New Cumnock Working Men’s Club has been saved from closure after more than a year of grappling with historic debt and a monumental refurb job – and it is all thanks to two women.

Last year, a fight was launched to bring one of Scotland’s last remaining working men’s clubs back from the brink after it was blighted by a whopping £56,000 worth of debt along with the impact of Covid-19 and the demand it placed on its Food Larder service.

The club’s interior had also fallen into near-disrepute. Black patches of mould and damp covered the walls, loose electricals hung free over the bar, cigarette butts were stamped into carpets and the place hadn’t seen a lick of paint or had an airing since the days of indoor smoking.

Cumnock Chronicle:

Cumnock Chronicle:

Cumnock Chronicle:

But now, thanks to the hard work and perseverance of Heather Montgomery and Sheryl Graham, the working men’s club is back open for business and the ladies could not be happier.

Chairs, booths and tables have been restored to their former glory, 15-year-old carpets now look as good as new after a deep clean, and a whole new electrical system has been fitted, meaning no dodgy wires or fire hazards.

The bar is sparkling, the shelves are stocked and the floors are wiped. The place is, quite literally, gleaming with potential.

Heather said: “We have our own constitution now so I run the food hub and Sheryl runs the Kid’s Cove. If it wasn’t for us running the food hub during Covid, we’d have been closed by now.

“We’re all miners’ daughters. This is their legacy and we are leaving a legacy now too.

“We couldn’t have done it without the help of the council. They have been absolutely fantastic throughout.”

Cumnock Chronicle:

Cumnock Chronicle:

Cumnock Chronicle:

Cumnock Chronicle:

Looking to the future, the women want the club to be a community hub; a multipurpose space used to hone the skills of young people and professionals in the area.

“We now want to hold conferences and council meetings and for workplaces to come in and hold training days here”, Heather continued.

“We’ve got parking and the facilities for it. People getting trained would be able to physically walk through the steps, from the door to the bar floor to the cellar. We need to take things to the next level.”

Unfortunately, the club still doesn’t have a sufficient heating system in place, but Heather insists that it is the last problem to fix.

Cumnock Chronicle:

Excitingly, weddings have already been pencilled in for 2022 and the new, all-female committee are planning movie nights to reunite the community post-Covid and see an end to social isolation.

Heather added: “We’re so passionate about the club. The community spirit is there, it’s just sometimes about digging a bit deeper to find it.”