Just to do a Pollyanna, given some of the posts here and elsewhere which are a little downbeat about the folk club situation, all I can say is that I feel happy that I live in Southport, where the local folk club, that is The Bothy Folk Song club:

- Has great guests (old and new) and residents.
- Has great singers nights where all are welcome, with various styles and standards (isn't that what they're all about).
- Is not precious about style (but still has enough of a traditional element to still definitely be 'folk' as opposed to the oft-quoted acoustic nights).
- Is definitely not cliquey.
- Is very welcoming and encouraging to new players/ singers.
- Is also a warm, welcoming environment for new audience members.
- Has its rules yes, but very reasonable ones (as pointed out by LesB).
- Has good turn outs with old and young people involved.

And no I'm nothing to do with it, other than doing a handful of spots on singers nights. It's just that there's been a lot of 'folk club dying' threads recently, and whenever I go to The Bothy I realise that at least in Southoprt, they're not.