What do you think?
Rate this book
Clubland
‘Brilliant.’ Alan Johnson
‘Compelling.’ David Kynaston
‘The beer drinkers’ Bill Bryson.’ Times Literary Supplement
The untold story of a British institution.
Pete Brown is a convivial guide on this journey through the intoxicating history of the working men’s clubs. From the movement’s founding by teetotaller social reformer the Reverend Henry Solly to the booze-soaked mid-century heyday, when more than 7 million Brits were members, this warm-hearted and entertaining book reveals how and why the clubs became the cornerstone of Britain’s social life – offering much more than cheap Federation Bitter and chicken in a basket.
Often dismissed as relics of a bygone age – bastions of bigotry and racism – Brown reminds us that long before the days of Phoenix Nights, 3,000-seat venues routinely played host to stars like Shirley Bassey, Louis Armstrong, and the Bee Gees, offering entertainment for all the family, and close to home at that. Britain’s best-known comedians made reputations through a thick miasma of smoke, from Sunniside to Skegness. For a young man growing up in the pit town of Barnsley this was a radiant wonderland that transformed those who entered.
Brown explores the clubs’ role in defining masculinity, community and class identity for generations of men in Britain’s industrial towns. They were, at their best, a vehicle for social mobility and self-improvement, run as cooperatives for working people by working people: an informal, community-owned pre-cursor to the Welfare State.
As the movement approaches its 160th anniversary, this exuberant book brings to life the thrills and the spills of a cultural phenomenon that might still be rescued from irrelevance.
‘Compelling.’ David Kynaston
‘The beer drinkers’ Bill Bryson.’ Times Literary Supplement
The untold story of a British institution.
Pete Brown is a convivial guide on this journey through the intoxicating history of the working men’s clubs. From the movement’s founding by teetotaller social reformer the Reverend Henry Solly to the booze-soaked mid-century heyday, when more than 7 million Brits were members, this warm-hearted and entertaining book reveals how and why the clubs became the cornerstone of Britain’s social life – offering much more than cheap Federation Bitter and chicken in a basket.
Often dismissed as relics of a bygone age – bastions of bigotry and racism – Brown reminds us that long before the days of Phoenix Nights, 3,000-seat venues routinely played host to stars like Shirley Bassey, Louis Armstrong, and the Bee Gees, offering entertainment for all the family, and close to home at that. Britain’s best-known comedians made reputations through a thick miasma of smoke, from Sunniside to Skegness. For a young man growing up in the pit town of Barnsley this was a radiant wonderland that transformed those who entered.
Brown explores the clubs’ role in defining masculinity, community and class identity for generations of men in Britain’s industrial towns. They were, at their best, a vehicle for social mobility and self-improvement, run as cooperatives for working people by working people: an informal, community-owned pre-cursor to the Welfare State.
As the movement approaches its 160th anniversary, this exuberant book brings to life the thrills and the spills of a cultural phenomenon that might still be rescued from irrelevance.
- GenresHistoryNonfictionBeer
288 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 9, 2022
13 people are currently reading
115 people want to read
About the author
Pete Brown
18 books62 followersThere is more than one author with this name
Pete Brown is an English writer who has written extensively on the subject of beer and drinking cultures around the world. He has written three books; Man Walks Into a Pub, Three Sheets to the Wind, and Hops and Glory. Brown was born in Barnsley, South Yorkshire and now lives in London.
Above bio is from Wikipedia. Photo is from Flickr user epicbeer.
Pete Brown is an English writer who has written extensively on the subject of beer and drinking cultures around the world. He has written three books; Man Walks Into a Pub, Three Sheets to the Wind, and Hops and Glory. Brown was born in Barnsley, South Yorkshire and now lives in London.
Above bio is from Wikipedia. Photo is from Flickr user epicbeer.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
February 23, 2023
A brilliant summary of how Working Men's Clubs emerged, thrived, continue, and how they can survive, despite their now depleted numbers. Those who took part in this journey, perhaps in the latter decades, will recognise many of the challenges and changes that Pete Brown describes here, and; those aspects of 'community cohesion', with all its flaws, in full clubland flow, long before some policy head come up with the term. A timely and welcome book about one of the important social achievements of ordinary people. Now before a wider audience. I'll drink to that!
June 20, 2022
Excellent and thorough walk through the history of working men's clubs. Nostalgic but not uncritical review of where the working men's club came from and why they struggle, or not, to survive in the modern world.
May 29, 2023
An interesting if actually a bit too self-interested history of working men's clubs. Bought for my dad who'll love it if he ever bothers to read it.
January 7, 2024
The Great British institution of the traditional working men’s clubs have often been disparaged as being backward, outdated drinking dens, inhabited by blunt, bigoted North of England stereotypes. Such characterisations of what was once a hugely popular social phenomenon are undoubtedly unfair, likely arising from snobbery, and are examples of what we would nowadays refer to as ‘punching down’. How gratifying then to discover “Clubland”, the renowned beer writer Pete Brown’s magnificently spirited defence of the working men’s club movement.
“Clubland” is ostensibly an attempt to rescue the working men’s club movement from the dustbin of history. Through themed chapters rather than a strict chronological narrative, Pete Brown adroitly highlights the achievements of the movement; not least the musicians, comedians, sportspeople, entrepreneurs, and political activists who cut their teeth in the clubs. As Brown relates, “the story of the working men’s club movement is the story of ordinary people doing extraordinary things”, and these clubland alumni went on to reshape British popular culture throughout the last 150 years.
It isn’t just the entertainment and social aspects of “Clubland” that are fascinating; Pete Brown is superb on the political dimension of the clubs. He adeptly traces the origins of the movement back to the paternalism of Victorian industrialists and, ironically, the temperance campaigners of the nineteenth century, with both groups seeing the development of the clubs as a method for the supposed self-improvement of the working classes.
As historically notable as all this might be, there would be the potential for this material to be dry and worthy if Pete Brown weren’t such a genial and self-effacing guide. Hailing from the working men’s clubs’ heartland of South Yorkshire, Brown has a strong personal connection with the clubs but is also acutely aware, given his age, that he is part of the generation that had turned their backs on the movement, and so contributed to accelerating its decline.
While Brown has huge affection for the clubs and the values and bonds they represent, in “Clubland” he does not over-romanticise them or whitewash their flaws. Brown is unsparing about the movement’s longstanding indifference to women (shamefully, women were only granted equal members’ rights by the clubs’ representative body in 2007).
What Brown is able to successfully pull off in “Clubland” is to closely connect the fate of the working men’s clubs with the changing nature of social class in Britain. This elevates the book from essentially being a history of the British working class at play (a monumental achievement in itself) to a treatise on what it means to be ‘working class’ in the 21st century. Through writing this history of the working men’s club movement – whose few remaining clubs remain under threat from aging demographics and the Wetherspoons juggernaut - Brown has penned a paean to the values of community, solidarity, and sociability that the clubs represented - values that are themselves disappearing from British life.
All this and Pete Brown finally establishes the truth behind *that* story about Shirley Bassey and the bathroom sink. “Clubland” is an absolute triumph of popular social history.
“Clubland” is ostensibly an attempt to rescue the working men’s club movement from the dustbin of history. Through themed chapters rather than a strict chronological narrative, Pete Brown adroitly highlights the achievements of the movement; not least the musicians, comedians, sportspeople, entrepreneurs, and political activists who cut their teeth in the clubs. As Brown relates, “the story of the working men’s club movement is the story of ordinary people doing extraordinary things”, and these clubland alumni went on to reshape British popular culture throughout the last 150 years.
It isn’t just the entertainment and social aspects of “Clubland” that are fascinating; Pete Brown is superb on the political dimension of the clubs. He adeptly traces the origins of the movement back to the paternalism of Victorian industrialists and, ironically, the temperance campaigners of the nineteenth century, with both groups seeing the development of the clubs as a method for the supposed self-improvement of the working classes.
As historically notable as all this might be, there would be the potential for this material to be dry and worthy if Pete Brown weren’t such a genial and self-effacing guide. Hailing from the working men’s clubs’ heartland of South Yorkshire, Brown has a strong personal connection with the clubs but is also acutely aware, given his age, that he is part of the generation that had turned their backs on the movement, and so contributed to accelerating its decline.
While Brown has huge affection for the clubs and the values and bonds they represent, in “Clubland” he does not over-romanticise them or whitewash their flaws. Brown is unsparing about the movement’s longstanding indifference to women (shamefully, women were only granted equal members’ rights by the clubs’ representative body in 2007).
What Brown is able to successfully pull off in “Clubland” is to closely connect the fate of the working men’s clubs with the changing nature of social class in Britain. This elevates the book from essentially being a history of the British working class at play (a monumental achievement in itself) to a treatise on what it means to be ‘working class’ in the 21st century. Through writing this history of the working men’s club movement – whose few remaining clubs remain under threat from aging demographics and the Wetherspoons juggernaut - Brown has penned a paean to the values of community, solidarity, and sociability that the clubs represented - values that are themselves disappearing from British life.
All this and Pete Brown finally establishes the truth behind *that* story about Shirley Bassey and the bathroom sink. “Clubland” is an absolute triumph of popular social history.
February 2, 2023
Clubland by Pete Brown is a captivating read that takes the reader on a journey through the evolution of the UK's club culture. The book is a testament to the creative and innovative spirit of the UK's club scene and how it has become a defining part of its cultural identity.
One of the strengths of this book is the author's ability to paint a vivid picture of the club scene, from its early days to its current state. Brown provides a comprehensive history of the UK's club culture, exploring the various genres, styles, and trends that have emerged over the years. The book is rich with anecdotes and personal stories, giving the reader a real sense of the atmosphere and energy of the clubs.
What I particularly appreciated about Clubland is the way Brown gives a voice to the people who have been a part of the club scene for decades. Through interviews and first-hand accounts, he captures the essence of what it means to be a part of this subculture, and the deep connection that many people feel to the music, the community, and the atmosphere of the clubs.
The book is well-researched and written, and I found myself fully engaged from start to finish. Whether you're a fan of club culture or simply interested in the evolution of popular music, Clubland is must-read. It's a comprehensive, insightful, and entertaining look at the UK's club scene, and I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in music, culture, and the history of nightlife.
Overall, Clubland is an excellent book that celebrates the UK's club culture and provides a fascinating look at how it has shaped the country's musical heritage. If you're looking for a well-written, engaging, and informative book about the evolution of the UK's club scene, look no further than Clubland by Pete Brown.
One of the strengths of this book is the author's ability to paint a vivid picture of the club scene, from its early days to its current state. Brown provides a comprehensive history of the UK's club culture, exploring the various genres, styles, and trends that have emerged over the years. The book is rich with anecdotes and personal stories, giving the reader a real sense of the atmosphere and energy of the clubs.
What I particularly appreciated about Clubland is the way Brown gives a voice to the people who have been a part of the club scene for decades. Through interviews and first-hand accounts, he captures the essence of what it means to be a part of this subculture, and the deep connection that many people feel to the music, the community, and the atmosphere of the clubs.
The book is well-researched and written, and I found myself fully engaged from start to finish. Whether you're a fan of club culture or simply interested in the evolution of popular music, Clubland is must-read. It's a comprehensive, insightful, and entertaining look at the UK's club scene, and I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in music, culture, and the history of nightlife.
Overall, Clubland is an excellent book that celebrates the UK's club culture and provides a fascinating look at how it has shaped the country's musical heritage. If you're looking for a well-written, engaging, and informative book about the evolution of the UK's club scene, look no further than Clubland by Pete Brown.
July 29, 2024
I wasn't quite certain what to expect from Pete Brown's latest book. Having not read Pete's work before it was a punt, but I am so glad I did its brilliant I thoroughly enjoyed it. I have been to, helped run and enjoyed a few working mens clubs in my time and hark from Sheffield so shared much of Pete's feelings towards clubs and how they run an impact their users and wider society but I wasn't expecting this to be such an interesting listen. It's well researched, presented and explained it covers a very wide ranging field across all aspects of history, politics, cultural and social aspects of Clubs and I recommend it all. I agree with his assessment of how to improve those remaining clubs and help them survive. I too left Yorkshire and Club world far behind as Pete did as I too tried to 'get away' . But even found myself down south aiding and helping run a CIU club only to see it impossible to change and adapt to modern society enough so walked away again. The section about Greasbrough was poignant for me having been with my Grandfather many times and made me reminisce a lot about the failure of Clubs more widely. As a social history this book is excellent alone but it's far more than that, far more, it's wide range across the feelings, sentiments felt by Clubmen and others as well as analysing impacts it also catches an emotion Clubs evoke that those who use, grew up with of feel both akin and repulsed by Clubs is fascinating. Thanks to Pete for persevering with this lengthy project to get this book out because it is brilliant. Do read/listen you won't regret it. I'm off getting his other books now.
April 12, 2024
I loved this. It's a fascinating and important book, rich with detail. I listened to the audiobook in the car on my way to and from work and would look forward to heading off to work so I could listen to the next bit! I worked in a WMC as a kid as we lived at the back of one and it brought back so many memories. The early chapters that cover the origins of the WMC movement were a bit heavy going at times for me but I think that's just because it's dense with research and facts and I was listening first thing in the morning! It's a fascinating story, not just about the clubs themselves but as a history of working-class culture.
I particularly enjoyed the interviews with various club members and stewards. They had me laughing out loud or on the verge of tears. In the same way that books like the Forgotten Voices series capture and collate the testament of often overlooked everyday witnesses of societal change, Pete Brown does that here, finding gems of personal testament; you get the feeling that he is capturing the end of an era, just in time, which of course he is. But thank god he did.
I particularly enjoyed the interviews with various club members and stewards. They had me laughing out loud or on the verge of tears. In the same way that books like the Forgotten Voices series capture and collate the testament of often overlooked everyday witnesses of societal change, Pete Brown does that here, finding gems of personal testament; you get the feeling that he is capturing the end of an era, just in time, which of course he is. But thank god he did.
January 23, 2023
Well researched and very informative.
As a non-native, I've had keen interest in these clubs, them being part of the social fabric and a mirror of society. What's a worker club in England is a local feast club in the Mediterranean, but the dynamics are still the same.
You can sense the correlation between the loss of local identity and the fate of these clubs; I sincerely hope that they survive in today's fast paced, individualistic society but sadly they seem to be going only one way.
As a non-native, I've had keen interest in these clubs, them being part of the social fabric and a mirror of society. What's a worker club in England is a local feast club in the Mediterranean, but the dynamics are still the same.
You can sense the correlation between the loss of local identity and the fate of these clubs; I sincerely hope that they survive in today's fast paced, individualistic society but sadly they seem to be going only one way.
March 26, 2023
A really interesting study into an area that hasn’t had much written about and yet has been in our lives for centuries. Brown does not let the book go fully nostalgic and brings some harsh realities whilst praising those who have understood and evolved.
Highly recommend as a social commentary and as a history book of life in the UK.
Highly recommend as a social commentary and as a history book of life in the UK.
August 3, 2025
A fascinating and eye opening account of the history of working men's clubs in Britain. I hadn't known, for example, that they were originally founded as alcohol free alternatives to Pubs! This is a whole area of history that I hadn't known much about.
November 8, 2022
Brilliantly insightful
A typical Pete Brown book: insightful, easy to read and incredibly interesting and human. Absolutely loved it as I do with all his books.
A typical Pete Brown book: insightful, easy to read and incredibly interesting and human. Absolutely loved it as I do with all his books.
September 15, 2023
Absolutely loved it. Just perfect.
March 21, 2024
As somone who grew up around working mans clubs in Barnsley also this book was so well researched and written, which there was more books on this kind of social history
January 22, 2025
A brilliant social history with some fascinating and touching personal insights woven in. Highly recommended.
August 1, 2022
An affectionate, entertaining, but not uncritical, look at working men's clubs and the men and women connected with them. What surprised me was not how few, but how many, of these clubs still survive. I thought they'd died out years ago. What also surprised - or rather disappointed - me was how difficult Brown found it to get his book published. Like he says, there's umpteen books about gentleman's clubs; I've even pre-ordered one, Behind Closed Doors: The Secret Life of London Private Members' Clubs by Dr Seth Alexander Thévoz. So, why not lots of books about working men's clubs? Especially given their rich history, their - at one time at least - ubiquity - and their cultural significance. Hopefully, Brown's book will be a success and others will be written because of it. And that the excellent suggestions he makes at the end of the book to keep working men's clubs alive are followed and there is a revival of clubland. Anything to give Tim Wetherspoons a run for his money.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews