Famous Railway Tavern Brewing Co, Brightlingseaback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
You like it or you don't would appear to be the message about this place.
In here late morning last Saturday and only customer.
No lights on, no carpet and a landlord who after serving me got his guitar out
and was just about to start palaying when a youngish woman arrived also with a guitar. She had a diet coke and they then both began to play.
I finished my pint (not sure what it was £3.00) and left them to it.
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I can't believe there are people who still complain about this pub. Maybe it's a good thing, otherwise it would be packed with the kind of people who think not bothering to tie your bootlaces makes you a danger to decent society.
I was at the RT again this year, having sailed with friends from Kent. I'm not mad on sailing but it was worth the trip just to return to this pub. I was not disappointed. We were unexpectedly there for the cider festival. Nothing had changed - the same irreverent landlord, drinking on the front step while his charming young son took care of business. Didn't look like he'd given much attention to the cleaning or decorating since last year, I'm pleased to say. Beer and cider were great. Atmosphere was great on day one, but next night we got the treat of our lives with The Railwaylers playing in the back room. Some superbly bad renditions of some great Ska music. I was about to shout out a request for The Clash, but didn't need to. Several suitably slovenly renditions of great Clash numbers followed, to our delight. I'd almost be prepared to move to Brightlingsea for this pub. Keep it up guys! And for those of you who don't like it - WE GET IT, now for God's sake shut up! There must be a pub with doilies and chintz curtains in Brightlingsea, surely?
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I dont what these whinging people want with a pub!!! An excellent Cider Festival has just passed, very young helpfull Landlord and staff, supurb selection of ciders ( and beers as always ) plus excellent live music,especially the new up and coming "Railwaylers", an all round spiffing weekend in an UNSPOILT AND TRADITIONAL pub!!, looking forward to next years one as well, !st May bank holiday!!!!
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i was in this pub a couple weeks ago with my partner and two other friends i did not like the look of the pub as it is very run down and also the man behind the bar was been very rude to us and other customers . which we did not like so we left after bout 30 mins and i thought it could do with a face lift and some music as it felt like a wake not a friendly pub at all .
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I think someone on here is on some strong medication. This pub is disgusting, filthy and falling down. It looks like squatters have broken in and set up a bar. The locals are like something out of Royston Vasey (A league of gentlemen). The poor barman looked like he was about to shoot himself, stood solemnly under the bare light bulb hanging over the bar. The 2 beers on were drinkable but nothing exciting. From what i know ale in here certainly is NOT brewed by the landlord anymore nor 'out the back'. Several years ago sure but not now. Thank god. Shocked this place hasn't been closed by health and safety. I wiped my feet on the way out, never to return.
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I find it hard to levy any criticism at this pub. Reading other comments, I can see some people expect to get good beer in a lounge bar or wine bar. There were no floaters in my beer!
There are not enough pubs like this. Why?
No music. No food. No gambling machines. No carpets or plastic wood floors. No conservatory with DFS furniture. No poncey bar staff (or customers - they are quickly frightened off by the grunge). No tacky Constable prints in frames. No flavoured nuts or extortionately priced crisps. No smell of bleach or air freshener (not even in the toilets). No lager, alcopops or other alcoholic children's drinks. What they do have is:
Old wooden floorboarded stationhouse - probably Victorian. Real floorboards - not sanded and silk-varnished or stained. Just casually swept once a week if you're lucky. Walls left as they were in 1955 with simple addition of some old regional railway posters (the 'Come to Skegness, it's so Bracing!' type). A few bits of old furniture around the place but not tarted up like shabby-chic. Feels a bit like a mad alcoholic artist's garret. Most people stand. Usually men aged 40-60 and generally unshaven. They do not talk about climbing the ladder to success, fast cars, houses with drives or the expensive restaurant / wine bar they took their girlfriend to. Most likely they'll be talking about beer, boat maintenance, beer festivals, pubs that have closed, the length of young girl's skirts, divorce, where to buy a cheap wheelbarrow tyre and some nutter who teaches physics who lives up the road and comes in for carry-out Bladderwort Stout when he has a woman / a few students around. There is never a dull moment.
At the front of the single room bar are some soft chairs for discerning customers (women). Here there is an original open fire with a cast iron surround. On the fire the landlord burns mainly old pallets. Just above the fireplace, on the blackened cast iron (the fire smokes badly - just waiting for a chimney fire), the word 'COMPLAINTS' has been written in chalk.
Dispite the slovenliness of this lovely pub, I have to report that the beer is very good. Much of it is brewed out the back by the Landlord, who looks like he rarely sleeps. He is probably around 45 but goes in for the rugged older man look. A very attractive woman came in to take him out for the night when I was there. She looked pragmatic (her mother was a milkmaid from Devon perhaps) and was wearing a floral dress. From the look on the faces of the regulars, not many of her type ever enter the place. Dave the landlord put on some proper footwear to go out in (old army boots with no laces). The regulars had a most eclectic range of footwear. It seemed one of them might have bought a box of Garry Glitter's old shoes from a bootfair. Dave's young son had taken over behind the bar. There was not much to know. Serve beer and take money. Throw anyone out who asks for lager or complains about bad language or dirt (or anything in fact). Lock up when you feel like it.
The Bladderwort Stout was exceptional. Oily and dark with a distinct smokey, seaweed flavour and a powerful kick. Almost hallucinogenic.
Be warned: The pipes from the urinals have corroded away. Stand back or get wet feet.
The day we were there, there was a hand written sign on the front window. Its contents sum up the style of the place.
"Contrary to popular belief, Cheeseburger and his cretinous henchmen have not been barred from this establishment. Landlord." Clearly said Cheeseburger is either a valuable customer, or he' one of those guys who makes exaggerated claims of being barred from every pub in Brightlingsea. I will be back.
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A real treat, incomparable landlord and locals. Cider festival every May Day weekend takes some surviving.
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Visited some time ago with Mrs Monk and a friend and his wife, my first and last visit. Ghastly interior that looked like it was the abode of an eccentric recluse, the beer was good but whilst it was being poured we had to endure the �wit� of the locals who obviously recognising us as grockles from Colchester decided to show off their knowledge of four letter words, any utterance being punctuated by f�s and c�s. I�ll leave this pub to the pea-brained cretins who clearly thought they were amusing, they weren�t young either, these morons were all in their 50�s I�d say. Mrs Monk and my friend�s wife walked straight out and we drank on the roundabout! A favourite of Colchester CAMRA at the time of our visit, it was presumably in the beer guide as they think it quirky and presumably the CAMRA people overlook the vile surroundings and clientele whilst sucking up to the landlord. I know this is beer in the evening and the beer was good, but the surroundings and obnoxious people drinking there make this the recipient of my first ever nought out of ten. Congratulations!
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After reading all the other reviews I coud,nt wait to visit this pub. Oh dear! what a letdown, we visited on an early Thursday evening. The only beers on draught were Brentwoods Maple Mild and Crouch Vale Bitter. My first pint of Brentwoods came up cloudy as did the second one. Gave that a miss and went for the Crouch Vale which promptly ran out. Waited for the barrel to be changed and finally managed to get a pint. Drinkable but not in the best of condition. I enquried about the locally brewed beer and recieved a rather muddled explanation of what it was from the young gent behind the bar, still none the wiser. Where was the Bladderwrack, the good selection of Ales? I am sure some people would say that this pub has character, I think most would say a it needs a good clean up. Bare brickwork behind the bar, bar itself filthy, floor dirty, one of the "locals" asking a complete strangers wife if she liked blue films! One single unshaded bulb above the bar gave it a stark look. Really disappointed.
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Mud on the floor, mud on the walls, mud on the finger, dirty nails, poo in the beer.
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Good to see the place busy on a Friday night.
Log fire burning and great beers :- the wonderfully fruity Crouch Vale Best, the dark and delicious Bladderwrack Stout and truly amazing Oak Nouveau, from The Mighty Oak Brewery.
Three really well kept and served real ales in a uniquely atmospheric pub, full of local characters. You'd be mad not to experience it - and no i'm NOT the landlord !! 10/10
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The Famous Railway Tavern was the 'Holy Grail' when I was a young lad living in Colchester, with Crab & Winkle the ultimate beer.
Now I live in Brightlingsea it's my 'local' - a dream come true!
An excellent traditional public house - just as it should be. No piped music ; no machines - just great Ale & a good chat with whoever's in there.
Long may it continue to serve the more discerning beer drinkers of the community.
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Traditional pub and brewery in Brightlingsea. Outside to the side there is an old British Rail sign which I do not remember seeing last time. Four ales on last night two own brewed dark chocolate new beers with Crouch Vale Best and Hop and Glory. The two dark chocolate ales are new experimental beers that previously went down rather well at The Odd One Out in Colchester. I personally prefer the plain one without the vanilla. The brewery here specialises in producing dark ales with a great mild, stout and porter that Dave has been brewing for many years. I am a big fan of Bladderwrack Stout, Crab and Winkle Mild and Fireside Porter. It was a shame that one of them was not available last night.
I noticed quite a few changes inside the pub since I last visited. The pub looked better for the changes in my opinion. The brewery at the back of the pub is no longer visible from the back of the bar. I understand there is regular music nights that are held in the back bar. Later this month Dave is holding his annual cider and perry festival 30/04 to 04/05.
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again, a superb and exalting and titillating experience, during good local company, whilst watching a superb rugby match with true enthusiasts, both for local real ale ( excellent as always ) and real local characters, to numerous to mention this time. Looking forward to the final next week !!
Rugby and unrivald local company and beer. !!
IF YOU CANT TAKE IT DONT TURN UP !!!!!
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Whilst I was on holiday in Brighlingsea last week, I visited the railway on numerous ocassions and found it to be an excellent pub with superb beer and a brilliant old time atmosphere, the bar staff all superb from luscius lindsey, jovial john, sensuous sarah, curvaciuos cecile, portly pilky and last but not least the landlord dull, dour, dilapidacious dave, and not forgetting the overgrown wippet. A true experience to be recommended to one and all.
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I agree with last comment the surly landlords obvious reluctance to attract customers is probably due to his hoarding the finest beer in essex. go there and see for yourself how far you can get from a chain pub atmosphere if you really try.
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Rude and obnoxious - obviously caught him on a good day! Back room is a superb working micro brewery. Beer is great - Bladderwrack won 2007 Champion Essex Beer at Colchester beer fesitval.
anonymous - 2 Jun 2007 10:00 |
Very nice beer but basic decor a bit old hat. The main disappointment was the rudeness of the manager and the scruffy back room and garden area.
anonymous - 26 May 2007 18:37 |
I agree. The pub is very good. Fantastic ale. Shame the landlord is an obnoxious....
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Located in the east coast town of Brightlingsea, Essex, the Famous Railway Tavern serves real beers and ales in a real pub. Winner of the Essex/Suffolk CAMRA rural pub award 1997, 1999, 2000 and 2001.
This is one of the great pubs in England. Very small, will sit about 30 at a push. When I last went, the open fire was roaring away, the resident greyhound asleep in front of it. There is no food, only great ales at very good prices. It is most famous for the Crab'n'Winkle Mild. There are some board games and some dominos, just a fantastically friendly, and warming place to go and while away a few hours.
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