Crookes Social Club: the century-old members' club that became a gig hotspot

On Mulehouse Road in Crookes stands a club that has seen it all. Crookes Social Club was established in 1919 as the Crookes Working Men's Club and Institute, and more than a century later it is enjoying one of the best spells in its history.

In 2026 the Sheffield branch of CAMRA once again voted it Club of the Year, calling it "a real success story" that "has become an important part of the local community." The award was presented to general manager Maurice Champeau in June, followed by a few games of bingo, a quiz and a buffet.

It was not always this way. Champeau told Now Then Magazine in 2024 that he was originally asked to look at the business to see whether it was worth saving, and was meant to stay for six months. "Ten years later, I'm still here," he said. On his first night, the club paid a band £600 and 32 people turned up.

Live music was central to the turnaround. "We had to get away from cover bands every Saturday night playing the same Bon Jovi track but in a different key," he explained. Instead the club began working with promoters to bring in touring acts, and artists including BC Camplight, This Is The Kit, Bodega and Pip Blom have played to sell-out crowds.

Membership tells the story. "When I joined we'd dropped to 200 members, whereas now we're up to 900," Champeau said. He has since signed a 30-year lease and has no plans to leave.

The club keeps its traditional character. There is a 500-capacity Main Hall, the 50-capacity Midfield Suite, a lounge bar with snooker and pool tables and a full-size bowling green. The week brings toddler groups, exercise classes, French lessons and quiz and bingo nights, and a monthly comedy night showcases new comedians. Non-members are welcome to drop in for a drink or a gig.

It is also a home for jazz, with the volunteer-run Sheffield Jazz staging concerts there since 2016.

Crookes Social Club is on Mulehouse Road, Crookes. Gig listings and membership details are on the club's website.