Historic Conservative club believed to have shut
A long-standing Conservative club in the Black Country is facing an uncertain future after it is believed to have suddenly shut its doors after more than 100 years.
Tipton Conservative & Unionist Club on Union Street was a flour mill before becoming a Conservative club in 1909.
It had also been home to Tipton Civic Society, which was due to hold a talk at the venue tonight.
But Keith Hodgkins, chairman of Tipton Civic Society, said he had seen a notice on Facebook that said the club had closed.
Councillors in the area have also confirmed they had heard the venue had shut earlier this month.
Mr Hodgkins said: "It is a great shame the club has closed. We've been holding our meetings there for many years and it is a very popular venue in the area.
"It's a place everyone has grown fond of and it will take some getting used to.
"There had been reports of finances becoming more and more of an issue, which is obviously understandable in today's times.
"Our meeting tonight will now be held at St Martin's and St Paul's Church in Owen Street from 7.30pm."
The club, which has a function room, lounge bar, and played host to sporting events, parties and tribute nights, is reported to have closed on January 3.
It comes just weeks after it was announced Wednesbury's Conservative Club, which used to be a favourite of ex-PM Winston Churchill's, will close on Sunday after more than 140 years of service.
Former councillor Bill Archer, who had been a member of the Wednesbury club for 40 years, said he understood the club had closed.
"It just shows you the sign of the times, it's another shock as Tipton was a lovely little venue. I was very familiar with that club as we held a number of meetings there over the years and it's somewhere I enjoyed to go.
"So many clubs and pubs have closed down, I'm sad to say it's just another one added to the list. Just like Wednesbury, it's a sad decision for Tipton, as it was a big part of people's lives," he added.
No-one from Tipton Conservative Club was available to comment. Wednesbury Conservative Club, on Walsall Street, is now up for sale with a price tag of £350,000, although it may be let to the right bidder.
During its heyday it had around 3,000 members and hosted some of the Tory party's big names, including ex-leader William Hague, ex-Deputy PM Michael Heseltine and Wolverhampton MP Enoch Powell.
