The Carlton Club have issued an impassioned plea to ‘Save Our Club’ on Instagram after it has emerged that they face eviction from their iconic Whalley Range building, where they’ve operated since 1913.
Located on Carlton Road in Whalley Range, Rowan Lodge – which is known by everyone who visits as The Carlton Club – has operated as a community-focused arts, culture and events space for decades. From live music to street food festivals to experimental poetry to car boots, it operates as a creative hub for the M16 postcode and beyond.
On Wednesday 21 August they revealed that they are facing eviction from the company who own the building (Carlton Social and Bowling Club Building Company Ltd, known as The Building Company), who are a separate entity to Carlton Social and Bowling Club CIC, who operate the space.
Writing in a statement on Instagram, they wrote: “The Building Company has served us an eviction notice which we are challenging. The legal process will take at least 12 months – it is business as usual during this time – we must fight to preserve our long-term future”.
They added: “It’s been this way since 1913. The Building Company exists solely to enable the club to operate but its eviction notice states that it wants to remove us and run its own business on the site”. No details have been revealed as to what that business would be.
The Carlton Club have set up a GoFundMe, where they hope to raise an initial £50,000 to pay legal fees. There’s also a change.com petition where you can show your support too.
Support for the Save our Club campaign is vocal. Justin Anderson, Acting Chair of the Club said: “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”.
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.
Voices from across Manchester’s arts, culture and hospitality industries have taken to Instagram to pledge their support for the campaign. Ancoats restaurant and club night space The Hip Hop Chip Shop wrote, “Let’s do this – a vital community asset with green space and music & well-being at its core!” while graphic designer Glen Cutwerk wrote, “We got this people! They have messed with the wrong club!!”.
The Carlton Club stressed that while they challenge their eviction notice, events will continue to go ahead as planned.
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