Members of the Chester Liberal Club are celebrating after still being open two years after facing closure

Nov 17 2011 by Rachel Flint, Chester Chronicle

OVERJOYED members of a city centre club are celebrating after saving their 100 year old society from the brink of closure.

For two years members of Chester Liberal Club, on Nicholas Street, Chester have been fighting to save their club which faced closure after struggling to attract punters to hire out their events room.

But two years on the private members’ club is still going strong thanks to tireless campaigning and fundraising and is letting people in Chester know that they are open for business.

Membership secretary of Chester Liberal Club, Graham Bostock, said that the club was still very much alive but is continuing to struggle because it is hidden away, and people assumed that the club had closed.

“We almost closed about two years ago at the AGM, but the members said that they wanted try and keep the club open,” said Mr Bostock.

“They worked hard and people put in donations towards the running costs, one contributor donated more than £3,000 which saw us over for a few months.

“We now have a new lease but it has reduced from 80 years down to ten. That will probably be how long we will need, we are still struggling, so we may only last four to five years.”

Mr Bostock explained that the club, originally based in Foregate Street, was opened in 1883 by Herbert Gladstone, youngest son of Liberal Prime Minister William Gladstone (1809-1898).

The club is also hoping to attract younger members and is hoping that residents will hire out their venue room for parties in the lead up for Christmas.