Er, at the risk of intruding on private grief, well said Dave Polshaw. From the point of view of one who used to go to a lot of clubs, but who now lives in the wilds of West Wales, my sentiments are with Diane, Dave P, Ewan thingumibob and Captain Ginger. The club scene overall is a curate's egg which, I'm sure, appeals to the converted hugely. But as a draw for the unconverted - no thanks! There are too many 'shaky eggs', 'read it from the book and still panic' and otherwise odd people for my liking, and it's not something to which I'd wish to introduce a neophyte.
OK, From my own experience, there's a handful of great clubs - Sharp's, Maidenhead and Herga to name but a few - but there are lot of truly bloody awful ones for whom the grim reaper can't come soon enough. I've sat through some dire evenings of naff 'performance poetry' and people trying and failing to do Steeleye covers and thinking that just because they sing through their nose it's folk to realise that the club scene across the UK is far from well.
I've not been to Lewes, and I'm sure (knowing Dave Earl and having huge respect for his judgement) that the Snail's club is excellent, but he does seem to be fixated on his own turf. There's a big wide world beyond Sussex, and there are some dire things going on out there. The people on this thread who are being accused of pissing on the parade are actually speaking a few home truths. Some of you may be lucky enough to live within staggering distance of a superb club, but many of us don't.
So stop squabbling and bickering and at least accept that there is a real need for a good, long think about the state of trad music in the UK.