Connah's Quay Labour Party Social Club
At a meeting of the Connah’s Quay Local Labour Party held on February 19 1965, in the Labour Rooms Connah’s Quay, a proposition was made and seconded, that a sub-committee be formed to look at the possibilities of building a Labour Party Social Club in Connah’s Quay. It was decided by the sub-committee to accept the offer of the Chester Northgate Brewery to loan the amount of money required to build the club.
The sub-committee then met the directors of the brewery where it was agreed that that the Brewery would loan the Connah’s Quay Labour Party the sun of £25,000, at an interest rate of 3%. In 1967 visits were made to Liverpool to see Club equipment and also to see Oswestry Labour Club. The club officially opened on Friday 29 March 1968 by the Rt. Hon. Anthony Greenwood M.P. (Minister of Housing & Local Government). There is a bronze plaque commemorating the event in the function room.
In 1994 the Club was subject to a horrifying arson attack which destroyed the popular function room. In the early hours of February 6th, a fire was started in some bins at the back of the Club which soon spread to the function room which became so intense that the plastic shutters covering the bar were melted. Fortunately the assistant stewardess at the time (later stewardess), Vicky Mason, at the time was alerted to the sound of the alarm and the fire brigade was quickly on the scene. The fire was then kept to the function room area but the bar side had suffered severe smoke damage. The club was soon back on it’s feet and just two months later after a massive clean up the bar side was able to re-open, much to the relief of members. In December 1994, after a £100,000 rebuild investment the function room was back ready for business. The club had to be rebuilt in the same style as before with the same type of seating and tables.
Despite the economic downturn and the sad news that other clubs across the country are closing such as Shotton’s Carlton Club and even the Labour Club in Trimdon which was ex-Prime Minister Tony Blair’s local Club, the future of the Connah’s Quay Labour Club looks bright. New seating has appeared in both the bar side and the function room as well a new heating system installed. Regular events at the Club such as karaoke nights are well attended. The bar has also had new carpets and new lighting.
