Railway Hotel, Southend on Seaback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Very nice indeed. A quirky but old style pub with lovely parquet flooring and a long wood pannelled bar. 4/5 well kept ales, mainly from Adnams. It had a nice wine list as well, with some tables ordering bottles with their food (which looked pretty good). Seems like a bit of an artsy hub and all in all came as a very welcome surprise on a trip to Roots Hall.
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The stand out pub of Southend. Real ales, good music played straight from vinyl records, classic decor. Was impressed that the new pub sign features Wilko from Dr. Feelgood.
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We called in here for a few drinks on Friday afternoon, 24 May - and we stepped back in time: 1970s music played using records, eclectic decor making good use of the wonderful Art Nouveau features in the pub, friendly clientele, excellent quality beer (I had Adnams) served in full pints by friendly and efficient bar staff - and all at reasonable prices. Fantastic - it's hard to imagine a better pub.
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I like this pub and have visited it several times to watch the live music and drink the very decent ale. It's all good and the clientele fine also with a few more mature women dropping by on occassion to hunt out the young, available meat. Fine building, plenty of history and a splendid facade, olden furniture look inside and the guy behind the bar does try with the ale and keeps it good. I'd go back anytime, fine place.
Mcloj - 17 Oct 2011 11:43 |
I have to say, I was amazed to read that this pub has been refurbished because it looked to me like it's not been touched in decades! It's a big ol' pub with a shabby wooden floor, disused cocktail bar and ancient chairs/tables - not what I was expecting. However, it has a charm of its own, even if a little odd. Old 33rpm records were being played and there was an eclectic of punk/artist types when we visited, including an eccentric gentleman who was sporting the sort of hat only the mother of a bride would wear, complete with netting.
To be fair, we sought out this pub not for its decor, clientele or drinks (though if you want an orange juice it'll be freshly squeezed), but because we'd heard it had a vegetarian menu and on that score we were not disappointed. Prices were reasonable and portions good. As for the grub itself, it was absolutely delicious. For this reason I'd say that first impressions are deceiving, because while it might not look a bit rough round the edges, its food makes it a hidden gem. We travelled a fair way to try lunch at the Railway Hotel but we'll definitely be back.
I'd score it 10 for the food and 4 for the decor, but the food outweighs the surroundings so it's an 8.
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Certainly agree with Ciderchap that this is the best pub in Southend by a long stretch.
2 reasons for that. 1.This is a fine boozer, and would be anywhere in the UK. 2. Its not hard for a decent pub to stand out in Southend as 'proper pubs' in this town can be a bit dicey 'agg-wise'. This one isnt tainted by such problems.
Good music blaring out at night from an old jukebox, and by day just a nice quiet place to sip. Very close to train station so out of towners will find very handy. Cheers.
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Yes this pub has been extensively 'refurbished' to return it to its old victorian splendour. Best pub in Southend by a country mile. Dave has introduced all types of various music and activities, and the pub has a very mixed clientele. Also, a decent range of ale, and wait for it, Cheddar Valley Cider plus Westons Perry. This has become my local and much awaited since the closure of The Cork and Cheese.
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