A fight is on to save legendary Southend music pub, The Railway Hotel.
Situated on the Essex shores of the Thames Estuary, Southend-on-Sea and environs have a long history as a haven for rock'n'roll and the birthplace of such major bands as Procol Harum, Dr Feelgood and Eddie & The Hotrods and in more recent times, The Horrors, These New Puritans and Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly.
The pub, in the town's Clifftown Road, has become central to the town's music scene over the past decade, with memorable gigs from the likes of Wilko Johnson - a pub regular - The Jim Jones Revue, Vic Godard, Glen Matlock, Earl Slick, Steve Ignorant, Chas Hodges, Steve Hooker, The Lucky Strikes, James Leg, Barrence Whitfield & The Savages, TV Smith, The Lovely Eggs, JD Hangover, Electric Six, Fallen Leaves, Walter Lure, The Nightingales, Bob Log III and loads more.
Not just a venue, the pub has become a major cultural and community hub, supporting numerous creative, charity and homeless projects.
Last December, having run the pub for ten years, and faced with mounting costs to preserve the fabric of the building, hosts Dave and Fi Dulake - who also gig as drums/organ duo The Tuppenny Bunters - decided too move on.
Given the current climate, and the possible threat of a negative impact on the community, the pair recently changed their minds and decided to stay on. Their financial worries haven't gone away, however, so friends of the pub have set up a GoFundMe page in an attempt to give something back, ease the couple's burden and preserve the pub as a venue for generations to come. For more info and to contribute, go here.
