Future of the Carlton Club under threat after building company serves eviction notice. Move threatens a valuable community asset and one of Manchester’s most popular live music venues.
A 111-year-old social club that has become a much-loved community hub in Whalley Range, used by tens of thousands of people a year, is campaigning to protect its future after being hit by a shock eviction notice. 
Operating from Rowan Lodge on Carlton Road, the Carlton Club was founded in 1913 as a private members’ social and bowling club. Since 2019, it has operated as a not-for-profit Community Interest Company (Carlton Social and Bowling Club CIC).
Despite its success (membership has grown to over 1,000 and it is now financially stable after building back from Covid), it has been served with an eviction notice, dated 22 September, from the company that owns the building – Carlton Social and Bowling Club Building Company Ltd.
The Club is fighting the eviction, with legal action and by galvanising public support for its Save our Club campaign.
By challenging the eviction notice, the legal process will take at least 12 months, and the Club will continue business as usual during this time.
Justin Anderson, Acting Chair of the Club said: “Once a private members club for a handful of people, the Carlton Club is now a thriving resource used by the whole community.
“It’s the beating heart of Whalley Range – a place where you can listen to live music, dance, or take part in literally hundreds of different events and activities, many of them free.
“In an era of increasing social isolation the Club is a lifeline for many, not to mention its vital role in supporting live music by providing an affordable venue when so many have closed. It is an asset of irreplaceable value, if it’s lost it will be lost forever.”
Aggressive tactics
The story behind the eviction is complicated. A key fact is that the Building Company’s sole purpose since 1913 (stated in its Articles of Association) is to provide premises from which the Club can operate. The eviction appears to flatly contradict this.
Justin Anderson said: “This is a very sad situation. The Club and the building company have been closely linked for over 100 years, sharing the same aims – to provide a private members club for the benefit of local people.
“But following changes of shareholders in the building company in recent years the relationship has become strained and we have experienced some aggressive tactics – including an attempt to forcibly change the locks earlier this year.
“Over the last four years we have done everything we can to broker constructive discussions but sadly these haven’t been successful.”
Legal action
The Club is pursuing several strands of legal action with its solicitors, including:
- Contesting the grounds of the eviction notice;
- Reporting the Building Company to Companies House for what it believes are multiple breaches of the statutory duties of the directors, including the transfer of the Club’s historic shareholding in the Building Company to another shareholder – without consultation or appropriate paperwork.
Public campaign
The Save our Club campaign includes a petition and a crowdfunder for legal fees. It has already attracted the support of local musicians, promoters and politicians and is being backed by the Music Venue Trust, which helped Manchester’s Night and Day venue in a protracted legal battle.
Whalley Range Councillor Angeliki Stogia said: “I am elected by the people of Whalley Range to support our community to thrive. With over 1,000 local members, the Carlton Club is a huge community asset – central to the social, cultural and environmental well-being of the community I live in and represent.
“Working with my colleagues in Manchester City Council I am determined to do everything in my power to ensure the Carlton Club continues to thrive."
Promoter and local resident Matt Worden, who runs the Club’s popular Home on the Range night, said: “For over 20 years, I have been part of the renaissance of this great community resource from a slightly tired social club to one with a thriving membership and an increasingly vibrant, inclusive programme of activities.
“For me, the club is more than bricks and mortar – it is a centre of the community with a rich history and a bright ambition, unique in spirit. It must be protected.”
Find the Save our Club petition here
And the Crowdfunder (to support legal fees) here