23/08/2026
On Wednesday 12th August, Crookes Social Club (CSC) hosted a meeting of the Sheffield branch of Restore Britain. Alerted, at short notice, by regulars and members of staff, Sheffield Communities Against Racism and Fascism (SCARF) and other anti-fascists staged a picket outside.
CSC management hadn't been tricked into this position; they knew who they were hiring the space to, and questions and concerns from several regulars and locals were met with indifference or hostility. This was a choice to close the doors to club members and allow twenty fascists and fascist sympathisers exclusive use of the space to organise; a decision that surprised many regular users of CSC, who had previously viewed it as a venue free from organised far-right hate.
Crookes Social Club management has defended their decision by arguing that not booking Restore would amount to censorship. While SCARF is fully committed to the values of free speech, no business has an obligation to platform any and all political views. Restore is a vehicle for racists, fascists, and neo-Nazis to launder their extremist views and give them the veneer of respectability. The mainstreaming of violent and derogatory rhetoric has very real consequences for the groups who are targeted, many of whom use CSC. Granting legitimacy to hate groups such as Restore is neither apolitical nor democratic. Such a stance is either misguided or disingenuous.
Maurice Champeau, general manager of CSC has agreed to meet with us and other users of the space. We look forward to that meeting and hope for a positive outcome.
