please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Sad decline, huge rise in prices and surly staff
|
The Railway has a fairly modern style interior. 3 real ales were on - Doom Bar, Landlord & Ubu. Addlestones was the cider. I nearly fainted when I heard the price. I had to ask a second time to make sure I'd heard right. Ok, but there are better pubs in Crouch End.
|
I used to like it here as somewhere a bit more lively in Crouch End before heading into town, but on my most recent visit it was �4 for a pint of Doombar. I probably won't be going back again.
|
Full of pretentious idiots. Drinks very expensive. Dark and depressing. Music (when they bother to play some) just as depressing.
|
Not a good pub in my view, similar clientel to the Wishing well further down in crouch end, enough said. I've had a couple of duff pints here and a friend was looked at askance when he ordered wine, which was corked, although the bar staff argued the toss. The interior has been ripped about and has no character, and the only redeeming feature seems to be the live jazz. I disagree with the last comment which implies similar clientel with the Harinngay Arms. The HA is a fantastic atmospheric and genuine boozer. This place is a sh*te hole, although blessedly free of the Kings Head crowd.
|
It's precisely the absence of the local 'Nathan Barleys' (such as the previous poster) that makes this place. Glad you hate it. Tossers are also unwelcome at the Harringay Arms.
|
What a good 'onest boozer this is. Watched Spain stuff the Germans here this week. None of the local Joshua's & Jocasta's were in. The Deuchars IPA and Timothy Taylors Landlord were in fine shape, good unpretentious food and friendly staff. Spot on!
|
Trendy looking place - much different to when I last drank in here a few years ago. Nice laid back atmosphere, staff very pleasant and efficient. Tried the Deuchars IPA and Timothy Taylors Landlord, both were very good. Menu looked interesting I will try it next time I'm in. All in all a very nice place.
|
Not sure what a Soho knocking shop looks like so will have to take Harry's word for it. Have drunk in The Railway for a year or so and I would not call it a gastropub though the food is very good, the staff are always nice and friendly and it is a great place to relax and have a pint. dont think Harry would know a good pub if it kicked him up the bum!
|
Horrible Gastropub. The manager smells unpleasent and it is decorated like a Soho knocking shop!
|
Whilst finishing a cigarette before I entered this establishment I noticed the sign on the A-board on the path outside which was advertising the pub as being perfect for �lovely ladies with babies who love to lunch�. This instantly filled me with dread and I was expecting my first visit to this pub to consist of a quick half before a quick exit, but I was very wrong. I thought that the staff were very friendly and the regulars all seemed nice enough creating a very relaxed atmosphere and there was not a pushchair in sight.
I didn�t spot any TV screens, but there was a table skittles game taking centre spot in the raised back section of the pub and from the signs saying that the back door must be locked when a band is playing I deduced that the pub hosts live music.
Bass, Deuchars and Landlord were all available alongside a selection of standard and premium lagers. I had a couple of pints of the Landlord which I found to be very good.
The beer garden out the back is less garden and more yard, but it has a few decorations and is well looked after, I just don�t think I would want to spend an extended period drinking in it.
I think that this is definitely a contender for the best pub in Crouch End and I would certainly go back if in the area again.
|
Traditional enough to be classed at a proper pub in terms of decor (wood panelled Charringtons interior) and not as irritating as a lot of the gastropubs in the area. Despite this, the food is very good indeed. Useful back garden and two (maybe three?) ales.
They've struck the right balance and become one of the better pubs in Crouch end as a consequence.
|
Just to correct everyone, the Sunday roasts are �8.95 not �9.95 as stated below and a lovely bellyful they are too!!!!.....yum!
|
I went in recently and had a burger which was fantastic, really good service and decent music which wasn't on too loud. It looks really beautiful inside, a great place for couples or mates to meet.
|
Could easily become a favourite with me (it's so hard to find a local where you are treated like a regular customer and not a stranger - and i drink a lot in crouch end) well done
|
It's be safe to say that the Railway Tavern as before it's new incarnation was a pub of an urgent kind major avoidance, full of boom voiced blokey blokes, the plethora of TV's showing Sky football to satisfy the latter and the requisite pool table, all of the things to make you want to cross over the road to the Kings Head and leave them to it but that's all changed.
I'd recently got a tip off that the Railway Tavern had changed hands, the TV's and pool table removed and also gone was the boisterous clientele....really?
On my visit there it was nothing less than a truely wonderful experience, the interior has been tastefully re-decorated with subtle cosmetic touches here and there compliments the chilled and relaxed ambience inside. There's also a very good selection of well kept beers with Cobra and Bombadier on tap all poured by the the rather waggish Andy who is politeness personified and as for the food?....literally amazing!!!
There's no pre-prepared microwaved nonsense about this place, the food itself is literally made in house from scratch by the talent of it's qualified in house Chef and the presentation of the food (ours was a goat's cheese en croute and Railway Burger) was way beyond delicious, like the pub itself attention to detail and quality stood out like a sore thumb!
Do I have any niggles?...just the one, I wasn't able to stay long enough for when the table tea lights came out for that more cosier intimate feel :(
Will I be going back again?....hell yeah!!!!
|
The Railway Tavern is a beautiful old 1930�s pub that has had many of it�s original features lovingly restored by it�s new owner, who is passionate about restoring old boozers to their former glory, hence the lack of TV,s fruit machines and pool tables.
The place has a wonderful warm and cosy atmosphere in the winter but is light and airy in the summer. The food is all home cooked by the very talented New Zealand chef, Meryce who, by the way, does a really fantastic Sunday lunch. They have a decent wine list and offer a good range of draught lager, bitter and cider.
The beer garden has been re designed and replanted and is a lovely place to soak up the sun with a good cold beer
The staff are friendly and courteous and even though the bar can get very busy especially towards the end of the week it is very rare that you have to wait very long for a drink.
In short The Railway Tavern is a great place to meet friends and enjoy yourself and is the best bar in Crouch End.
|
I bumped into one of the managers in a local shop and he invited me over to see the changes... WOW! Call me a snob, but it's so much better. As previous post said 'no TV's, no pool table'. We sampled the Tapas which was pretty good and the Black Sheep Ale was VERY tasty. Looks like I might have a regular again ;)
|
Was in yesterday for Sunday lunch. The place has been completely revamped. The TV and pool table have gone and the decor freshened up. Quite a few people in and the food was amazing, huge portion, fresh ingredients and really nice menu. In the evening the menu changes to a lighter tapas style with a few trusted mains as well. I had a huge burger with masses of salad and 'rustic fries', my mate had a veggie thing involving mushrooms which she raved about. Definately worth checking out as not too busy, nice unobtrusive music and good atmosphere.
celt7 - 14 Apr 2008 17:08 |
was in there last night (fri) had the cricket on with the sound?! at 8 o'clock on a fri night, nice relaxed atmosphere tho' but no wonder its dead,
bald guy behind the bar had a bit of an attitude
anonymous - 31 Mar 2007 15:52 |
Visited the Railway last Saturday night -nothing like it used to be in the 80's. They've changed it from 2 bars to 1 big one now which really shows how badly it's doing as there's just a big pub with hardly anyone in it. There's a pool table now which spoils it but that's probably an attempt to draw people i. Never go back they say - and I won't. Alex and Jeanie would die if they saw it now.
|
Nice little local pub. Shows the football (one screen) and has a pool table.
jamie - 18 Apr 2004 19:07 |
