Newark Town & District Club
About Us
The Newark Town & District Club is a private gentleman's
establishment situated in the old market town of Newark On Trent,
centrally located in the town; this venue is one of the most unique
and best-kept secrets in the region.
Club History
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Founding Years
Founded in 1865, the Newark Town & District Club began as a Gentlemen’s Club for men living and working in and around Newark. With its dress code, subscriptions, and formal vetting process, it reflected the aspirations of the Victorian middle class.
As society has changed and class barriers have softened, the Club has evolved too. Today it is more accessible and less elitist than at any point in its long history.
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Early Locations
In its earliest days, the Club met in rooms above the Robin Hood Hotel on Lombard Street. It later moved to rented premises on Beaumond Cross before purchasing 35 Barnbygate — Barnbygate House and its gardens — in 1933, when membership stood at around 100. (seen below).
For more history about the Robin Hood Hotel and the local Newark area, please visit: Â https://www.newarkguide.co.uk
Barnbygate House
Barnbygate House, built at the end of the 18th century, is a fine Georgian property. It was originally constructed as a private residence, probably for John Beevor, a solicitor with the firm Tallents Beevor. Later owners included:
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Dr Jeremiah Bigsby, founder of Newark Hospital
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George Harvey, wine and spirit merchant and Mayor of Newark in 1873
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Frederick Henry Appleby, House Surgeon at Newark Hospital and three‑time Mayor (1899, 1909, 1910)
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During the First World War, Appleby served as medical officer to the Royal Engineers and the Sherwood Foresters. After his death in 1918, the house passed to his son, Major Lewis Appleby, who sold it to the Club in 1933.
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Originally, the gardens extended beyond the current boundary and included what is now Sherwood Avenue Leisure Park. The eastern section was later gifted to the town, with a boundary wall marking the division.
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Barnbygate House is also a Grade II listed building, registered as long ago as 1950. It is neither cheap nor easy to maintain, but there is a real satisfaction in keeping this historic structure alive and in use. Both the building and the Club remain an enduring part of Newark’s heritage.
Growth and Daily Life
The move to Barnbygate House brought new energy. Membership rose to 146 by 1946, 248 by 1965, and reached a peak of 295 in 1972.
The Club once operated six days a week. Members could take morning coffee in the lounge, enjoy lunches on working days, and stay into the evening for drinks, snooker, dominoes, and crib. Card‑playing for money was always prohibited.
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A resident steward and his wife traditionally managed the day‑to‑day running of the Club, with the steward overseeing operations and the steward’s wife handling cooking and cleaning.
Snooker at the Club
Snooker has always been central to Club life. Originally two tables were available, with a third added in the 1950s. Snooker fees were a major source of income, and a dedicated committee managed bookings and handicaps. Exhibition matches were popular, with tiered seating installed around Table No. 1.
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Over the years, the Club welcomed notable players including Joe and Fred Davies, Cliff Thorburn, Dennis Taylor, and Alex “Hurricane” Higgins.
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Even T. E. Lawrence — Lawrence of Arabia — is said to have visited during his RAF Cranwell years, riding over on his Brough motorcycle to play snooker at the Town Club.​​
Snooker table at the Newark Town & District club.
Social Calendar
Beyond snooker, the Club’s Members and their Guests enjoy a vibrant calendar of social events — from informative talks and Black Tie gala dinners to golf days, skittles tournaments, and the legendary Annual Pork Pie Competition — all set within the Club’s elegant Georgian surroundings.
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Members make full use of the traditionally decorated bar, complete with an open fire for cosy winter drinks, as well as the characterful function rooms and the spacious first‑floor dining room with its garden views. In the warmer months, the beautifully maintained private walled garden becomes a favourite spot for summer drinks, offering ample space for outdoor gatherings and marquee events.
Together, these spaces create the perfect backdrop for everything from relaxed socialising to memorable celebrations.
