Discovering The Hidden Gems Of Salford Lads' Club: A Complete Exploration!

The History of Salford Lads and Girls Club
Owners of a vinegar works in Manchester, the Groves family bought the Bathe and Newbolds Brewery on Regent Road in Salford in 1868. By 1888, the Groves Brothers had formed a partnership with Arthur William Whitnall to form the Groves and Whitnall Brewery.
As part of a movement started by local businesses to keep young boys from the street gangs of the time, the Groves brothers set to open a club, purposely built and designed by architect Henry Lloyd, just a stone’s throw from the brewery.
The Salford Lads Club opened in August 1903 - and was officially opened in January 1904 by Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of the worldwide Scout Movement - as a recreational club for boys with the aim “to brighten young lives and make good citizens.”
Some 120 years later, the Groves family continued their mission with the club, a registered charity, which became the Salford Lads and Girls Club in 1996; welcoming young people of any gender to provide them with activities, entertainment, and a positive social environment.
The historic building celebrated its centenary in 2003, the year also marked with its attribution of Grade II Listed Building status.
The Famous Smiths Room
Jumping back to 1985, during a cold Salford afternoon, The Smiths arrived in Manchester for a photoshoot for their upcoming third album 'The Queen is Dead', when frontman Morrissey suggested Salford Lads Club as the location.
At what was arguably the highest point in the band’s career, the now iconic shot was taken by then budding photographer Stephen Wright – who went on to photograph global stars including Madonna, Prince, and Nina Simone – with a Nikon FE, with the four lads posing with the club’s sign and Coronation Street both hanging prominently in the background.
The band members were not from Salford but had been born and raised a few miles from the club, and the photograph would forever link them to the region as a Northern band hailing from Greater Manchester. And once the image was used on the sleeve of their new album, Salford Lads Club rose to prominence with music enthusiasts from all over the world making their way to the club to recreate the photo and learn more about the band.
In 2003, to mark the 25th anniversary of Hand in Glove, The Smiths’ debut single, BBC Radio 6 Music held a live broadcast from an old disused weightlifting gym on the ground floor of the club, inviting devoted fans and featuring The Dogs, with the Smiths' Mike Joyce and Oasis’ Bonehead. The idea for The Smiths Room was born in the mind of the club’s Project Manager, Leslie Holmes, as he asked fans to share pictures or messages that could be added to the space to commemorate the occasion.

A year later, in June 2004, the room was brought to life as part of the “From Baden Powell to Morrissey” project. Leslie Holmes has continued to curate the room ever since, and it has become a shrine to the band, with posters, pictures and post-it notes covering the walls and ceiling of the room. If you set out to recreate the iconic shot that started it all, you can add to the impressive collection by leaving a copy of your photo on the walls of The Smiths Room for other fans to appreciate. Salford Lads and Girls Club has been supporting the youth of Salford for over 100 years, making an immeasurable positive impact in the community. Since their opening, the club has organised an annual camping trip for their young members, usually taking place in the months of May or June, with the first Girls trip taking place in 2022.

Boxing was also a major sport within the club, with classes initially taking place in what is now the concert hall, and it is still one of the favourite activities amongst members, even running adult boxing classes today. There is still a wide range of sports and other fun activities delivered by the club to over 200 young people, including both lads and girls football sessions and a drama club, many run by volunteers who themselves were previously members.
The youth club has also been used as the set for various films and TV series, including the TV soap named after its address, Coronation Street, and the Netflix global sensation Peaky Blinders.
Salford Lads and Girls Club also often hosts live music in its concert hall – where Manchester-born group The Hollies practiced in the early days of their career – and this November is set to welcome local up-and-coming band Rolla, who have announced all proceeds from ticket sales and merchandise sold at the gig will be donated to the venue.
You can also purchase dedicated Salford Lads Club merchandise from their online shop, with the items including books, bucket hats, tote bags, keyrings and t-shirts.
The increase in costs to run the club and its youth activity programme, means the organisation is struggling to continue with work that is essential to the wellbeing of the community and will close without further financial aid.