In 1899 the Working Men’s Club was built and given to the miners by the mine owners. In 1902 it became affiliated to the Working Men’s Club and Institute Union, with Mr. J. Johnson as Honorary Secretary. Thomas Johnson (b. 1906) wrote in his memoirs “When I reached the age of eighteen I was able to become a member of the working men’s club, and it was very nice on a winter’s evening to go there and have a cup of Bovril with biscuits.”
It was a place for meetings, playing cards, dominoes etc., for the miners to relax and socialise, and also where trips for families to the seaside were organised.
In 1946 the Working Men’s Club was taken over by its members. In the 1960’s it was sold into private ownership and became “The Wishing Well.”
A thriving social scene blossomed throughout and was popular with its own resident compere and such was its popularity some called it the “Mecca of the North.”
Burnhope residents Derek Coates and Jim Bradley both played in bands at the club.
The Wishing Well – or Bottom Club – had a dance floor, snug, bar and balcony, and had a night club atmosphere. Today the site is abandoned, after the club was destroyed by fire and subsequently demolished. All that remains (2026) are the wrought iron gates to the car park, standing at the corner of Co-operative Terrace and The Avenue, enclosing a weed ridden square with some hard standing.