please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
The Bathams was okay on this visit - still not really a pub feel to it. It is more a bar at a visitor attraction populated mainly with visitors (not all drinkers) rather than locals. Okay for what it is.
anonymous - 31 Mar 2016 22:32 |
I can understand the mixed reviews for this place but I think location, real ales, service and friendly locals means it`s a definite thumbs up from this punter!
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After a trip on the Severn Valley Railway, I thought it would be appropriate to give the King & Castle a try. It is part of the railway station and feels like an old waiting room. It doesn't really feel like a pub. 6 ales were on - Hobsons Mild, Exmoor Gold, Wye Valley Butty Bach & Santa Special, Pennine Jingle Bell Rock & Salopian Firkin Freezing. No real cider is served. Was slightly disappointed with this place.
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Superb. Called in on a crawl on Friday night and was really pleased I'd made the effort.
Had two different beers out of the 5 on offer. Both top notch quality ales; Batham's and Skinner's Betty Stoggs.......we called back in later before getting a taxi for anoter Batham's and best of all........a cob! 11.00pm on a Friday night and there was a tray of cobs.....brilliant! Why can't all proper boozers do that!
The place was busy and there was a lovely buzz. I will be back before to long.
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An okay place, handy of course for both Kidderminster stations. However if you're travelling on the SVR then I much prefer the Railwayman's Arms at Bridgnorth, which has a far better atmosphere and is about 60p per pint cheaper for some reason!
alexw - 24 Jun 2013 21:49 |
Very good recreation of station refreshment room at terminus of Severn Valley Railway. Friendly staff and good quality beer (Bathams Bitter). The quality of Hobson's Mild also remarked upon by others in party.
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This is an awkward one to judge. As a pub there's not a great deal of atmosphere, and it would be hard to settle here for a session and feel comfortable. As a rail bar, or a trip into the past, though, it's well worth taking the trouble to visit. The beer is good, reasonably priced (I hesitate to use the word 'cheap' these days) and the service in keeping with the period air, when customers weren't lesser beings.
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Probably not quite as authentic as it looks and feels, but the Severn Valley Railway has created (or re-created?) a station pub thoroughly in keeping with its heritage railway operation. However, thankfully, it is not over-filled with memorabilia so it has the feel of a proper working establishing rather than a museum (probably helped by it being open to the general public as well as ticket holders). There are six handpumps in total, but as these are scattered along the bar the real ale selection is actually rather better than it initially appears. Good value too, with an excellent pint of Hobson's Mild at �2.30 which went well with a plain but tasty cheese and onion cob (�1.50). Also handy for Kidderminster's mainline station.
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Lovely bathams (totally agree) and the Wyre Piddle bitter is great too. A good choice of guests beers and regularly changed too. Quiet in the week, although gets busy if theres a evening match at the local Kidderminster Harriers!
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Could do with trying to let the place settle in to character rather than trying to create it. Apart from that it's pretty much what you would want from a station bar (even if it is a 'pretend' one). The Bathams was excellent. Bathams has to be one of the country's top bitters - akin to Taylor's before it became 'syndicated'. It seems to be that keep it small scale and keep it local is the key to excellent ale. Also tried the Milk Street Amarillo which was very good but had to go back to the Bathams... it's just one of those beers you could drink all day.
anonymous - 2 Jan 2010 23:52 |
Bathams was magic as usual but barwoman was gruff and made it feel like she was doing you a favour serving. A further peg down,if it wasn't for the Bathams who knows.........
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Great pub, great beer, friendly staff, good atmosphere. A proper pub, handy for both SVR and 'normal' railway - No faults at all.
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This place is slightly different from your usual heritage railway station pub as it actually seeks to recreate the exact atmosphere of a 1930s station refreshment bar. Therefore there's less of the railwayana that you usually find in such places, just a few maps and posters. Apart from that it's very spacious and airy, basic even, but in a truly rustic fashion- not stark in any way. No 'entertainment', just good old fashined local real ales and chat. Worth going out of your way for, and a must if spending a day on the SVR.
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Beer still very good across the range and well chosen. Unfortunately getting cliquey when quiet..... Can be very lively during SVR events which is good. Look out for 'Anne & Stan' (+ hangers on) on a Saturday lunchtime!
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Interesting place to have a pint, beer very good, price's very reasonable, hop off at Kiddermister if your passing with a thrist.
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Had the Bathams here yesterday,absolutely perfect as always. The menu though was everything and chips,and the peas were off-green. Glad the beer was so good. Down a peg though.
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This pub is only about 20 years old yet could be 120 years old. Beers wise Saltaire 'Blonde', Bathams, Royal Piddle 'Wyre Piddle', Ossett 'Real ale Revolution and Archers 'Fanny's your aunt'. I couldn't fault eather the 'Blonde' or 'Fanny's'. Recommend to anyone.
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Excellent pub. The is no better way to finish your day. Had a couple of beers from the Wyre Piddle Brewery which were far to drinkable.
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Yet more beautiful batham's.
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I'm not a huge fan of preserved railways,they're normally full of the stereotypicals associated with the hobby,along with Hitler volunteers/staff that can't get a job on the real railway. However i visited the SVR yesterday for the Western and had a great time-and the highlight of the visit had to be the Batham's Bitter served here. Reasonable prices too.
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You would think this place had been here forever! Had a wyre piddle ale infact I had 2 pints as I missed my train home!
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Visited yesterday. Top atmosphere, Good Cheap Beer.
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decent atmos terrible beer
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A perfect place to start and finish a trip on the Valley. Excellent Beer. You can't tell this place is only 20 years old!
bobin - 13 May 2008 13:44 |
Lovely station pub with a choice of real ales. Enjoyed the Wyre Piddle house beer, and a couple of guest beers.
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They seem to serve spirits in the smallest of glasses - asked for a whisky and lemonade and it was served almost in a shot glass. When I asked for a larger glass I was given a rude look, and the drink was begrudgingly poured into one slightly larger.
anonymous - 24 Oct 2007 12:50 |
went last night for a pint of stella artois, was flat after a few mouthfuls, barstaff not interested when i told them ?
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Visited the SVR last Sunday. A pint of Bathams to accompany the all day breakfast, 1st class!! A well balanced diet!!
Well worth a visit.
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Amazing pork pies!
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Excellent. Topnotch Batham's in excellent surroundings.
anonymous - 26 Mar 2007 14:05 |
The staff are rude and seem to spend more time at the end of the bar, smoking and chatting to their friends than serving customers.
anonymous - 11 Dec 2006 14:40 |
Pleasant staff, good ale, generous portions of decent food at moderate prices. And it's a nice space.
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On my last visit had a pint of MILD from the Enville Brewery. Tonight I was told they were no longer selling MILD. They reckon it doesn't sell here, strange really, theres always a MILD at the other end of the line so in future I'll be heading for Bridgnorth.
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Agree with other comments. Excellent beer (Batham's last time I was there) and truly excellent pork pies.
Worth a trip even if you don't like steam trains.
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If you are more bothered about beer and surroundings than going tomewhere cool - this is it. Attached to the restored Severn Valley Railway station(where else can you have a pint in Victorian England?!), the selection and prices of beers is very good. Expect local beer (eg from down the road in Hook Norton), and a step back in time..
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Amazed that this place has been missed. Friendly, lively with good selection of real ales, generally kept well. Food is plain but well worth it and the staff friendly and helpful. No nasty machines and disractions and right on the Southern end of the steam railway. Excellent!
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