A new Management Team was co-opted into place in September 2017. Their task was to steer the Club out of severe financial difficulties, at the start the new financial year in October 2017.
The team inherited a significant debt legacy, declining sales and an operating loss of over £1000 per week. The Clubs Accountants made it quite clear that if immediate steps weren’t taken to rectify the current trading performance, bankruptcy was imminent.
The turning point in the Clubs fortunes was the sale of the ex-steward’s house in November along with an unpresented investment from several members. The combination of the two pots of monies allowed the Management Team to settle the debt legacy in full.
A recovery plan was put in place with the immediate priorities being to take cost out of the supplier base and increase bar sales revenue. Negotiations with all suppliers resulted in several changes to the supply base, with significant cost savings being achieved for the year ahead. The major supplier was the brewery partner. Despite several years of continual service the partnership only served to fuel the decline and increase the debt.
The team then set an ambitious sales growth plan. The plan included actions to increase the membership and enticing lapsed members back into the Club. Given the lack of investment in the structure of the building, along with the dated decor, a major challenge lay ahead.
On a “shoe string” budget the Management Team supported by several dedicated members, started refurbishing and decorating areas throughout the Club. One major spark of inspiration was the conversion of a small, infrequently used, lounge into what was surely Newton Aycliffe’s first dedicated Gin Bar. In the past year this bar has contributed nearly half of the double digit sales growth achieved by the Club.
Throughout the early part of 2018 the bar sales continued to grow and were underpinned by regular entertainment events in the concert hall. Getting the right blend of entertainment, to convince members to return to weekend events, took some time and a lot of hard work. A mix of local up and coming acts and tribute acts soon began to pay dividends and now some eighteen months later the 2019 events calendar is almost full.
Due to the England football teams progress to the World Cup semi finals, bar sales started to escalate as members supported the games on mass. Our Club Steward, Gary Hepple, provided a varied selection of bar food to compliment the occasion and the atmosphere in the Club reached new levels of positivity.
The half year accounts demonstrated a significant overall improvement in all areas of the Clubs business, which brought a level of stability and growing confidence for the future. However, to attain future prosperity a real step change was required. This change was achieved by introducing a new primary brewery supplier in November. Following months of negotiations an agreement was reached with Heineken UK. Heinekens promise was to provide our members with an unbeatable product range with quality guaranteed by installing the latest cellar technology, Smart Dispense. Our members have embraced the change and once again supported the Club with increased custom.
Today we are proud of the progress made in such a short time by the Management Team, Steward and Bar Staff and not forgetting the incredible support from the membership. The Big Club still retains it’s roots as a working men’s club but it now has so much more to offer. Members now have enhanced options including, the main bar, the Sheraton Bar, the Copper Room (House of Gin), newly refurbished concert hall delivering weekly quality entertainment and the upstairs lounge for Saturday night regulars to enjoy. In addition, we have a vision to create a community hub to fully utilise the building and offer a wider choice of facilities. Play Cafe use the Club during school holidays to provide activities and support to families in need. The Town Band holds twice weekly practise sessions. Weight Watchers on a Thursday evening. Zumba classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Newton Aycliffe Community Spirit Group held the first of many craft and trade fairs in early March and will also be staging under twelves discos.
Many charity organisations, such as Newton Aycliffe Rotary Club and Aycliffe Community Engagement, are now using the Club to host charity nights for some very worthy causes. Two new additions to the Club are our football team who play in the Wear Valley Sunday League and have reached the Division 2 Cup Final at the end of April The Big Club darts team who play in the Durham Super League.
