Leeds Other Paper, June 3, 1988
BRADFORD'S famed 1 in 12 Club will shortly be opening it's new three storey club building after magistrates granted a one-year registration certificate last week.
The certificate was finally awarded after drawn out negotiations with police. Clarification of club rules about committee membership and general membership was achieved without 'compromising the club's intentions' said a club organiser.
The 1 in 12 building is expected to be opening in mid June.
It has taken two years of concerted hard work and effort by club members to convert the three storied ex-textiles sweatshop into an all purpose music and social club.
Stripped down to a shell, the building's interior was redesigned, refitted and rebuilt by a core group of around 20 people using the technical skill of club members and the services of a builder employed to co-ordinate and train members.
The "1 in 12" grew out of Bradford Claimants Union in the early 80's, and after a number of years hiring venues for gigs and co-ordinating meetings, applications were made to the Department of the Environment and Bradford Metropolitan Council for grants to buy and rebuild a suitable building.
They were successful. £95,000 has secured the freehold for the city-centre building and paid for it's full internal rebuilding. Sam Smiths recently signed up as their beer suppliers and now people are invited to join what augers to be one of the area's prime venues.
The club's motivation is to be a social club for young, unemployed and working class people, to have fun, as one member said, in a "libertarian atmosphere".
The new club building, at 21/ 23 Albion Street, off Sunbridge Road (near Sunwin House) in Bradford's city-centre, (telephone Bradford 734160), has two bars, gig floor and an as yet unfinished top floor for work-rooms and offices.
The 1 in 12 Club is a members' club, and it's organisers appeal to those interested to sign up as soon as possible.
Yearly membership is £2 for low or unwaged, £5 for waged people. (Phone the above number for further details).