please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
The Steam Railway is deceptively large. It has one large room on the right and a more cavernous room to the left. Both rooms have bars, with real ale being dispensed from the smaller bar. There is also a large outdoor patio to the side. Inside is dark, but nicely decorated. As the previous reviewer said, there are many screens for live sport. Apart from the bar staff, I was the only person in on a Monday evening. Doom Bar & 6X are the regular ales. The guest ale was The Rev James. Nice place. Pity about the ale choice and the lack of atmosphere. But, it was a Monday. I would give it a second chance.
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I very rarely bother using the pub any more.
The revolving door management policy continues. The lack of investment in the actual structure continues.
It's pretty expensive too.
To its credit it has lots of screens up, so it should do well for the World Cup (just have to hope they don't resort to those flimsy plastic glasses again)
They do have real ale pumps, but whether it's well kept just depends on the landlord at the time. They probably don't turn over enough to keep it going.
Not somewhere I'd recommend these days, a great shame because it still has potential.
I believe Phoenix lease it from Punch, they aboth seem happy to run it into the ground 😞
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Not getting any better.
Another management team come and gone, gents toilet disgusting.
If the owners (Punch taverns, I believe, but the may have leased it to Phoenix), aren't running it down, they're doing a bloody good impression of it
I'll be surprised if it's still open in 6 months
Nothing short of a disgrace!!
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Been a lot going on since the last review.
Bit of a rollercoaster, I've been in to watch the rugby & the place has been a joy. Packed, plenty of staff, telly's working, sound up. Been in other times and the place has been dead.
We're on another slump at the moment. Since Howard left, about 6 or 8 months ago there have been so many landlords it's like the place has a revolving door, & this reflects on the trade.
The quiz on Monday's has gone from it's peak of 20 + teams down to 3. The place seems to always smell right at the moment (dishwasher apparently).
On the plus side I hear things should be picking up soon.........watch this space
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Visited this pub on Sunday 13/05/12, looked friendly enough,was busy for the football,so thought I would have some food as well , FATAL MISTAKE this was without question the worst sunday roast I have ever eaten i..e the meat was grilled not roasted the potatoes were submerged in the most old and filthy oil possible,the vegetables were frozen,and there was some sort of stuffing ball on the plate,which also was appaling , what a shame as the pub itself is OK and actually enjoyed my expierience there but will never attempt to eat here again,
oh and whilst we did attempt to eat the horrible mess,we stayed for another one hour and fifty minutes and the plates were still not cleared from our table,ever do the bartender came twice to clear the glasses.
Stick to what you can do and either give up on the food or get it right
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My first visit to this place which is a very large rambling building with two bars (only one has real ale) and a large outside seating area. Got served quickly and efficiently enough (Hobsons best Bitter/Shepherd Neame's Whitstable Bay and Butcombe Bitter were the guest ales). Beer was OK - maybe a tadge warm. TV screens everywhere but no sound which was fine. Not a bad place and I would probably go back again. A number 11 bus stops nearly outside as it's a good walk from the station and you'll need a beer by the time you get there! Actually, I thought I was in another town when I got the "the Old Town" - so much different from the shops and office blocks down the hill!!
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Hmmmm, used to be a regular here but this was my first visit for a year or so, very clean and tidy, nice selection of real ales, shame they were only the boring regulars ie Youngs bitter, wadworth 6x, wells bombardier, fullers london pride etc, maybe they have more interesting beers at the weekend. Still woth a look.
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Large pub in Swindon's Old Town. A pub of two sections... one being the sports/lager/circuit part and the other being an old fashioned ale bar. Should imagine the 'circuit' half to get a bit frenzied in the evening. The ale bar is okay though and the pint of Derail I had was nice enough.
anonymous - 5 Sep 2010 13:40 |
Nice enough pub in the middle of Swindon. 7 interesting real ales on and the real ale bar was very busy (as it should be). The lager bar was empty! Good quality pub, with the feel of the seaside about it.
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Visited here one afternoon last week, much cleaner than it used to be with plenty of shiney varnish. Still the same great idea though, the real ale bar for the grownups and a larger seperate creche for the youngsters serving lager and other types of fizzy pop. Good selection of guests. Beer fesrival soon at the end of this Month is always worth a look.
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Was in here last weekend and had another good night. Abbot Ale and several others on tap, pool table to the back in its own separate enclosure (nice that, for players and other customers alike). Have managed to catch some rugby league in here on a previous visit as well which I was impressed about. Very little to complain about.
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Great pub offering about 8 guest ales, normally 2 or 3 are interesting the others are of the 'Bombadier/6X/London Pride' ilk. Well worth a visit though for the real ale bar. A great please to while away an our or two supping and reading the paper.
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Called in again recently. To my eye, the only changes to the Real Ale bar were a more conservative selection of beers with higher prices, but it's still well worth the visit.
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This place is under transformation at the moment, and from what I've seen so far it's all good.
The new boss is committed to the place in a way that we haven't seen in quite some time.
Still a good range of real ales, okay prices for Old Town. The atmosphere for the rugby World Cup was as good as ever and the outside screens were a great idea. Barstaff are pretty good in general, the quiz is still going on a Monday.
It's not quite there yet but when the work is finished it will be back where it should be as one of the best pubs in Swindon.
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Just been taken over by new management, the first thing that has happened is a pretty steep price hike (25p on a pint of Strongbow,Stella at �3 etc). Still a good range of ales just more expensive.
For a pub which already struggles to get as busy as it used to be that's quite a brave (or foolhardy) move. I guess that Howard is relying on his radio persona to sell the place, best of luck old chap, I reckon you'll need it.
anonymous - 13 Jul 2007 09:29 |
Credit where it's due this place seems to have picked up just lately. The Monday night quiz is busier than for a long time, and the weekends are too.
The beer is apparently kept to a good standard, the staff are (in general) the best they've had for a while, pleasant, helpful and attentive.
All round a far better experience than at some times in the not too distant past.
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Still worth a visit for a well kept selection of beers in the ale bar. The building is worth a bit of a look, too. An unusual basis for a pub which has been well used while keeping the original layout.
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St Georges Day didn't disappoint, another good day.
What was disappointing was the fact that this was the only proper celebration in the Old Town.It's good that somebody puts the effort in, COME ON THE REST OF YOU!!
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They are currently advertising a St Georges Day bash (one of all too few). This has been a good event in the past, roast beef dinner etc. so hopefully it will be again.
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Good pub on a slippery slope. Landlord could do better even under "brewery" constaints. The ale bar is still well worth a visit, and at least they are trying in the lager bar, live music etc.
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I visited this place on a Saturday night.
A bit dark and dingy and the bar staff look like they'll kick then living daylights out of you as soon as you walk into the main area... that's if the doormen haven't scared you off first.
It's full of 16 year olds trying to act all big and cool or old men trying to cop of with any old bit of skirt so not the best place for just having a good time without geeting into a ruck.
The "quiet" bar area on the other hand gives off a bit more of a welcoming atmosphere. Although small and cosy, the barr staff are more friendly and actually greet you with a smile and they seem like human beings in there. .
Prices are fairly reasonable for this part of town and the selection in the main bar is pretty good... they even do vodka jelly sometimes.
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If the ale bar wasn't there i think the armies of the world should use the other bar to calibrate the accuracy of their nuclear weapons. Save yourself the torment of listening to dodgy party tunes and go to the wheatsheaf down the road. Or if you must, run straight into the ale bar. If you drink enough bombadier the music might not effect you.
kev - 30 Jan 2004 16:20 |
This is a great pub with two different concepts. On one side you have a young bar with a weekend Dj and live sports on big screen and televisions throughout. Theres a pool table and dart board along with plenty of games machines. On the other side is a contained Real Ale bar with a huge range of real ales that are frequenty changed. The style this side is traditional and very warm and welcoming. Would appeal to all ages.
Angela - 29 Jan 2004 14:39 |
