please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Now 'The Railway' again. Describes itself as a Pub with Dining Rooms. Has real ale but staff training in how to pull a pint, or even glass sizes, seems to be totally lacking.
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Booked for a family party of 16 for a wedding anniversary and was told we would have the small dining room to ourselves. Arrived to find ourselves cramped along two walls with no room to move and sharing with another party of six. Would have left immediately if we had elsewhere to go and some people had come a long way. Waited nearly an hour for previously ordered Prosecco to arrive. Only 1 bottle of certain wines were available. Food disappointing - I saw a lot go back uneaten. Caution advised in the Gents - also cramped. A special evening ruined.
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Nice enough but why no bitter on over a weekend? Really does seem to be pushing itself as a restaurant. I sort of miss it when it was the Railway.
Still called the Bloated Mallard according to the sign; isn't that a riff on Heston Blumenthal's Fat Duck?
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The site is now officially The Mallard (and has been for some time); went in yesterday for a swift pint to help bide a little time and was greeted... by an empty bar! In good weather I can honestly see this as being ripe for train-spotters, that is if the landlord will tolerate them (nudge nudge)! Drink there is refreshing and of a wide selection for an out-of-the-way establishment, with a kitchen the landlord is proud of. Much busier at weekends, fortunately there are plenty of pumps and people to pull them!
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i worked in this pub one of the best places i have ever worked i must say the guvnor is top and so is his girlfriend the cheff is top and same with all the bar staff the atmospheare is top when they are haveing a bloated party cant ask for a better pub
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The pub is now called the Bloated Mallard and is really nice. Good work.
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I used to work at this pub for liz in 2001 it had a nice atmosphere untill a rather unpleasent group of locals took over the place and even thretend me if i didnt change music on one occasion. liz left and so did i and it was taken over by an incredebly unpleasent landlord called ronnie he suited the locals very well. i still went in on occasions but was always met with the dirty looks and threats of violance and ronnie thought it was funny. I firmly beleve his attitude ruined this once nice pub. hope they are no longer at this pub if they are not i will be going in again very soon to see how the place has improved very impressed by pictures.
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The difference in this pub from the "old Railway" is amazing! As the previous comment mentioned, it is thought and a little decoration that has completley changed this pub around, rather than a majorly expensive refurb. Really good atmosphere and Sunday Roasts are good!
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I haven�t been in this pub since going in once when it was the scary Railway (when the locals stared at me like I had two heads!) but popped in before catching a train � and I was staggered by how much it�s changed! The d�cor may not be to everyones taste but I found it quirky and such a breath of fresh air compared to some of the bland pubs in the area. The landlord told me most of the furniture had been found in second-hand shops or came from the previous owners and re-upholstered (not, as people on here have said had lots of money �thrown� at it).
Enjoyed a good homemade burger and beer, and the staff were pretty friendly. Will definitely be back to this wee gem in Teddington.
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Lovely place. Really cosy with a good atmosphere. Whenever I go it has have a really nice crowd in. They've updated the pub without ruining the charm.
Only comment would be the guvnors need to keep an eye on the bar. I have found myself waiting too long while they chat to their mates on the punters side of the bar.
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Excellent atmosphere, food and drink
hound - 12 Nov 2007 21:04 |
The decor, seating and general appearance is a big improvement on the old 'Railway', giving the impression of a cozy yet modern pub. Unfortunately the music is too loud to have a cozy chat. Drinks are aimed more at the cocktail / lager drinker than the beer drinker, though there are two ales on the handpump
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We went to this pub last night for a birthday meal. Despite the previous comments, we all though that the decor was really lovely and the pub had a real homely feel to it. It didn't feel dark and dingy at all.
The food was really good - although you do have to have a 3 course menu, but at �22.50 we thought it was pretty good value and the cheese plate was huge!
The staff there were really friendly and couldn't have been nicer or more attentive.
We will definitely be going back, paticularly when the patio is open in the summer.
Overall this is a really good pub.
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Well need to go back but first impressions are good - Not tried the food but servive good and friendly. OK it the decors a bit fancy and it is a gastro pub but what pub isn't nowadays. Money in food I guess. However why do you have to have a traditional local right next to a station in a very expensive real estate part of town. My guess is that this will do quite well for a new local to many. To me, anything is better than Old Railway - more traditional feel go to the Adelaide, want a bit livelier come here - can't suit everyone I guess.
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Been in, its ok. Fairly expensive but everywhere is these days.
Interior is a bit dark and I don�t like the decor but that�s personal taste. Went in on a very hot day, fires lit. In terms of respect to the site I still object to the totally unnecessary name change - the new name means nothing to the area or the building.
Guys who run it do seem nice but my main objection stands, this is a high street bar/gastro pub in the location where a traditional local pub should be. This is a long term problem, both for the owners and local drinkers.
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Lovely pub.
Great decor, nice chilled-out music, good house white, fantastic staff.
Try the Beef Wellington. Gorgeous.
Nice to find a pub which is civilised without being pretentious. More like this, please.
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Not one of my normal hang outs .... until now. Enjoyed a superb bit of grub in the pub on Sunday and must say cant understand why so many people are so quick to dismiss this place by a quick glance through the window !!! Its not a bright naff gastro pub its been improved no end from the tatty old place and feels very welcoming and the food is fantastic. I also had an opportunity to meet one of the landlords and he was genuinly trying to give a decent pub back to the local people and was very conscious of the surrounding area and the history. Comments like ' i hope it fails badly' are unreal .... go have a pint and a bite to eat and Im opretty sure you'll be a tad happier.
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I love this site for many reasons. One of which the type of comments made by Big_Frank and ElddrigePope. People who make sweeping 'knocking' comments before they've even gone into the place. I sometime think people like this live in some fantacy world where thye would like Pubs to have men sitting, smoking clay pipes and playing crib and women are only aloud in on Sunday lunchtimes for a Sherry.
Well I did go in last night, and what a jot. I live in Clarence rd and have also seen the Scaffold up for a few weeks and basically was keen to see what they had done.
We all remember was a S***-hole the Railway was and what a complete waste of venue.
So I can now answer the previous 'knocker's comments from someone who made the effort to go in before posting stupid comments.
First the Beer. I met one of the new owners, who told me being in an area with lots of Fullers, Youngs and Shep'Neame Pubs they are serving Courage Directors, Bass and Harvey's Sussex. I have a pint of the Sussex and was a great Pint.
Larger are standard with San Migeal on draft and Hoogarden. Prices were normal pub prices.
The decor is 'interesting'. I was told they have tried to take it back to it's Victorian glory with a fresh and tasteful style.
Those who remember the old pub will be pleased to know both fireplaces have been opened up and two roaring fires were going. The table and chairs and original. The floor I was told is a Victorian Ballroom floor reclaimed from a famous Windsor hotel.
And just for Big_Frank and EldridgePope....No Pool Table....No TV Screens....No JukeBox!
And a history lesson for EP. I was told the colour is the orginal Victorian Colour and regarding 'respect', Big_Frank, the new owner told me they have only added very small down lights, no bright exterior lights so not to annoy the neighbours.
So you may have guessed I will be back. We now have two pubs I can walk to, The Adalaide and this one which I would be happy to take mates.
Can I make a plea to other site users, make useful comments AFTER you have visted a pub.
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I beleive its opening tonight - as people have said alot of money spent but absolutly no taste or respect for the pub or its locality.
If it is a gastro pub - it has to be - is bloated the most appropriate name ?
I will give it a go but if it is as it looks I really hope it fails badly and quickly so we can have a proper pub back.
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Someone's spending a lot of money on this, but with not a lot of taste.
Gone is the black, white and green paint on the exterior ground floor - now it's all chocolate brown (yuk).
Inside they've put in an overpowering sort of floral design wallpaper.
And the name's been changed to the Bloated Mallard.
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The amount of work going on inside, There is certianly going to be changes. Please please please not a Gastro-pub.
anonymous - 10 Feb 2007 10:25 |
Walked pass today and all the windows are covered up. This can only mean things are going on.
anonymous - 27 Jan 2007 22:32 |
There seems to be something going on - windows are covered up and workmen have been around today...
Let's hope it's a change for the better!
anonymous - 25 Jan 2007 19:01 |
I walked past this pub at 8 o'clock last night and the pub was empty.
Not just no customers - completely empty, with no staff and the doors locked.
There was no notice explaining why it was shut. What was really weird was that the lights on the gaming machine were flashing away in the dark, and the light was on in the kitchen. But there was no one around.
I think it was probably an alien abduction - some inter-planetary travellers unluckily chose The Railway as their first port of call. They were so disappointed that they beamed all the customers and staff up to their mother ship, where they are probably subjecting them to anal probes right now.
Such a strange pub. It's had one of its front windows boarded up for the last month or so. I live a few hundred yards away and every time I've tried it, the beer has been awful.
Has it suddenly closed?
Please let someone good take it over.
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If there is a God, this Boozer will be condemed to Pub Hell. Agree with other comments, how can the brewery let prime site like this get in this shape.
The Brewery should be ashamed to let it get in this state. No Ale, only Fosters on tap which tasted warm and dodge. No Gin or Vodka in optics, and the fridge was almost empty.
Missed a train and went in for a beer, left within seconds.
This could be a goldmine with the right landlord and atmosphere, just look at the houses 100yrds from the front door!
anonymous - 5 Jan 2007 17:00 |
This is an awful pub. Its well worth walking the extra distance to The Lion on Wick Road where the atmosphere and beer is a million times better!
anonymous - 2 Jan 2007 16:21 |
My wife and some of our friends walked out a couple of weeks ago when some drunk football hooligan started shouting about Millwall. We went to a nearby pub and spent over 200 pounds. Do the owners realise how much this idiot is costing them? Shame, the foreign girl behind the bar was so nice but she looked frightened out of her life.
anonymous - 20 Oct 2006 15:33 |
Against my better judgment i returned to this pub for a game of pool. The pool table remains in good consition. The only drink available on tap was fosters - no cider no bitter no choice. The pub has deteriorated beyond belief, the paint looks faded and the walls damaged and peeling. I used to feel annoyed that the pub closest to my home was so poor but now i feel sad that it is this bad. The evening i last visited there was only one other customer chatting to the barman.
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A quality pub. Fantastic landLADY (that'll be why another poster has never seen the landlord then), lovely welcoming bar staff and an all round great atmosphere. A proper 'boozer' that thankfully hasn't been done over as some pseudo contemporary faceless bar.
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As you will see from my other reviews I have pretty much drunk in every single pub in the surrounding area APART FROM THIS ONE.
Everytime I touch the door handle a cold chill falls over me and I can't actually get the nerve to walk in.
If you dont believe me go there.....but stick to the path
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These other comments have clearly all been written by the landlod (who is never to be seen in the pub - a bad sign). This pub has had more owners in recent years than i can remember and none has managed to create a devent pub. The prices are high and the staff are either rude or unable to speak english. The only reason to visit is to use the pool table, which is always kept in good condition.
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Drab and depressing.
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Quality traditional pub as it should be - welcoming and friendly, a large selection of decent music on the jukebox.
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I thought this pub was fantastic - It's very traditional inside, the right side of shabby, service was quick enough for my liking, there is a quiz machine, screen for sport and jukebox.
Ticks all the boxes for me, seems a great "proper" pub, definitely intend to go back for a proper session..
TheGP - 18 Feb 2005 09:45 |
I visited again last week to see if the beer has improved. It hasn't.
It should be a good pub - nice architecture, good original decor (though fairly clean and tidy, not shabby). But the beer (Bombardier) was tepid. Not actually warm for a change, but certainly not cool. And it tasted metallic. Bombardier is usually one of my favourite bitters, so I can tell that this was off.
This pub has got it wrong in such a strange way - normally I can get put off by smoke, horrible decor, nowhere to sit. But very few pubs - apart from The Railway - consistently manage to serve bad beer these days. It's either not cool enough, or it's off - and on the day I visited, it was both.
Please do something about you cellar - I'd really like to enjoy a visit to The Railway for once.
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This is one of my favourite pubs in Teddington.
It doesn't look like an airport departure lounge and is always full of local characters which
I find inviting. The beer is good
and the Thai food is great and a bargain.
I would definately reccommend this pub to friends
if you want to drink somwhere with a bit of personality.
The landlady is great too!
anonymous - 28 Sep 2004 15:03 |
I agree with recent comments - yet another clicky Teddington pub (hello Builders Arms & Kings Arms). Ripe for redevolpment as luxury flats at this rate! Best Teddington pubs are: Abercorn; Adelaide; Tide End; Anglers; Masons Arms.
PJ - 22 Sep 2004 14:19 |
Mike I'm with you! I live just yards from this place and I won't go. They do nothing to help themselves! I have tried twice over the last year and the staff are just useless. There were only 5 people in there yet I had to wait 10 minutes for a ...Go on guess??... Yep, warm beer..Yuk!
Caron - 14 Sep 2004 13:57 |
Should be just the sort of pub I love - but it works hard to fail. It's a hundred yards from my house; lovely late Victorian brick building; it's not been ruined inside. But the last two times I've tried it (and all the previous visits in four years have been a waste of time and money) the music has been overpoweringly loud (probably for the enjoyment of staff, because there weren't many other customers) and the beer was warm - both times. And not just tepid - the beer really was warm. I do wish they'd try a bit at this pub, because if the staff don't pull their fingers out it'll end up being turned into flats. In the meantime, try the Builders Arms - bit tatty, but nice staff and well-kept beer.
Mike - 24 Aug 2004 18:11 |
i work there and i have never had such an amazing couple of bosses in my life.they would do anything for you, and that go's for anyone.i can speak from experience that the locals vary grately, and ive met tons of great people.
bar maid alex - 20 Apr 2004 16:46 |
I'm talking to my mate who's in this pub at the moment and apparently the new barmaid ,Alexis, is worth the trip on her own.
Gary - 15 Apr 2004 17:41 |
The landlord, Big Ron, is a great character. Friendly, whacky and welcoming. He is changing this pub for the better.
Harry - 3 Jan 2004 00:10 |
I can understand some negative comments about this place - some of the recent landlords were terrible. But I think it could slowly be improving these days and hopefully it will turn around. Dread to think that it will be gutted and turned into a fake pub or, worse, posh flats. Give it another go sometime.
Chris - 17 Dec 2003 00:27 |
Could be so much better than it is. The place has struggled with a downmarket image for some years now. Needs investment and entertainment. Beer ok though.
richardaustin - 13 Oct 2003 15:26 |
HAS RECENTLY HAD A NEW LANDLORD AND LADY WHO ARE DIAMONDS. THEY ARE CHANGING IT FOR THE BETTER. WELL WORTH A VISIT NOW. THE THAI FOOD IS ALSO WICKED!!
STUART - 31 Jul 2003 14:05 |
Dire - 3 landlords in a year & full of the same people every night.
PJ - 29 May 2003 16:08 |
