Salford Lads' Club
Salford Lads' Club
5
About
Salford Lads Club was established in 1903 as a purpose built club for boys. The club has continued to provide this facility for 120 years and is now considered to be the ‘finest example of a pre-First World War club surviving and operating today’. The club is now open to girls and boys and provides a range of activities for local young people to enjoy. Connected to Manchester’s music scene, many people visit the club for The Smiths Room. The Club Archive tells our story from Edwardian Salford to present day - along with the stunning Wall of Names, the space contains all the membership records, photographs, annual reports and newsletters dating back to 1903. These can be seen by visitors and those tracing their family tree. Visitor open days take place on Wednesdays and Saturdays, 11am to 2pm. No need to book – just turn up! Tea, coffee, drinks and snacks on offer with all proceeds supporting the club to remain open and continue its work in the community.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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- Neal T3 contributionsEnriching, fun and memorable experienceThe Salford Lads Club was a tremendous and enriching experience. The volunteers were just fantastic - friendly and knowledgeable with a sense of love and pride for what the Salford lads and girls club stands for in the community. The whole experience summed up the spirit of the place and the remarkable talent that has emerged from the community. If this could have been replicated in other working class communities then the country would be in a much better place. Thank you to all the staff for making the day one that me and my son will not forget.Visited December 2023Traveled with familyWritten December 9, 2023
- Deborah W2 contributionsSalford Lads Club. A Salford Treasure.Visted on 24th February. What a fabulous place! Dave, who showed us around the club was brilliant. So knowledgeable and quite rightly takes a real pride in telling visitors about the history of the club and the part it still plays in the community and beyond today. Well worth a visit. Thank you Dave and all the volunteers who make the Salford Lads Club such a special place.Visited February 2024Traveled with familyWritten February 27, 2024
- Sue WCanberra, Australia64 contributionsA must for Smith's fans!We've visited Salford Lads Club three times over the past 20 years, and it gets better every time. This time we had a tour guide, and the Smiths room is much better curated. The merch has also increased. So good.Visited July 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten July 13, 2024
- lucyYorkshire, United Kingdom5 contributionsWonderful volunteers made our tripWe were there just for a look and hopefully a picture. A lovely gent (I wish I’d have taken his name) invited us in for a look around. Brilliant to see the Smiths room and see all the facilities available to the young people of the area. Fabulous memorabilia shop too where you can support the charity and walk away with a cracking tshirt! Best of all though was the passion and interest of the volunteers that showed us round and shared their knowledge and history of the place. So generous with their time and info. Not to mention happily taking our photo outside so we could both be in it! Thank you! We visited Wednesday 24th July.Visited July 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten July 25, 2024
- Maria A16 contributionsFabulousMy daughter is a huge Smiths fan so we arranged to visit the Lads club and we were not disappointed. The guy who showed us round was so friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. We thoroughly enjoyed it and overall spent 2 hours there. We finished in the gift shop which was very reasonably pricedVisited August 2024Traveled with friendsWritten August 12, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
74 reviews
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64
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Gareth J
19 contributions
Sep 2021 • Friends
This made my day. We went to Manchester on Friday to watch New Order at Heaton Park so because we stayed over we decided on taking a few pics at Salford Lads club and because it was open a lovely bloke by the name of Dennis gave us a tour and explained so much about the history and stories about it which we loved. Great T-shirts and merchandise, fantastic friendly staff and the greatest photo opportunities if you are a Smiths fan. Whilst we were there people from Ireland, italy and Japan turned up. Thank you for a great time. Thank you Dennis for such a great tour. Thank you The Smiths for everything.
Written September 11, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sue W
Canberra, Australia64 contributions
Jul 2024 • Couples
We've visited Salford Lads Club three times over the past 20 years, and it gets better every time. This time we had a tour guide, and the Smiths room is much better curated. The merch has also increased. So good.
Written July 13, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Natalie D
Glasgow, UK1 contribution
Jul 2023 • Friends
The tour was amazing. The staff were all so helpful, kind and knowledgeable. They all told personal stories about the history and importance of the club for young people and the successful musicians and sports people that have walked through the doors over the years. There are plenty of opportunities to take photos and learn about the history of the sight. The shop is well stocked with The Smiths and other music/Salford memorabilia. There is the opportunity to have tea and biscuits at the end. The staff are all so lovely and I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the stories they shared with my friend. All of this is free with only a suggested donation which is completely worth it and I will definitely return. A truly fabulous place that should be treasured and preserved. The staff really make the experience and I appreciate all the hard work and enthusiasm and pride they all have in the work they do. 2 very happy girls from just outside Glasgow.
Written July 15, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Deborah W
2 contributions
Feb 2024 • Family
Visted on 24th February. What a fabulous place! Dave, who showed us around the club was brilliant. So knowledgeable and quite rightly takes a real pride in telling visitors about the history of the club and the part it still plays in the community and beyond today. Well worth a visit. Thank you Dave and all the volunteers who make the Salford Lads Club such a special place.
Written February 27, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PKA67
Mansfield, UK12 contributions
Aug 2022
A first visit to Manchester had to incorporate a 45 minute walk to Salford. All because of an album bought in 1986. So we (18 year old Smiths fan included) arrive and are spotted and welcomed in. We find ourselves guided around this amazing building and taken to The Smiths room. And then a look around and a visit to Archie's Room (amazing SLC shop). What a total treat. What amazing passionate people. Over 100 years of supporting local kids. An ethos that has never changed and still today offers so much to so many. I can't say enough positives. It was a privilege and a pleasure. The building is amazing too. It has to be visited. Simple as. SLC is a light that never goes out.
Written August 8, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Maria A
16 contributions
Aug 2024 • Friends
My daughter is a huge Smiths fan so we arranged to visit the Lads club and we were not disappointed. The guy who showed us round was so friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. We thoroughly enjoyed it and overall spent 2 hours there. We finished in the gift shop which was very reasonably priced
Written August 13, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Melanie
Manchester, UK63 contributions
Oct 2021 • Friends
We were intending just to get photos outside the building, but Dennis invited us in and gave us an excellent tour! There’s so much interesting memorabilia and the building is fascinating. The volunteers (particularly Dennis!) were incredibly knowledgeable and enthusiastic. There was loads of great merch on sale too and all the proceeds go to taking the local kids who are members of the centre on awesome trips to really cool places. Cannot recommend highly enough!
Written October 10, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lucy
Yorkshire, UK5 contributions
Jul 2024 • Couples
We were there just for a look and hopefully a picture. A lovely gent (I wish I’d have taken his name) invited us in for a look around. Brilliant to see the Smiths room and see all the facilities available to the young people of the area. Fabulous memorabilia shop too where you can support the charity and walk away with a cracking tshirt! Best of all though was the passion and interest of the volunteers that showed us round and shared their knowledge and history of the place. So generous with their time and info. Not to mention happily taking our photo outside so we could both be in it! Thank you!
We visited Wednesday 24th July.
We visited Wednesday 24th July.
Written July 25, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Belcher J
Orlando, FL4 contributions
Aug 2019 • Solo
Anyone with any interest in Manchester music history should make the quick trip to the iconic Salford Lads’ Club. It was the highlight of my trip!
Written August 2, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
One hungry northerner
Doncaster, UK812 contributions
Jul 2019 • Couples
Big Smiths fan and this has been on my bucketlist for a while. Open to the public every saturday between 11am and 2pm. We pulled up outside at 11am prompt and took a few pics to be greeted by the most charming man(excuse the pun) who immediately invited us inside. We got a full tour of the building and learnt some of its history and not just Smiths related as this is still an active club with boxing, snooker etc. The club is run by volunteers who deserve a huge huge pat on the back for running this place. Tea, coffee and biscuits are free but donations are welcome. Quirky Smiths memorabilia available also so please support where you can. Plenty of parking outside the building. Brilliant cant recommend enough.
Written July 17, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Is the club open every Saturday to visitors? Trying to plan a visit...
Thanks!
Written January 21, 2018
Yeah it’s open for tours 11-2pm for tours on a Saturday and there’s merchandise available.
Written February 25, 2018
Can anyone tell me if the club will be open to the public on Sat 18 Feb 2017? I tried to contact the club by email but haven't received a reply so far. Thanks.
Written February 12, 2017
It was, and we received a very warm welcome from club members. Spent a great morning there, thanks!
Written February 25, 2017
Do you have to book to visit on Saturday's between 11-1.30, or can you just turn up? The website isn't too clear. Would you say an hour would be needed to savour the atmosphere and perhaps have a cup of tea? Thanks
Written July 13, 2016
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