NB: No membership is required to visit the HUNGRY HORSE FOLK CLUB.

It was  first founded in October 2006 following a call from the then licensee of the Hungry Horse Pub/Restaurant located at The Rake in Ellesmere Port, (near to the Cheshire Oaks Retail Park).   Originally starting in the bar area, folk music became so popular that activities were moved upstairs to the banquet room.    Many well known national and international folk artists performed there over the years including - Julie Felix, Harvey Andrews, Anthony John Clarke, Steve Knightley, Allan Taylor, Harvey Andrews and the like.

The organisers were at the time also the founders of the Wirral Folk on the Coast Festival, (later to be called The Wirral Folk Festival) which started in Wallasey, moved to Bromborough Village venues and then on to the OC Club in Bromborough.    The festival became a very successful community event at that location and inevitably it outgrew the space available.      The organisers were then referred to management at its present venue - The Whitby Club, in Ellesmere Port.   This excellent sports and social venue proved to be ideal for the development of the festival and many successful festivals took place each year up to the time of government Covid 19  restrictions.      Some of the main artistes who performed at the festival were - Barbara Dixon, Ralph McTell, Lindisfarne, Dougie McClean, Harvey Andrews, Houghton Weavers.                                        The Presidents Lounge and Oak Room Suite then also became the regular weekly location for the Folk Club.

 

What you can expect at this Folk Club: -

 

PRESIDENT'S LOUNGE:

 

Thursday evening times are - 7.30pm until 10.30pm.  No membership is required.   Entry is free  for the evenings in the plush surroundings of the President's Lounge.

There are two types of evening held there.  

They are:

*   Singers, Musicians & Poets Nights.  Audiences are most welcome also.   They can expect to be entertained by some very talented local folk music performers and poets.    Many travel in from outside the Merseyside region.

*   BIG Spot Nights - involve Singers, Musicians &  Poets performing as normal followed in the second half of the night by booked acts (with that extra special bit of talent).   They perform for 50 minutes followed by more performers from the floor and then return to finish the night, concluding at 10.30pm.  

A hat collection is the reward for the BIG Spot act.

 

OAK ROOM SUITE:                                               Advanced booking is often recommended for the excellent concerts that take place in the Oak Room Suite.    The performers are professional or semi professional artists of the highest order and in the past have included the likes of - The Houghton Weavers, Steve Knightley, (of Show of Hands), Richard Digance, Tom Topping Band, Elbow Jane, Merry Hell,  Allan Taylor, Jez Lowe, Harvey Andrews, Bernard Wrigley,  Anthony John Clarke, Simply Dylan Band and many more.

 

Where is The Whitby Club?

SEE MAP - BELOW: -

 

Larger concerts are occasionally held in the modern church - St Thomas & All Saints, Whitby Road, Ellesmere Port, CH65 6UW.   (It is shown on the below map also).   The church seating is individual modern style cushioned chairs, (not pews).

Bring your own drink as the church is not licensed.

 

CAR PARK: - There are 65 parking spaces; overspill facility can be found in Whitby Road

(a very busy main road) and on the large civic car park close by (a few minutes walk away).