大象传媒

The Railway Club, a working men鈥檚 club in Clacton, Essex, is a local institution. The hub of a thriving community, it has been a lifeline for many working people in the area, and acts as a second family for many. The Railway鈥檚 chairman, John, has seen the club open its doors to generations of Clactonians, running everything from bingo nights to karaoke competitions.

But times are hard for this seaside town. The area has an ageing population and has weathered years of economic decline.
We follow The Railway as it seeks to modernise and stay relevant in a changing world. John鈥檚 two daughters, Kelly and Emma, have decided to help their father run the club. With a previous career in banking, Kelly has a strong head on her shoulders and wants to drive the business forward, whilst Emma鈥檚 kind-heartedness sees her caring out of hours for the older members of the club.

Joining The Railway against the backdrop of rising overheads and an ageing membership, they want to broaden the club鈥檚 appeal and keep it from going under. And, above all else, they want to protect an institution which means everything to their father and their community. This is a story about change, tradition, and a family forging an uneasy compromise between the old and the new.

A year on since the original programme aired on 大象传媒1, We Are England returns to the club to find out how they are getting on. Have Kelly and
Emma managed to attract new members, while staying true to John鈥檚 old-school approach? And are they managing to stay afloat financially, after a tough pandemic? We catch up with familiar faces to hear what has changed.