please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
a potentialy great pub everything you'd everything you'd ever need in one place dartboard,pool table,juke box i hope the people who have bought it are proud of themselves for destroying hampton wick i just pray you lose your appeal.
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A year ago I saw a sign advertising this place for sale, the estate agent was called New Ballerinos or something that i had never heard of. Rang up out of nosiness rather than a serious desire to run a pub and I think the price was �350k + VAT. I thought for a bit under asking price you would probably be able to be get a decent return on if you did some good food and got maybe 20 covers on a saturday.
Anyway agent said that the vendors would probably stick to the asking price as it would be an attractive punt for a property developer, if they got change of use they could easily treble their money if you reclaimed the VAT. Shame really as a good pub near the station would have been very handy.
derry - 17 Nov 2010 14:39 |
I am always saddened to see a traditional boozer disappear however I think that this place has been on it's last legs for sometime.
Until recently I lived in Hampton Wick just a stones throw from this pub however I was not tempted to frequent it much and I think that other people probably avoided it too for a number of reasons.
- The pub always looked closed. Even on a hot summers day the doors remained closed which I cannot say is the most welcoming look.
- The latest bar manager/staff seem very dis-interested and dont appear to want any custom except for their regular little clique even though regardless of how much they pour down their throats, are not going to keep a pub in business.
- When I have walked into the pub (and nearly tripped on tumbleweed) I have been stared at like I had 2 heads.
- to reiterate a point already made, the same clientel as always all hang around the front of the pub swaying and smoking which gives you the feeling of running a gauntlet to get to the door. The pub actually has quite a decent sized spacious garden and the owner should really force these people to go out there for a fag but again, this shows their dis-interest in attracting any customers except their regulars.
- 1 time when I was in the pub, a barfly who seems to spend 90% of his time in there said to myself and my mate, albeit in a jokey way that he "owned the place". This attitude that the pub is run/owned by the few soaks that frequent the place is exactly why no regular punters feel the desire to drink in there. I for one gave this place quite a few attempts as this was the nearest pub to my gaff and I was happy to make it my local. However due to the reasons stated I gave up on the place and would rather walk to any of the other pubs in the area rather than set foot in here.
I think other local drinkers, bar the odd 1 or 2 probably shared my feelings about this place hence it has gone down the shitter. I would be saddened to see this turned into housing though. I just hope that it returns as a pub that is well run with some of the select few who drank there told to take their business elsewhere. This place then may become successful again and actually be a fun place to go.
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WATCH THIS SPACE. All is not quite lost yet. Thanks to vigorous and eloquent objections from a local residents society, the local CAMRA group, and other interested parties, the application for conversion from a public house to housing has been REJECTED (July 2010).
This may yet return to a PRECIOUS COMMUNITY PUB.
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Closed for good in late March. The building has been sold and an application made to the council for it to be converted to private housing. Hampton Wick's only jukebox has fallen silent and the village has lost its only traditional boozer.
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It is always sad to see a much-loved local go under (thank you, Brown and Darling), but since the last landlady/landlord Rachel and Danny left, this once-wonderful pub has become a s**thole. Any passer-by thinking of going in would surely be put off by customers who look like hillbillys from the film Deliverance. That is if they weren't deterred by seeing the most recent temporary landlord standing blocking the doorway smoking. How attractive is a pub to a potential customer, who has to plough through a mountain of fag-ends and empty fag packets outside the entrance?
The Railway has a garden at the rear - smoke there, out of sight, for God's sake. Mick Jordan and then John Stryker made the Railway great. It's not worthy of the name now. Good riddance.
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Tomorrow The Railway (Tavern) will close its doors forever. The building has been sold for residential use and so the legend that was Hampton Wick's last remaining traditional boozer draws to a close. A sign of the times? Yes and the end of an era.
Trad pubs that don't serve food and/or don't possess satellite tv (such as The Railway) are really up against it now. Pubs where you can sing and dance to the jukebox without worrying about disturbing the polite dining ambience are becoming a thing of the past. Losing a real pub like this is a tragedy. Tonight we, 'The Railway Children', will celebrate it and bid it a sad farewell.
"Go maith ma agut agus slan!"
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The last seven weeks have seen something of a transformation as the new landlord and his backer have gone a long way to restoring this pub's reputation as somewhere a great pint and a great night can be had. Ale lovers have a choice of London Pride and Courage Director's and there's an enterprising choice of bottle ales too (Fuller's Honeydew and ESB as well as Jenning's Cumberland Ale).
If you insist on drinking lager, Carlsberg is �2 a pint!
It's usually busier on Friday nights but Saturday nights have also picked up recently with frequent live music of differing styles becoming a feature. Add to this a lively, varied but usually friendly mixed clientele and you've a pub which is definitely going places. It's arguably the most 'fun' place in Hampton Wick.
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Update: after having three short-term holding managers, a new lease has been signed and the new landlord (from Northern Ireland) has plans to renovate the place. Live traditional Irish music is to become a regular feature starting tomorrow and there are plans to serve bar snacks. The corner has been turned...
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It could do with a few quid being spent on it. A friendly enough place.
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Called in after 11 one night off the train. Friendly enough welcome but the pub smelt and the beer (Pride, I think) had seen better days. Can't really see that it's changed that much.
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I'm pleased to say that the pub re-opened on Friday. It's early days as yet but Sky tv and cask beer will soon feature. A cosy traditional pub starting a new lease of life.
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The building remains closed and is now on the market. Fingers crossed it re-opens as a pub.
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Word around the manor is that people have been seen going in and out of the pub recently and there's a rumour that it'll be re-opening soon. I hope whoever takes it on has verve, wit, charm, personality and charisma. The Railway could be great again and I'd much rather see it busy and fun than become offices or a restaurant.
$64,000 question: is there enough drinking trade for Hampton Wick's three traditional pubs to remain viable? Answers on a postcard please!
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This pub has now closed. It could be awaiting new management or even a change of use to become something else. Time will tell.
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Here here!
It deserves to have someone run it who has passion, commitment and vision. It can be great again so is there someone out there willing to step up and go for it?
I hope so...
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This Friday (22nd) is the last big night under the present management, lets hope whoever takes over can bring this pub back to life.
anonymous - 18 May 2009 19:05 |
Scheduled to finally shuffle off this mortal coil - under the present (mis)management anyway - next Friday (22nd), going by the current word doing the rounds. To say that the pub became a shadow of its former self is somewhat of an understatement!
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Going going gone, yet another pub has to be closed.
anonymous - 15 May 2009 08:09 |
I think that the last post is unfair. The Railway has improved - and when it has real ale on, it is ok. The recent addition of a Twickenham beer is welcome within the Wick.
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A pub that needs to be put out of our misery. Full of Ginger Ts. Somewhere to keep dry if you have missed your bus but that's about it.
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was in the pub before christmas for a charity Karaoke night, was ace. for a small pub the locals have a big heart and raised over �600 well done.toilets are now finished and food that is served good..well done you guys a pleasure to come to you.
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The mens toilets have been refurbished! Its the end of an era. The rest of the pub has been refubished too, carpeted one side, wood floor the other. Sky sports is back too, so the pub is pleasantly busy on weekends and evenings when the footie is on.
ew100 - 26 Nov 2008 02:04 |
An idea to tempt new custom is to build a kitchen in the pub, which will serve toasties or spuds. Not really going to scare the other pubs in the village, and since the kitchen will be built in the pub (where the piano is) an already small pub will be smaller. The pub and garden are still filthy, and the mens toilets are now being held up by the tiles on the walls.
The only plus side is that the prices have been reduced.
anonymous - 29 Aug 2008 20:00 |
A pub on its last legs and a shadow of its former self.
Shabby, cold and frequently almost empty of customers, it's struggling to survive. It has the smell of death about it...
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The pub was renamed The Railway after the sudden departure of former landlord (and FBI fugitive!) 'John Stryker'. It's no longer Cask Marque either.
anonymous - 7 Nov 2007 13:31 |
Following recent posts, the pub is definitely struggling to remain open and viable. The garden is probably its best feature now but how much income will it generate over the cold months? The pub struggles to offer its full range of draught beers/ciders etc and relies on big sport events on tv, live music and karaoke to bring in a decent trade. It's far too quiet when it should be making good money and closing at 11 o'clock hands what trade there is to the opposition regularly. Contrast Hampton Wick's pubs on a normal weekend night and you'll know how a once-great pub has fallen on hard times. Unless it gets its act together, I can see it closing inside six months.
anonymous - 19 Oct 2007 13:34 |
This is a great pub, though it does seem to be struggling but then who's not in the industry at the moment but they have the surport that they need to get through. To put one point straight they didn't run out of gas there was a leak in the pipe which has now been fixed(who can get anything fixed on a sunday night). They've done a great job and spent a lot of money on the place and there garden this year just waiting for the sun now to be able to enjoy it roll on next summer. its a PUB fantastic .
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The Railway is a great pub, or was, these past few months it seems to have gone down hill. Was in last night and they ran out of gas, (instead of beer, cider, john smiths and everything else they serve.) Which ment they could not serve any pints so they closed at seven. Something needs to change before the locals abandon ship. Without the locals The Railway will close.
anonymous - 1 Oct 2007 16:52 |
I use the Railway quite a bit. The beer garden is nearly finished and is a lovely place to sit with a pint. More should be made of this facility, especially as it's the only "proper" beer garden in the village. Pub still manages to run out of some beers regularly!
anonymous - 9 Sep 2007 09:35 |
Garden now fully restored and looking fine. It now has an outdoor smoking area and barbeque too but suffering from beer shortages for some unfathomable reason of late.
It's busy when it's hosting live music or karaoke nights but can be too quiet when neither of those are on so needs to buck its ideas up a bit.
anonymous - 22 Aug 2007 23:06 |
The garden's shaping up well, the bar floor still needs resanding and varnishing and all the smokers will have to go outside now!
The karaoke and live music nights usually pull the people in but it can be quiet too but there's still too much idle MTV or sport on the telly which no-one watches. I think it needs more...charisma to really get it going.
anonymous - 13 Jul 2007 11:12 |
Great booze, nicely referbed, not over the top, great atmosphere and the beer is good. Karaoke party nights are the best around, once a month comes round quickly try to see for your self .....
anonymous - 6 Jul 2007 11:48 |
I quite like the Railway. It has decent real ale and a nice garden at the back. It is true that it is a die hard locals pub but it deserves to do better and should be supported.
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nothing against the new owners, but, looks like only the die hard locals post good things about the place, iv lived in the area for years and cant say anything about it, i fell asleep watching only fools and horses the other night while the young blonde guy sat and smoked himself silly.
anonymous - 20 Feb 2007 22:32 |
Just thought I'd let you know what a wicked boozer.....New owners Danny and Rachel are brill....Karaoke when there is the best....Had my best ever new year there and still getting over it....roll on the next one.......
anonymous - 17 Jan 2007 14:03 |
Now in the process of having a revamp and looking much better for it. The ales change on a slow rotation (possibly slightly too slow to elicit true excitement for tickers) but the Harvey's Sussex bitter is in great form currently. A place which is now turning the corner.
anonymous - 16 Jan 2007 11:36 |
I passed it earlier today and it's had a revamp. The old Stryker's signage has gone and it's had a facelift. The crowds of the past have still yet to return in the numbers of before so the jury's still out regarding whether it can stay viable.
anonymous - 26 Sep 2006 13:56 |
It ain't twaddle, mate, but apparently a lot of work is going to be done on the place and not before time. Good luck to the place if it turns the corner because it has been drifting towards the rocks for quite a while.
anonymous - 27 Jul 2006 21:39 |
A load of old twaddle talked below. Pleasant pub with REAL locals and fine ales. The landlady is a looker as well. Very friendly.
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A pub still struggling to find some sort of purpose or vitality. There seems to be a lack of enthusiasm here and the pub badly needs a facelift. The staff seem weary and uninterested, they don't greet you as you arrive or leave, juke box is frequently too loud for conversation, tv is on all the time even when no-one is watching. If they're not bothered and wanting to drive people away, they're doing the right thing. The place deserves better.
anonymous - 3 Jul 2006 23:26 |
Friendly enough local but as people have said a bit quiet. A good pint of Abbot Ale here.
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Anyone in contact with ex landlord John Stryker since he was locked away in the USA? I was keen to make contact as used to work with back in the mid nieties -No idea that he was a mafia mobster.........
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Celebrate Paddy's Night at The Railway Tavern. Scratch & Jane performing all your favourites from 9pm, plus a few Irish songs to add to the occasion.
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Live Music Friday 17th Feb fronm 9pm at the Railway Tavern: SCRATCH featuring Jane, performing all your favourite songs - if you like Virgin Radio, you'll love this.
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Not a lot has happened since the time of the last review really. Something indefinable has been lost along the way and it's quiet a good deal of the time when it probably shouldn't be. No longer the established 'late house' of the village, it stuck to traditional hours after the new laws came in and watches whatever trade there is of a night walk out the door at 11.25.
Unless it also opens to at least 1 a.m in future and gets a significant financial boost, I can't see it surviving. Occasional live music of varying qualities and a truly mixed clientele of students, locals and thirsty commuters straight from the station opposite (although not enough of any of them!).
Expect: mediocre ales, sometimes intrusive MTV, a small crowd, no food, smoking etc. If you're planning a crawl, hit this place after ten-fifteen or so for a few and then the Swan to round the night off.
anonymous - 10 Feb 2006 11:57 |
Oh dear oh dear oh dear.
The good work done by Stryker is slowly being obliterated by laziness and complacency. The beer quality has dropped off a fair bit; it lacks sparkle and life. The atmosphere is charged with uncertainty and a certain amount of tension. Outwardly the place seems much the same as it was but it's sliding into decline. The men's bogs are as dingy as ever and you get the feeling that no money or time is being spent on the place.
The landlady seems bored most of the time, sits at the hatch end of the bar with a tired expression, still doesn't greet or thank anyone. Former regulars have been driven away in droves and the place is almost empty during the week (and during the day), pinning its hopes on one or maybe two busier nights at the weekend.
The place now has the smell of death about it...
anonymous - 14 Aug 2005 12:24 |
Strande mix of furniture, people and atmosphere. the gents toilets should be listed as i dont think there are a set standing anywhere in the uk could be much worse.
New landlady seems nice(r), but i still have not been acknowledged with a simple hello on entering. Often get the feeling that your a nuisance to the staff (have had eyes rolled for forgetting a drink...). cramped around the bar at times.
Still miles ahead of The Swan down the road in terms of service, quality of ale, prices and atmosphere. Though thats not saying much.
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nice pub clean and tidy two nice tv's could do with more room round the pool table but still can have a decent game. beers excellent. staff are friendly and poliet. with a good looking landlady. have had some good laughs in there recently and a few late ones.
amon - 8 Nov 2004 01:01 |
i think the railway is the best pub in the wick. very good
ragy - 18 Sep 2004 08:59 |
The "Stryker's" part of the sign is covered up by a Guinness ad, put up by John before he went. Still a good time to be had, although no more late drinks :(.
Rose and Crown is now a noodle place and the Old Kings Head has re-opened. John is in prison. The place is not as good as it used to be,
Wicker Man - 21 Aug 2004 17:58 |
Every time we go to this pub I struggle to understand why it isn't busier - it's got a good range of beers, pool table, couple of nice TVs, jukebox, dartboard (and usually some darts lying around, it's not like a lot of pubs where you feel that only certain people are allowed to use it), oh, and a nice beer garden out the back too. Not only that, but the bar staff and customers are invariably friendly, even though we're strangers who only pop in once every few months.
Forget about John, just visit this pub and be grateful that places like this with a proper, traditional, welcoming atmosphere still exist. I'm definitely going to try and get here more often.
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Too small for the pool table but a fairly nice way-station before running to the lion.
Tom - 9 Jul 2004 17:07 |
I've been here a couple of times with my sister who was a friend of one of john's friends. Never imagined John as a fugitive. Had some very shifty friends, lots of his mates going back and forth from the US for him. The pub was good just can't belive the FBI were after him for so long. I suppose with John gone the Bad element will have dispursed too.
Alex - 3 Mar 2004 11:58 |
Yup, still having some great times there. Last week's Halloween bash will live long in the memory. What more can I say?
Go there and find out for yourself.
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This is the best all round traditional pub in Hampton wick the "Mad American" owner as Anne put it has put a lot of timne and effort into rejuvenating a long time classic in this village. may he continue to endeavor along these lines for the pub only gets better year after year
Steve Davis - 9 Apr 2003 00:50 |
I've been a regular at Stryker's
Railway (formerly the Railway
Tavern) for about seven years.
To say I've had some great times
there is an understatement! Sure,
it's not everyone's idea of either
a traditional boozer but when the
place is humming and the people are up for it, it's like no other.
John Stryker is a friend of mine
and a lovely bloke.
Cheers
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mad american barman!
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