"dirty back room upstairs in the sleazy pub"

There used to be places like that but I haven't seen one for a long time.

The places I go to are upstairs,out the back, in the skittle alley type places but they are usually quite respectable and clean which is "decent" by some definitions. They engender a certain social togetherness (avoiding cliques the while) which is an aspect of "clubs" that add to the overall experience.

Food is a secondary consideration for me - if I want a meal I will use a restaurant or the dining area of a pub (sometimes the same one as where the club is (yes the Two Lewes places both do food)but I am usually out for the singing/music rather than feeding.

Good beer is rather more important but not always possible - depends on the landlord and pub chain.

In short there are ideals we all have but not everything is possible every time.

Dave