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Working Men's Clubs are a formally organized type of private social club (Also see C&IU). They were initially founded in the nineteenth century in industrial areas of Great Britain, particularly the North of England with the aim of providing recreation and education for working class men and their families. Today there are over 3000 Working Men's clubs in the UK. [1]

Despite the educational ambitions of the founders, most Working Men's clubs today are purely recreational in nature. Typically, clubs have at least one bar, snooker or pool tables, and many provide food. They will often provide entertainment such as housie, raffles, live music and comedy.

A Working Men's club is run as a very wealthy profit making organisation by its members through a committee, usually elected annually. Each club has its own set of rules, which tend to be vigorously enforced. The committee will discipline members (common punishments being a warning, or a ban from the club for a set time period) for violations of the rules.

Despite the name, women are allowed to be full members in many clubs, and all clubs allow entry to women. Non-members are not allowed entry unless signed in by a member.

Whilst all members must pay a small annual fee, the primary source of income comes from the sale of alcohol. A club will retain paid staff, such as barmen, stewards, caretakers and cleaners.

Most Clubs are affiliated to the Working Men's Club and Institute Union (more commonly known as the CIU)^[1]. A member of one CIU affiliated club is entitled to use the facilities of all other CIU clubs, although they will only be entitled to vote in committee elections in clubs where they are full members. See C&IU for a list of clubs.

The CIU has two main purposes; to provide a voice at national level for Working Men's clubs, and to provide discounted products and services for member clubs.

Until 2004, the CIU ran its own brewery in Dunston, Tyne and Wear. This produced various ales and lagers under the Federation brand. The brewery and brands were sold to Scottish & Newcastle for £16.2M [2], although CIU affiliated clubs do still receive discounted beer. These discounts are largely passed on to the members and Federation beer will generally be cheaper than beer available in local pubs.

In December 2007 a research poll conducted jointly by the British Institute of Innkeeping and the Federation of Licensed Victuallers' Associations found that overall revenue was 7.3% down as more men opted to drink at home (where they could smoke in comfort)^[2].

1. ^ The CIU is affiliated to the Committee of Registered Clubs Associations or CORCA.
2. ^ Article (no byline) Working men's clubs hardest hit by smoking ban in The Daily Telegraph Issue no 47,444 dated 18th December 2007