East Dulwich Constitutional Club

[Thequietone]

What is it ?

Is it a political association. Do you get vetted if you apply. Can you be blackballed. Can you get a cheap pint there.

What is the Constitutional Club and what does it offer ?

Paul

[snorky]

Tories.

They are crying out for members

yes its cheap beer

you can play bowls out abck

[Jamma]

Cheap beer and snooker tables if you fancy that sort of thing. Had a mate who was a member a few years back, I think the subs were something like ?1.50 a year.

[Brendan]

Sounds fun. Do they let in Libertarian foreigners?

[citizenED]

Paul, as a club, i think it's just like a working man's club.

But we hired this venue two and a half years ago, for our little boy's baby naming celebration and it was very good. Has a great big hall with a stage, a OK'ish retro lounge with its own bar (like something out of Life on Mars). It's inexpensive to hire and it's local.

citizen

[Michael Palaeologus]

Its not the Tories that would be a Conservative Club. The clue being in the name.

It has a Constitution which makes it a members only club which means it can operate under more relaxed regulations. It will operate in a similar way to a WMC - having a membership who are the only ones allowed to drink in the place, but they will be able to sign friends in.

It will be a not for profit organisation, any surplus being ploughed into the club's infrastructure, member services and subsidising the food and drink.

I belong to a similar club in the Midlands - the beer is Soooo cheap.

[MadWorld74]

We used to live above the Wandsworth Constitutional Club....er...in Wandsworth.

It is a Tory set up first and foremost. Every night after the evenings 'entertainment' they would all sing the National Anthem. Our landlord was the secretary of the Club. Once when we got locked out of our flat we entered the Club, and whilst waiting for said landlord had a drink in the bar. We went back in time to c1950. Flock wallpaper, ale for the men and port and bitter lemon for the ladies. There was a picture of Thatcher up on the wall next to the Queen.

The men as they walked in (of a certain era obviously!) even doffed their hats to me.

[Thequietone]

I have got 70's clothes. I can learn to doff my baseball cap. I am going to join and screw my liver.

Thanks guys.

Paul

[TillieTrotter]

Its like The Groucho in my road, without the celebs, the exclusiveness, or the over priced V and O's. How quaint, I'm liking it! Lets make it work.:)

[Michael Palaeologus]

I hope they sell Mackeson and Vimto.

[dulwichnewbie]

as my name implies - im new to the area. But im liking the sound of liz and mags looking on as i enjoy cheap ale....so whereabouts is it???

[david_carnell]

Michael Palaeologus Wrote:

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> Its not the Tories that would be a Conservative

> Club. The clue being in the name.

>

I'm afraid not. Despite not being called "The Conservative Club" the Constitution Club is very much aligned to the Conservative Party (as evidenced by many other who have been there). Whether you think that's a good thing I suppose is up to you. Pictures of the Queen AND Maggie Thatcher might put me off my beer though.

[downsouth]

Change from within!

[mamafeelgood]

this is great, have been wondering for a while what it was and who owned it. i love the fact that in bethnal green it's a working mans club and here it's a 'aligned to the tories with pictures of maggie et al'. having witnessed the resurection of the WMC in bethnal green through hire for parties this could be the best place for one off parties, events etc... if the hall is a good size, get a projector and show short films.

anybody know what hours they keep?

[Otto]

Hi

As the bowling green is in back of our house, my husband and our ex-neighbor joined for fun. (they are fairly young guys) There was a box on the membership form one had to tick to say "I am a member of the conservative party" or something to that effect. My husband and his pal decided to photocopy the form without this sentence or box, filled it in, paid dues and signed up. They then had a great time with snooker and cheap beer. Unfortunately, our neighbor moved, so, my husband let his membership lapse. We would certainly sign up again -- it is a relic which would be great fun if other younger members joined. Any campaign to reshape/resurrect this club would be fantastic. They do "interview" prospective members - I think the guys just had a drink with someone and were welcomed. The downfall for it is I believe women have to join as "wives of"...I did pay a pound to join as "the wife" but I never ended up going...

[MadWorld74]

The Club in Wandsworth kept whatever hours they wanted. I recall once they were all on the lasy until about 3am. They had a Frank Sinattra singer/DJ in the back.

I could here them falling over on the parquet fooring, p*ssed a newts, as the night rolled on!

[david_carnell]

Otto Wrote:

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> Hi

>

> As the bowling green is in back of our house, my

> husband and our ex-neighbor joined for fun. (they

> are fairly young guys) There was a box on the

> membership form one had to tick to say "I am a

> member of the conservative party" or something to

> that effect. My husband and his pal decided to

> photocopy the form without this sentence or box,

> filled it in, paid dues and signed up. They then

> had a great time with snooker and cheap beer.

> Unfortunately, our neighbor moved, so, my husband

> let his membership lapse. We would certainly sign

> up again -- it is a relic which would be great fun

> if other younger members joined. Any campaign to

> reshape/resurrect this club would be fantastic.

> They do "interview" prospective members - I think

> the guys just had a drink with someone and were

> welcomed. The downfall for it is I believe women

> have to join as "wives of"...I did pay a pound to

> join as "the wife" but I never ended up going...

They have a bowling green. Now I'm interested! There must be a draught of 20-something bowls players ready to take the scene by storm. Where do I sign?

[Ladygooner]

I have heard that Tory Clubs will not accept women as members - even when Maggie was in power! neither are women allowed on the snooker tables..............enough said I think

[Keef]

Who cares who they support if the beer is cheap?

LadyG, I'm not sure about that, I think my nan was a member of a Tory club down in Devon (because her friend worked there and the beer was ale was cheap, not because she was a tory).

[Rolo Tomasi]

I used to live at 5 Tell Grove upto the age of 4 and i remember me and my cousins jumping over the wall and playing on the bowling field when the club was closed.:))

[mlteenie]

Funnily enough I met an Argentinian guy yesterday 'up West' who is a dancer (tango, I believe) and a sprinter. He is performing at the EDCC on Sunday. I think it may be a dance class. Anyone aware of this?

[tommy]

Do all members go for a brisk daily constitutional ?

[chuff]

They definitely let ladies in as I have met people that attended a few years ago.

[Siduhe]

Ladygooner Wrote:

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> I have heard that Tory Clubs will not accept women

> as members - even when Maggie was in power!

> neither are women allowed on the snooker

> tables..............enough said I think

I'm pretty sure they have to now. They changed the licencing laws a few years ago, so places like golf clubs where women weren't offered full membership were threatened with losing their drinks licence.

[Thequietone]

I am not joining if theres women there !

They make the beer taste funny.

Paul