The Social Club running the bar at East Oxford Community Centre has been forced to take a nervous step into unknown territory and recruit volunteers to run the bar after facing near bankruptcy this year. In a painful upheaval, the long-serving chair and secretary declined to contest their positions at the recent AGM and Andy Smith the barman for several years has been made redundant due to the club's complete inability to cover his pay cheques.
Ian, a long-time customer of the bar and new committe member said tonight that it was "very sad because he [Andy] was part of the place for so long, but the club's not doing so well so we have to have volunteers." Jennie, another new committee member agreed it was sad but added "The bar is quite skint."
Andy Smith accepted redundancy when it was discovered that the social club was losing money at such a rate that there might be no money to pay him (despite his legal entitlement to it) if he didn't take it now. The club has cut its openng times back, only opening Wednesday to Saturday until the figures improve. Ian was hopeful for the future, saying he felt "a new energy trying to bring the club up to what it was before it gradually faded" and Jennie said it was "quite positive to see a community pub being run by the commmunity".
Ian described the East Oxford Social Club as "the secret heart of Oxford" and said "I love coming here, just as a customer. I felt I had to support it more than just by coming here."
The club hosts a Reggae night on Wednesdays and an open DJ night, "Mishmash" on every 2nd Friday. An acoustic open mic night is expected to move in on Thursdays, starting in September. A big gig is planned for Saturday the 3rd of September with bands and sound systems.
Andy Smith accepted redundancy when it was discovered that the social club was losing money at such a rate that there might be no money to pay him (despite his legal entitlement to it) if he didn't take it now. The club has cut its openng times back, only opening Wednesday to Saturday until the figures improve. Ian was hopeful for the future, saying he felt "a new energy trying to bring the club up to what it was before it gradually faded" and Jennie said it was "quite positive to see a community pub being run by the commmunity".
Ian described the East Oxford Social Club as "the secret heart of Oxford" and said "I love coming here, just as a customer. I felt I had to support it more than just by coming here."
The club hosts a Reggae night on Wednesdays and an open DJ night, "Mishmash" on every 2nd Friday. An acoustic open mic night is expected to move in on Thursdays, starting in September. A big gig is planned for Saturday the 3rd of September with bands and sound systems.
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