please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Update on the Railway is that there is still no ale at all but it is the only place within a good few square miles that resembles a proper pub. The biker clientele are a good solid and relatively friendly crowd. No noticeable knobheads that used to frequent the place. Kind of your only pub in quite a wide area.
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Your description of this pub reminds me of the advert - "he should have gone to spec-savers!" By the way I hear they are selling spectacles now without the rose-tint. A Harley on the new pub sign - wow - that should pack 'em in! A bit dangerous, I would have thought, to have your customer base as "middle-aged/elderly chaps and ladies" - one good flu pandemic and you could find yourself without any customers at all!! ;-)
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The pub has actually had a complete refit, including new upholstery and furniture, the creation of a snug, and a dining area to the rear. Sunday roast dinners have been introduced. It's not a real ale pub, but there are always 2 cask ales on offer, currently London Pride and Doombar. There was an initial problem with the music, but that's been sorted out and now its zoned front and back. It is a local wet pub, which is a good thing as these are fast disappearing and either shutting or being "gastro-pubbed". I'm a local and I've never done any "intimidating" or been "intimidated", and the bikers on show are generally middle aged/elderly chaps and ladies who belong to a bike club, hence the Harley on the new pub sign. The natives here are very friendly, as are the staff, if you make the effort and since the refurb things are slowly on the up. It's the only proper pub for miles and its worth the effort.
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Oh dear! I see this going the same way as it's namesake on the Ridgeway. Yes it's been painted and yes there's a new bit of flooring laid but there it ends. Same intimidating locals, same loud rock(?) music, same one hand pump and it tasted like the same beer even though the pubs been closed!! A lot of money was spent on the Railway Engineers on the Ridgeway but when it reopened it failed to attract new customers because the old intimidatng locals were still there. If that's the same dozen or so customers that is wanted fine but the management might as well have saved the money on the paint job!
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Had a go. If this is the new management they must be using the same hand book as the old! Ale awful. One pump and goodness knows what was in it! Loud rock(?) music and intimidating locals. The furniture deserves the clientelle! Left the beer and the pub. It was three nos from us! Absoutely dreadful!
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i would just like to let people know that the pub has recently changed hands and much minor improvement work has been done,it is my local pub and probably the only real one left in the area the locals are friendly and it has a good atmosphere so please give the new people a chance
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Have to concur with all of the previous reviews... this is a locals pub for locals only. Advertises real ale but all three handpumps where turned and not in use when I visited. A previous comment referred to damage to the toilets which surprises me as while I was having a smoke most of the locals couldn't be bothered with the 10 yard walk to them and just pissed in the garden. A rathole, am utterly amazed that this pub has a score as high as it has.
anonymous - 3 Apr 2010 04:20 |
complete dump. Pregnant woman behind the bar who keeps going out for cigarettes - says it all really.
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Don't know what it used to be like when people were referring to it as a good, local pub, but I would say that it was anything but.
Only been once, and won't be enticed back. Probably the most expensive pint of Old Speckled Hen I've ever had, and didn't taste well kept either. Pub itself was nothing short of dilapidated and there was a very weird smell too. So, were someone to actually do something with the place, it could be great, given the lack of other pubs in the area, but until then, I definitely won't be heading back.
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After passing a couple of lads having a funny fag at the entrance and making my way to the bar I found the barmaid/landlady to be quite dismissive. I couldn�t finish my pint of Old Speckled Hen as it had turned and after my first dealings I decided not to bother asking for a new pint. Bombardier was also available and the Greene King IPA was off leaving a selection of standard lagers and Greene King IPA chilled � my god!
There is a dartboard at the front of the pub and a pool table in the extension at the rear where there were also some decks set up from a previous DJ night. I�m not sure that I would enjoy the DJ nights here as the speakers were blaring out drum and bass hits at 19:00 on a Tuesday evening.
There is a small beer garden out the back with a couple of picnic tables and a small hut creating a covered area for smokers on those rainy days.
There was a sign in the toilet that said �please respect your local and the regulars � BY NOT � damaging the walls and the toilets�. I�d rather drink in a pub full of adults who understand the difference between right and wrong and can have a decent night out without having the urge to vandalise anything.
I agree that this place is crying out for a refurb and maybe a change in management and direction. Until this happens I�ll being keeping well clear.
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needs a refurb, locals stare at you like Deliverance without the banjos. Gone down in recent times, no local competion unless you count the harvester which alwyas seems to be busy
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The Railway Tavern is a quality little local pub - with good food, sports on big screen, and a great mix of people it's one of my favourite places to visit when I'm on business in North London.
Well reccomended, to both locals and people needing a watering hole 2 minutes from the A41 and A1.
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This is my local pub and while it is deperately in need of a full refurb, there arent many places in the local area to go where it's not full of kids and chavs, there is a group of bikers who drink in here regularly but they never cause trouble and tend to keep themselves to themselves. They dont have a big screen anymore so probably not the best for sports but the jukebox usually has some pretty good tunes on, there is a fair sized beer garden for the summer and pool tables/ game machines/ dart board for entertainment. There is very little trouble and the drinks are reasonably priced.
Tony the landlord is a real character although the pub is up for sale so I dont think he will be there much longer.
Lets hope whoever takes over the railway can refurbish it so that it can live up to it's great potential as a proper "local"
anonymous - 20 Feb 2007 15:33 |
It's a good, local pub - and that's not a common thing in North London these days.
Generally, it's got an informal, friendly atmosphere, and the landlord looks after his cask ales well. Which is much more than can be said for most pubs in this area.
Nice cheap pub grub as well.
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called here when just passing through the area friendly girl behind the bar who made us a nice meal which was reasonably priced beer was ok seems a decent pub
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This is a great pub, if you have the right expectations of the place.
A really nice, informal, friendly place to have a quiet drink or two on a Friday night.
Pool table, varied jukebox, mixed crowd, everyone minding their own business.
Friendly staff and no kids or violence.
Not the most glamorous but the nearest thing to a good local pub you'll get round here.
Cheap drinks and pump ales.
alexx - 16 Apr 2005 00:21 |
Usually two or more cask ales available, good pint, landlord looks after his beer. Atmosphere can be a down to earth and a bit too smoky, music sometimes loud but stiil worth a visit. On the whole has much more atmosphere and better pint than the Harvester opposite.
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not a gay pub, maybe there just happened to be several in when you visited .
dan - 14 Jul 2004 12:56 |
not a good enviroment for kids.
anonymous - 17 Jun 2004 20:18 |
Railway Tavern is a really nice local pub with lovely staff. I have not been here for a while and they have got a new menu with really reasonble steak dishes from �3.95. I will be going back here for sure!
Brodie Castleford - 3 Jun 2004 14:49 |
now predominantly a gay pub,management are very laid back.A sort of "anything goes atmosphere".Great place to pull
colin spoons - 19 Sep 2003 22:23 |
used to drink here in the late 80s,Peter Walton anyone????
happy days
chris - 18 Aug 2003 01:58 |
I do like the Biker side of things here, they have a really strong presence.. Go harley!!
P Lettuce - 1 Jul 2003 13:23 |
it sells real ale. has a garden,shows football matches.and children and biker friendly.
anonymous - 29 Apr 2003 18:29 |
