Not only is Newton Aycliffe Sports Club home to the town’s three major sports teams, Newton Aycliffe FC, Newton Aycliffe CC and Newton Aycliffe RUFC, as well as Aycliffe Archers, it is also bucking the trend of pubs and clubs throughout the country by increasing its footfall and turnover.

In the last two years the Moore Lane Club has undergone a major restructure and invested heavily in improvements to the building itself.

In 2022, long serving stewardess Eileen Quinn decided to retire and, following a recruitment process, the Club engaged Kayleigh Bland as the new stewardess. Kayleigh had previous experience of the hospitality trade, having worked in the White Heifer That Travelled, in Darlington, as well as at Redworth Hall and brought with her new ideas of how to promote the Club and attract new clientele.

In conjunction with this, the Club undertook a review of its governance and in April 2023 registered as a limited company with a new Board of Directors engaged to oversee the running of the Club.

The Sports Club has always been one of the go to venues for parties, christenings and wedding receptions on a weekend, as well as having a loyal clientele, but has now expanded its image to have a buzz throughout the week, as well as increasing its activities on a weekend. This, in turn, has seen a substantial growth in membership, with new members always welcomed.

As well as various groups and clubs using the venue for events and meetings, the Club also has bingo and a quiz on a Sunday night, a darts and dominoes team on a Monday, pool on a Wednesday and poker on a Thursday. In addition, the Club boasts several big screen televisions showing Sky and TNT Sports as well as having a pool table and dart board.

The Sports Club is also a music venue, with the Candlelight Club meeting every Wednesday and the Club also hosting bands and entertainment on an ad hoc basis. A new initiative, starting on Friday 26th January, is free music in the bar. This will showcase up and coming local acts and will initially be on the last Friday of every other month.

Having a large sports ground, the Sports Club also looked at how to utilise that and last year held two hugely successful summer party days on the grounds, an Ibiza Garden Party in June and a 90’s & 00’s Clubland event in August. Due to their success, plans are already in place to hold a further outdoor Clubland party on Sunday 26th May this year.

As well as arranging a host of activities for its members, during 2024, the Sports Club will be raising funds for ‘Missed A Beat’ a local charity whose aim is to raise awareness of lifesaving equipment and make sure defibrillators are easily accessible around the town.

The Sports Club really is a venue that caters for everybody so, whether you are looking to host a party/reception, watch some sport, take in some live/dance music or just have a drink and meet friends in either the bar, lounge or the largest beer garden on the town, why not give it a try?

Further information about the Sports Club can be obtained by phoning or emailing the club or visiting the Facebook page www.facebook.com/NewtonAycliffeSportsClub