The Railway Hotel, Dartford

I first went to the Railway Hotel in 1967 and had many a good day there with many friends over the next 20+ years. Doris the landlady sold it to Peter around 1969 and the bar staff Peggy and Tim got there own pub, the Star Inn at Eastbourne.
Peter and his wife Edna turned the railway into a really nice friendly place to socialise and me, my friends and all the regulars were always welcome, whether on our own or together. A folk club was held every Thursday in the function room off the public bar and another club on Sunsdays. Peter was a very likeable landlord and we eventually became very good friends. I had my tankard behind the bar, a stool in the corner and eventually met my wife to be there, and happily had our reception in the function room.
Christmas day opening for a couple of hours became a regular visit for me and my relatives and we kept this going for many a year. Sadly it tailed of as Peter became ill and eventually passed away.
I re-visited the "Railway" a few years later when train travelling but it was just a shell of what it was. It did improve later, when we had a funeral reception there and it seemed to have recovered some atmosphere.
I am told that it is now, just a hole in the ground, being demolished for renovations of the Station, the old station approach road and buildings on it. I will miss it but will keep the memories of many happy - and sometimes too happy hours spent there with the family and the many friend I made.

6 Jul 2013 10:35