The Real Phoenix Nights
The Railway Club is a Clacton institution, relied on by residents. A year ago, owner John and his daughters were modernising. We return to see
how it's going.
The Railway Club, a working men’s 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’s 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’s 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’s 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’s 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 Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ1, 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’s 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.
Last on
Credits
Role | Contributor |
---|---|
Director | Charlotte Charlton |
Executive Producer | Nisha Diu |
Executive Producer | Sarah Trigg |
Commissioning Editor | Aisling O'Connor |
Broadcasts
- Mon 16 Jan 2023 20:30Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One Nightlight, Cambridgeshire HD, Cambridgeshire, East HD, HD & 1 more only
- Fri 20 Jan 2023 00:40Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One except Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland HD, Wales & Wales HD
- Sat 21 Jan 2023 14:30Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ News UK & UK HD only
- Sun 22 Jan 2023 14:30Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ News UK & UK HD only
- Mon 23 Jan 2023 02:30Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ News UK & UK HD only
- Tue 24 Jan 2023 20:30Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ News UK HD & UK only
- Wed 25 Jan 2023 01:30Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ News UK HD & UK only
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