A VILLAGE sports and social club has undergone a lockdown spruce-up.
Like all hospitality venues, Middleton-in-Teesdale club was forced to close last year due to the pandemic.
Volunteers who run the club used the enforced closure to carry out work to brighten up the popular venue.
Government grants to help hospitality venues manage during the closures have been reinvested into improvements at the club.
Michael Carr, a committee member for the club, said: “The entrance was looking a bit shabby, so we wanted to tidy that up. We have tried to do all of the jobs ourselves to keep the costs down, but we had contractors in where we needed to.”
As well as replacing tired facia boards to the front, railings have been given a lick of paint and crumbling concrete steps re-laid.
Male and female toilets have been given a fresh coat of paint. Storage cupboards have been created in the former ticket collection booth.
The bar has also been given a lick of paint and new carpeting laid.
Dressing rooms adjacent to the stage in the concert hall have also undergone a programme of decoration.
Mr Carr added: “There was a group of about eight or nine of us who did the work, chipping in where we could. We’ve created a bit of a green room for performers to use and the storage room has still to be painted but it is a lot better.”
Now back open the committee have been busy filling up the events diary and have music evenings planned for the coming months.
A bingo evening will take place on Friday, August 27), kicking off at 6.30pm with funds raised going towards the club’s building work.
“We’ve got Tess Tickle coming on September 10,” he added.
“Ali Collinson joined the committee last year and she has organised this event.”
Live music is also scheduled with several local bands lined up to perform in October and November.
There are also plans to launch a mid-week jamming session for singers and musicians who enjoy open mic events.
Mr Carr said: “We’ve got our AGM next month and it would be good to get new members to come on board to do things as it is such a smashing club.”
For more information about Middleton-in-Teesdale Social Club or to book tickets to any of the forth coming events, contact Michael Carr on 07818 040066 or email [email protected]
