sale and the james st club has closed, apparant reason being that Ossy is a dying town. The only people making money in Oswaldtwistle are the plywood manufacturers because of all the boarded up buildings, its a crying shame.

park381 · 09-10-2005, 13:09

What about the nursing home, is that due to close or be sold?

firefighter753 · 09-10-2005, 13:13

No the nursing home is ok, the club thing was like a hobby to him and two other partners, I think he is better at running nursing homes than clubs. lol.

park381 · 09-10-2005, 13:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by firefighter753

No the nursing home is ok, the club thing was like a hobby to him and two other partners, I think he is better at running nursing homes than clubs. lol.

At least he is sure of his money there

park381 · 15-10-2005, 15:39

Firefighter 753, you were correct, the answer is in this weeks observer

garinda · 15-10-2005, 19:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by firefighter753

I have found out that the company that owns the two clubs as gone bust (the same bloke who owns Springhill nursing home), the Oak lea has remained open but is for sale and the james st club has closed, apparant reason being that Ossy is a dying town. The only people making money in Oswaldtwistle are the plywood manufacturers because of all the boarded up buildings, its a crying shame.

You can't say Ossy is a dying town. It has seen some of the biggest price increases for housing in the country, and unlike a lot of places is still bouyant.

The reason why the James Street club became unsuccessful was that it tried to become something it wasn't, ie: a pub.

It was busy for nearly a hunderd years because it was a working men's club, and it could afford to let it's members enjoy cheaper drink prices, as well as provide entertainment.

When it was sold, and was in direct with the pubs on the main road, it lost it's raison d'etre. Especially when most of the pubs in the town are also providing entertainment.

garinda · 15-10-2005, 19:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by firefighter753

No the nursing home is ok, the club thing was like a hobby to him and two other partners, I think he is better at running nursing homes than clubs. lol.

Yes they have a growing, captive market there.

Bringing in drag acts in to Ossy wasn't a stroke of genius.

Gayle · 15-10-2005, 19:13

They had three big rooms to fill every night (or at least at weekends to make a profit) and they just couldn't attract that many people in.

They spent a lot of money on the refit and they went through a quick succession of about three Managers in the space of a year. I just hope someone buys it and gets it going again. It would be a shame for another big building in Ossy to be empty and open to vandals and squatters.

garinda · 15-10-2005, 19:29

The Straits Club realised their customer base, and it remains a working men's club.

It serves drinks cheeper than the pubs, and is always busy.

I'm a member, even though I don't qualify on nearly every count.

Gayle · 15-10-2005, 19:32

You see if they applied Friends of Rhyddings Park style rules to the Straits club you'd have been thrown out long ago.