please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Alas this place is now closed.
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Excellent beer (never tried the tap lager talking 'bout beer). Good enough staff acccompanied by the whiff off broken dreams and dashed hopes. It's a wetherspoons. God bless em. X
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there's a bloke that looks like the weetos geezer that drinks in here
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agree with the above
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Typical Wetherspoons pub. Friendly staff. Decent London Pride and usual type of clientele.
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Is a Wetherspoons and does what that says on the tin, although this place seems smart, was reasonably packed on a Friday night visit but didnt take too long to get served, is rather large inside with an upstairs.
Unless its a dive that has no signs of ever having a lick of paint with old men that long like they actually live in there, I generally dont mind a Wetherspoons, and prices are normally quiet welcoming as well
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I like this pub, with a good choice of beers at a reasonable price. But I must agree with other posts in that it could be better staffed, especially when Fulham have a home game. Also the upstairs bar could do with a mre varied choice of beers, or at least rotate the "regulars".
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Generally a varied and well kept range of beer at sensible prices. Staff competent and friendly. Toilets ok. Reliable Wetherspoon product.
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A spoons is a spoons. Decent clientele who don't bother you, you could talk if you want to.
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Might be a Spoons with all of the usual Spoons issues, but on 30th October at 1pm, they had beer and the Bricklayers at the other end of town had run out!
A couple of nice pints went down before Sunday lunch at the POW.
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Downstairs is like an oven, the part behind the bar at the back is particularly unpleasant. Upstairs is a bit more airy, but minimal beer range & poorly staffed.
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Not the most welcoming sight on the ground floor, but a bit better upstairs - as long as someone is staffing the bar!
The usual good value and choice that Wetherspoons provides.
Food service (at least tonight) was incredibly fast!
ASR
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Upspstairs in this pub and at the rear of the ground floor in the booths and seated area is quite nice, but the ground floor of this pub attracts the nastier element of Wethies customer, and I have seen trouble kick off here on more than one occasion. OK for a discrete pint at lunchtime and can have a good range of real ales sometimes.
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Hadn't been here sine it was Flanagan's back in the 60's.
I found the staff friendly and efficient. Pint of Ruddles was very nice. I didn't eat but the food looked like any other Wetherspoons which is good value for money.
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Haven't been in here for about 5 years and it still seems the same as I can remember although, maybe, fractionally cleaner. A good selection of beers and despite previous comments, the staff seemed quite competent. As with most JDW's the food was adequate but not inspiring.
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rpadam provides a better summary of this pub than I ever could; An average example of the JDW chain enlightened by the discovery of the upstairs bar and a pretty good pint of Robinson's Young Tom at �1.99. I'm struck time and again by the unbeatable value JDW offers on food & drink but this is always somewhat mitigated by the poor lighting, samey decor and sterile atmosphere. Handy for the station though, if you have half an hour to kill.
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On my last visit the smell of the lavatories made me abandon the visit before I had chosen what to eat.
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One of those relatively-rare 'spoons which actually looks like a pub rather than a converted furniture showroom or bank. There are plenty of interesting external features from its heyday as the former Railway Hotel, but the interior has been largely stripped out and replaced (but the art deco-style windows on the rear staircase are also worth a look). Six handpumps downstairs plus a few more on the first floor, with a reasonable mix of common and rarer ales (including two from the excellent Westerham Brewery on my last visit, only let down by the paper signs in lieu of proper pump clips). However, the atmosphere was - as one would expect - all rather transient and impersonal.
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Encountered the same service problems as daveid outlined below. It's a national problem sadly. Although some bar staff are unable to work out who is next to be served some blame also lies with ignorant customers who should have the grace to say 'no, he was before me'..English manners disappearing along with English pubs i'm afriad.
This place is just a typical wetherspoons with little or no character. The bricklayers or the arab boy nearby are a better bet in my humble opinion.
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Other than the guarantee of a guest ale their is little to draw the discerning drinker here unless your really trying to save those pennies. I found the manager who served me to be delightful shame all his staff just shuffled around looking blankly at you. typical wetherspoons, reasonably kept beer and cheap pub grub not alot of atmosphere but the model railway is an interesting feature. Would avoid on weekend evenings.
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The good thing about this place is that you can usually guarantee that there will be different guest ales on each time and they're usually in good condition.
The recurring problem I have is the service. There is apparently an unwritten law that people who queue at the end of the bar by the guest ale pumps do not get served if there are people waiting at the centre of the bar regardless of who got there first. I stood there for ages the other day as the girl turned a blind eye and carried on serving newcomers at the centre. All that is required is a bit of verbal communication or a sign saying "Sorry but none of our staff possess peripheral vision of any sort". I got a bit hacked off, at which point a handy prat of the first order started to draw connections between my attitude and the fact that I was wearing hi-viz cycle gear. I was tempted to make a connection between my fist and his gob, but I didn't want to spill my beer.
I know it sounds petty but poor service like this can seriously put people off. I might have to wait for a few weeks before going back...!
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Attempted to go in here to try the beer but on getting 3 paces in the door was overcome by a cloud of ammonia from a group of local down & outs. Had to execute a 180 degree turn to avoid retching . That's Wetherspoons for you, I suppose.
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If you avoid this place on Fulham games, then the queue for beer is minimal. Good range of Ales (downstairs anyway). Needs to bit of a spruce up downstairs. Good mix of traditional locals & OK yahs.
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This pub is great for cheap drinks but is in desperate need of renovation. The staff seem pretty good actually but the food is worse than most WS's as the food is done upstairs and sent down in a lift. As a result many meals are sent back cold! 99p pints of Ale and great range of cheap Polish bottled beers. Great for those of us who don't want to pay poncey prices for a session. However... the smelly Catweazle man who ploughs his life savings thro the fruit machine is not a great advert for the place..
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A fine range of real ales always available in The Railway. Less fine range of clientele....A pub of two halves, upstairs downstairs. Kinda like it here though for that last one or two before home
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It was pretty busy in here with the typical spoons crowd last Thursday lunchtime. I think that I spotted 7 real ales on and plenty of standard lager as very reasonable prices, as is expected in any Wetherspoons pub. My pint of lager was surprisingly OK and didn�t have the usual nearing the sell by date twang. There were a lot of smokers huddled in the doorway which doesn�t give the greatest impression when entering, but there is nowhere else for them to go.
There are 2 bars with the upstairs one being very comfortable and bright, although the views aren�t the greatest. There is also a plasma screen downstairs and a toy train going around the cornice in the main downstairs bar.
It took a while to get served, but the barman was polite enough when he did get to me.
I can�t envisage ever being in here again.
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Yes I agree re the short female manager or assistant manager - whatever their title. No idea about customers. Should be a prison warden from what I have seen. Get another job women before your bossess force you to do so.
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Been in here a few times over the past week, so I've seen a bit more of the place. The bar staff are so mixed - there are some really nice people working there, but some absolute arseholes as well. The hobbit they have for a manager really needs to get laid or something, she's fierce. And that fat barman with the imperious, sneering attitude - dude, it's no surprise to see you with a black eye...
I've seen two fights recently. One gang decided to beat up some white haired old dude. Give him his due, the old timer stood his ground and gave back as good as he got, told the police all about it later with a smile on his face - hat's off to that tough old bastard. The other one was standard pub scrapping, you know, drunk guys bashing each other with chairs, that kind of thing.
I did have a pretty good burger one evening though.
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rubbish. slooooow service and diabolical food.
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Typical Wetherspoons, just the same as any other in the country. It's pretty cheap, on a Monday you're talking �1.75 a pint, which would be good even outside of London. Flip side of this is that there's a fair number of weirdos in there. Last Monday some midget bloke in a Inter Milan shirt started singing Beach Boys hits to me while I was at the bar. "Best band in the world mate, best band in the world." he chirruped as he danced.
What else? Service for food is pretty crap, but the grub itself is ok, and the beer's not bad. There is a tiny assistant manager who's a bit of a dragon, especially when last orders draws near. Then again, if I had to deal with all those oddballs I might be sucking a lemon as well.
Think of it like a no-frills boozer, all the overheads cut out to bring prices down. EasyPub, perhaps.
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A typical 'Spoons pub - it could be replicated 100x over across this Green and Pleasant Land.
I went in around 18 months ago, when I was in that part of London. I thought it had a slightly threatening atmosphere - there were cantankerous old boys in there who had been in there since 11am (I was there around 8pm). The place had changed since I used it on a regaular basis (1995-2003).
I used to study and work at Roehampton University (then Institute) and most of workers there were students and staff (as Jim says below) . A lot of the regulars were also 'faces' at the Grid in Southfields so there was also a friednly atmosphere due to that. One or two used to get drunk out of their heads (especially and old Black geezer whose name I have forgotten),but they were not threatening.
Things have obviosuly changed since then judging by my experience and the latest revies. A shame. RIP THe Railway.
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They must have closed down just after I left we drank so much of the stock,they would have run at a huge loss.
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Originally the Railway Hotel it was Drummonds for a while before Wetherspoons took it over in 1993-ish.
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Did this pub used to be called Drummonds wine bar, if so I used to work there 20 years ago,the place was haunted.What happened to Freaky Pete the blind hippy? and Ralph the train robber?Would love to catch up with some of the crazy people I worked with what an absolute blast we had.Mike W
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A load of us went here after a game at Fulham (Toon won 1-0!) and it was perfectly adequate - plenty of space, decently priced drinks and fairly tasty nibbles, which we'd ordered in advance. The bar service was efficient and as usual for Wetherspoons the toilets were sparkling. Nothing spectacular, but nothing to complain about either.
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i dont remember teh elephant man but that bloke with the beard is the most vile person i have ever come across!!
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used to work in putney and get train back to vauxhall....worked shifts and popped in there for a quick one when finished....its ok for a quick one...i remember the grey longhaired dolite...remember watching him scav money off the other dolites in...anybody remember the guy in there who looked like the elephant man he also worked in sainsburys
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Built in 1899, this sizeable Wetherspoons has been given a modern makeover but it has been done relatively tastefully. The cut away ceiling makes it feel quite spacious and there is a large open staircase that leads to an upper floor which has its own separate bar. Service can be slow when it gets busy (I was here prior to a Fulham home match) and there is probably a better chance of getting a seat and service in the upstairs bar. Expect the usual �Spoons offerings of discounted Ales (6 standard and 2 guests), global lagers, bottles, wines, food etc. There are plenty of old local pictures including one of the original pub near the gents toilets and a couple of soundless plasma screens usually tuned to Sky Sports. Certainly not the worst pub I have ever been to but not exactly a place to go out of the way for.
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It's a Wetherspoons. It's in Putney.
Bored yet?
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Its not as bad as people make out, you can sit down, have a cold drink at half the price you would pay across the road in the fox, yeah you get a few scabby retarted people in there but every pub has a down fall, just stay away from the man with the grey beard that swears alot. Its always pretty good on a Friday night.
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This is a great place. Food and beer are spot on and plenty of guest ales. Why pay �3.60 for Guinnes in Youngs and other dumps when you can get it for �2.35?
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Putney is such a nice place to go out and there are tons of lovely bars and restaraunts, yet when you get off the train the two closest pubs are the WORST.
The Railway and The Fox... horribly scabby chavvy and a waste of a good location!
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Visited on Saturday lunchtime to be told that all real ales were off due to "a problem with the gas"! When I asked which gas, I was told "Nitrogen"(?) According to a friend a similar thing happened to him in the Crosse Keys in Gracechurch Street. Not impressed. Is there something dodgy going on in Wetherspoons' cellars?
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It's not as bad as most Spoonses... That's about all I can say in its defense. Probably best to avoid.
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4-5 years ago this was the best pub in Putney to be in. Always packed, especially on weekends upstairs and Wednesday nights.
The barstaff were always friendly (i knew nearly all of them, but still) as well as the manager who i also knew quite well.
Then a new manager came in whose obvious mission was to rid the pub of all under 25s, particulaly my group of friends. He moaned about the noise upstairs which was in fact a busy pub with lots of voices, people dropping fag on the floor (all of which seemed to be our fault), even people spilling drink on the table.
He succeeded, the pub is now empty most nights, devoid of all atmosphere and bucking the trend of nearly all pubs in Putney being terrible.
Not somewhere i'd ever want to drink in again.
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Lookin @ the previous comments i must have had a good day when visited. The girls behind the bar were very friendly,the meatballs were fine and the beer good. 8/10
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Fact. Of all the drinking establishments in the world this is the one I have spent most time in.
This statistic is something I consciously try not to think about for fear of drowning in a lagoon of my own tears and vomit.
There is no need for downplay or subtlety: This is a vile institution. The clientele, the decor and the atmosphere are equally repugnant and that is before you even consider the monstrosities that lurk behind the bar (the drinks as well, not just the staff).
When I search for reasons why I've wasted such a hideously long proportion of my life in this stale orifice I can find only two: My mates lived nearby and its at the confluence of a number of transport routes that I used to use regularly.
For a business the location could not be better; The Railway is like a Venus Fly-trap for lay-abouts, delinquents, juveniles and geriatrics.
You may have noticed that until now I have not yet used the word 'pub' in this review. This is for the simple reason that this is not a pub, its a shameful and embarrassing excuse for one.
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Bad atmosphere in here. Can often wait over 10 mins to be served by surly staff. Smokers area isn't properly vented so the dining area gets choking blasts of smoke. Cheap short dated beers and laughably extra cold lager on one pump thats actually warmer than the other warm lagers. ONly drink bottled stuff in here! Decoration and smell of pub awful. Many of the geriatrics can't make it up the stairs and so piss all over the floor in the disabled loo.
anonymous - 6 Sep 2006 10:41 |
Was in there last night. It's steady decaying and there was one section (between the corner of the bar to the back section, past the foot of the stairs) that had the distinctive scent of an old folks home: over-cooked food, dusty carpet and piss.
Desperate.
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Rather typical older style Wetherspoons pub getting a bit frayed and tatty round the edges. Seemed to be full of local paddies and assorted riff - raff taking advantage of the cheap beer prices when I was in. Not much to commend it - but opposite Putney B R station almost.
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Never, ever, ever eat in this place- i had the worst food poisening of my entire life when i had their beef roast i have lost my trust in pub dinners forever!! cheap or not it should never make you ill!!
anonymous - 27 Jun 2006 21:24 |
This pub isn't THAT bad - not somewhere I'd go if it was expensive admittedly, but it's not the worst place in the world. The beer range is good, like with most Wetherspoons places, and makes up for the total lack of atmosphere.
The food's what you'd expect really, the cheap burgers and chips are alright and good if you're hungry and can't be arsed to wait until you get home.
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A prime location pub, and it's your typical wheatherspoon pub, cheap beer and cheap food, no music, spacious etc Upstairs always smells funny though....you get what you pay for and to this it delivers.
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God almighty, why all the fuss - I used to manage this place back in 1999-2001 (Jason), seems to have improved since then...
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The front doorman is the rudest I have ever encountered!and I've worked in the industry a while. Perhaps he missed out on learning any social skills but his attitude has ensured that myself and my friends never visit the railway again (shame as we all live local to it-they have lost out on a lot of custom) The bar staff the night we visited were almost as rude as the doorman and the people already in the place closely match the descriptions within the comments of other people about this 'pub' I'd rather sit on a bench in Bishop's pk thanku v much - WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE EVER
One positive aspect is that the actual building is pleasant and if it were gutted of it's staff I'm sure would attract normal people back.
Wetherspoons - sort this place out
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Used to come here when I was 16 because we would always get served. That pretty much sums up the place.
Typical, crap Wetherspoons.
anonymous - 20 Sep 2005 13:26 |
waste of space as a pub in this prime location.
used by ancient boozers and students (upstairs).
Has smelt of sick for over 10 years.
evers - 29 Aug 2005 15:21 |
I use the Railway onc-twice a week after work. While I agree with some of the comments the fact that drinks are half the price of other pubs in Putney is a big plus. We will all get old one day so bear that in mind you young-uns. A good place for a few cheap drinks but not the place to take anybody you want to impress.
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I actually witnessed a glassing incident here involving two men in their 60's, on an early saturday afternoon. Surreal. It won't be long before it holds that precious top spot in the Borough's worst pub chart. Come on The Railway, you can do it!
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Cheap prices attracting cheap people. Rated the 2nd worst pub in the Wandsworth Borough, missing top spot to a pub in Tooting. Charming!
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Bad even for a Wetherspoons. Old man alcoholic type pub. If you can't afford to drink anywhere better, stay in and watch television.
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Agree with the fact its run down, and admittedly its Chav/ dirty old man central. However, good initial meeting place with wetherspoons prices. Toilets are disgusting. The whole place really smells. But a redeeming feature for me is the little train that goes around the top of the pub which you can stare at whilst your waiting for your mates, wishing you weren't there and gulping on your low quality dirt cheap, gag worthy wine.
amumd - 10 Feb 2005 14:47 |
Full of creepy, pervy old men drinking real ale for 99p a pint because they're too tight to go anywhere else. At least there's somewhere like this to keep all the losers in one place so the everyone else can have a drink without a comment being made or a sleezy gance coming your way.
Even with the recent refurb, it still looks the same, just doesn't smell of old man's piss and young binge drinkers sick, yet.
If you want to go for a nice drink in a pub with atmosphere, go to The Fox across the road, far better, no real ales, but hey, at least no skanky old men.
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Quite run down and depressing, like most of the earlier Wetherspoons now. There is the usual cheap beer - but there is nothing else to commend the place whatsoever
John - 29 Oct 2004 12:48 |
Very run down Wetherspoons, there is building work ongoing on the outside so a upgrade to the inside may also happen. Mixed bunch of drinkers, old chaps during the day with post men from the local sorting office and local office workers during lunch,(2 for 1 meal deals are good value) Putney's piss heads all day. Toilets are really bad, smelly, dirty and often flooded. Drinks are very cheap which helps pack the place out with students most nights during term time.
Callum - 8 Oct 2004 18:18 |
A bit sad - full of groups of old men talking to themselves and not each other. Not sure if it's a wetherspoons but that sort of style (uber-low prices/meal deals etc). You might like it if spending as little as possible is the key criteria for a night out.
Mr Lash - 5 Oct 2004 14:48 |
Used to be a nice pub, recently seriously run down by bad management and upkeep - note occasional dripping holes in the roof of the mens toilets. Bullying management and doorstaff although generally pleasant barstaff. Silver lining is low low prices but best make this a pub to get boozed up in, don't make an evening of it in here!
Joshua - 5 Oct 2004 00:47 |
Has a policy of ejecting people from the dining area if they are not eating, regardless of the fact that at least 80% of the seats are empty. Also, this is done as a bullying order rather than a polite request (who IS that Irish guy?), which upsets paying customers who are doing nothing more objectionable than enjoying a quiet afternoon drink. There are plenty of little Hitlers encountered in every day life who want to treat you like a criminal for minding your own business. I don't expect to come across them in the pub.
steve - 28 Apr 2004 16:49 |
great atmosphere, friendly staff , cheap drinks, wonderful choice of food. two thumbs up!!
anon - 8 Mar 2004 12:42 |
I used to work here a while ago now and i lived in both the flats, the pub was a really nice clean pub and now it doesnt seem the same. I can understand the war vets comments but on thurs to sat in the evenings the top bar was heaving with youngsters from the surrounding uni and colleges. It will probably be my favourite pub that I have worked in but only because of the good friends and the fact that the regulars still remember me when i have been in.
sah - 3 Mar 2004 17:56 |
I used to work and live in this pub a few years back. I worked there on before I went to uni as bar supervisor and whilst at uni part time. The old boys that came in in the day could be a pain in the arse but were all well behaved and were generally good to have around. at that point it was a real student place aswell which was great in the evening as most of the staff were students at Roehampton so it it was always a really good atmosphere. I cant believe how crap it is now and how little people think of it - I went in there a few months ago and was amazed at the difference a few years and some bad management can make...what a shame!
Jim - 29 Dec 2003 17:20 |
I echo the comments referring to the DVRB's. However, some of the the younger clientele are not pleasant. When having a quiet drink recently, a particularly putrid smelling and ugly gentleman vomited on the marble table. Not pleasant.
Ham - 19 Nov 2003 20:27 |
been here many-a time, and a friend works there. Agree about the war vet + p*** head hangout...but the drinks r so cheap n its in a great location...if u get enough of u together (n dont go to the kiddie center upstairs) it can be a laugh
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What used to be a great place to have a pint has become a war veteran and piss-head hangout. It's not exactly the kind of place you'd go for fine ale, good company or vibrant atmosphere.
indie - 14 Oct 2003 11:56 |
ive been going for the last 3 years or so and you cant beat the fine ale and cheap DVRB's that are served. its more of an institution than a pub!
Will - 29 Sep 2003 20:03 |
�2.50 for a double vodka redbull, what more can i say, give it a chance...
Steve - 28 Sep 2003 16:16 |
Agree with other comments that this pub has gone down hill.
The manager seemed almost incompetent at serving beer: I had to repeat my order of 4 drinks about as many times, and he seem disgusted that three of us should be drinking the same ale as each other.
In contrast, and most amazing, the young guy serving was polite helpful and reasonably quick to serve. He didn't learn that from the current manager.
anonymous - 8 Sep 2003 10:31 |
i really enjoyed my visit my husband and i though service was lovely and staff extremely helpful
anonymous - 24 Jul 2003 23:38 |
I have some great memories of the Railway but since they changed management at the end of last year i won't step foot inside. It's really gone down hill and i know a lot of people who refuse to go in there now because they cannot stand the new manager, the new staff or their service - a real shame if u ask me, as it never used to be like this! Wetherspoons need to choose their managers more carefully if you ask me because they're losing their only decent customers!
Anon - 25 Jun 2003 14:46 |
the worst giro funded pub ever. there are some things that are worth spending that bit extra on
FEXVETERAN - 16 Jun 2003 15:40 |
A poor pub even by Weatherspoons standards - it was filthy yesterday afternoon.
Gary - 9 Jun 2003 07:39 |
the railway is the greatest pub on earth. it feeds me, fuels my alcohol addiction and provides me with the social aspect of life that i miss out on, as i have no friends. i also fancy dan dan.
edward - 28 Apr 2003 15:08 |
What can I say - Never have I seen so many under 18's and over 70's in one place at one time. Horrible atmosphere, horrible pub
maurice - 14 Apr 2003 09:57 |
The food here is lovely and, contary to Doug's implication, the kitchen is immaculate. The Railway always gets top marks in its checks, and the kitchen staff are wonderful. However, we will admit that the bar side of things is a little below-par, but that's because The Railway makes so much money (Wetherspoons refuses to refurbish it). The staff try their best, after in very crappy circumstances. When things break down, or the roof starts leaking, some customers are just plain offensive.
As for tipping old beer into new glasses, we're not allowed to refund/give new pints... this is against Wetherspoon's policy, as far as I can gather from my training.
Em - 9 Apr 2003 11:04 |
I must say, the railway is like a second home to me, good food, cheap drink; Dan Dan, Andy, Vicky always have a smile on their faces, which makes it a bloody good night out after a long days' slog at Waitrose 225.
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I miss this place...good food, good company..good memories!!!
xxxxx
auro - 20 Jan 2003 17:30 |
Because the majority of people are peasants.Justlook at the comments in favour
Niff - 13 Dec 2002 09:48 |
if its so crap why is it always packed?
? - 12 Dec 2002 14:12 |
we love it!!
? - 12 Dec 2002 14:11 |
U can't complain, �1.99 for a double baileys!! yummy!! good looking barman on thursday, dark hair, blue eyes!! also very yummy!! Loads a young people, all my age! All round its a good night out as Fez club is a short stumble over the road!!
Anonymous - 9 Dec 2002 14:46 |
Downstairs has the normal Wetherspoons 'one tramp per table' if you can avoid them and get upstairs, it is like being in kindergarden, loads of teens, and the ominous perverts loitering and looking for action. Cheap and classless.
Chris - 6 Sep 2002 16:33 |
This pub is AWFUL. Wetherspoons cheap beer policy obviously means they cannot afford proper dishwashers or staff. The place is always filthy, tables never cleaned, ashtrays always full. Glasses literally caked with lipstick and gob. Once I asked for a clean glass - eventually it transpired that the entire clean glass stock was dirty. Barman eventually tried to wipe the rim of one with a rag and pour my pint from the old filthy glass into it. Nice. Would not recommend eating there as a result of that. It's always got a load of people in it because branded pints are as low as �1.70. The combination of all this is that there are alot of students andpeople who garish gold jewellery in there. Best spending a bit more in The Fox over the road. Avoid!!!
Doug - 30 Aug 2002 11:00 |
Lots of easy young girls there. Awesome.
Pascal - 19 Jul 2002 09:23 |
