Not already a member?
Join our community and
- Rate & review pubs
- Upload pictures
- Add events
JOIN for free NOW
Chat about:
New pub visits 2024 with Mobyduck
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
The Railway Arms, Alton
Alton
GU34 2RB
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about The Railway Arms
A basic locals boozer, a horse shoe shaped single room with the central bar taking up up a fair amount of the interior space.All seven pumps on the front counter were on and all were Triple fff beers,being the tap they were reasonably priced between £2.80 and £3.00.My pint of Citra Sonic although a little hazy was perfectly fine, in fact I had a second.A solid pub.
On 14th April 2016
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1875 recommendations about 1848 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about The Railway Arms
I've known about this place for years so left time on my Alton visit to stay here for a few beers. The first thing that struck me was how it didn't look at all like an original pub but a pair of terraced houses converted into one. I asked the friendly guv'nor and he said it was a purpose built pub for Watney's. My 1986 beer guide adds weight to that.
It's very much a basic ale house which suits me down to the ground. It's well described below but the Pool Table seems to have gone. I found myself sitting near an advert for Swamp Donkey Cider, one of many pieces of bric-a-brac scattered around.
The seven hand pumps at the front had one unused with five Triple fff beers and Red Cat Feral Vienna IPA. I went for the Citra Sonic (£3.00), Moondance (£3.00), I Can't Remember (£3.40) and the Red Cat guest (£3.50). All were in very good to superb nick.
I would definitely return here and it was easily my favourite pub in Alton.
On 4th April 2016
- rating: 9
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Railway Arms
Been a good while since I was here and pleased to report that there seems to have been a definite upswing in quality. Seven pumps with six on – 5x Triple fff and Dark Star Hophead. My FFF Winter Oatmeal Stout was in good shape and a very enjoyable beer. Seemed a bit cleaner, a bit friendlier and generally a fair bit better.
June 2010
A bit of a legendary pub, perhaps owing to it being the tap of Triple FFF (with their Champion Beer of Britain in 2008) and being right on the doorstep of the Watercress line and their real ale train. The first time I came here I was quite impressed but on subsequent visits less so. The range of ales (five FFF ales are on the go, plus a well-sourced guest) is good but I’ve found the quality a bit variable – I would expect 100% in here. Likewise with some of the punters; there have been a couple of times I’ve not felt particularly comfortable if I’m not with a group of other people, the vibe can be a bit quite brash and sweary. The U-shaped pub interior is fairly basic, with pine wood panelling and hops hanging above the horseshoe shaped bar with a room to the rear with a dartboard. A Watneys Red Barrel hangs from the ceiling to act as a perennial reminder of how far we’ve come since the 70’s, which sits nicely with the old tin advertising plaques on the walls and railway ephemera. The train bursting forth from the pubs frontage is a quaint touch. Worth popping in if you’re nearby but perhaps not quite as good as some make out, in my opinion. That said, I guess I’ll be in here again before long… Rated 6
On 23rd February 2016
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5099 recommendations about 5082 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Mark Davey left this review about The Railway Arms
Great little pub on the outskirts of Alton serving a full selection of fff ales, the Alton Ale was particularly good on our visit. Friendly locals and bar staff made the couple of hours that we spent here very enjoyable.
We had called at lunch time on the off chance that the Railway served some food, but it dosn't. the bar staff were very decent in reccommending a couple of other pubs in town that did do food.
On 16th March 2015
- rating: 8
[User has posted 292 recommendations about 276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about The Railway Arms
The closest pub to the railway stations, it's a self consciously ale-house style pub with pine everywhere and has a slight wine bar feel about it, there's also a whiff of middle class cliquishness about the place. This can be forgiven as the pub is the tap for Triple fff and it's a GBG entry deservedly so on the basis of the Alton's Pride I supped. It's got to be done if you arrive by train or are going on the Watercress Line and is a good first/last stop if you go in or out of the town centre from the station
On 29th November 2013
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3275 recommendations about 2982 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Railway Arms
The two original bars have been partially opened out and refurbished in light wood at some stage, leaving an interior that has plenty of memorabilia to look at but which seems a bit cluttered. However, there is also a small patio area out front and further seating to the rear. Seven handpumps on one side of the bar plus another round the corner, offering five Triple fff beers as the brewery tap, a cider and a very decent pint of the guest Longdog Lamplight Porter (£3.10) from Basingstoke. Overall, I wouldn't say that it had a particularly welcoming atmosphere but it certainly has some interesting beers and is handy for the station.
On 15th May 2012
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
I L left this review about The Railway Arms
Very handy for Alton station but dont get mixed up with the other pub of similar name almost opposite. The pub is entered through the raised outside seating area. Although a reasonably sized pub, the thoroughfare through the drinking areas does mean that sitting at some tables is a bit tight when busy such as our visit on a a sunny Saturday afternoon. However the excellent range of ales makes this place well worth visiting and always had a good pint of one of the numerous Triple f brewery ales when in here.
On 6th June 2011
- rating: 8
[User has posted 287 recommendations about 284 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The Railway Arms
Seven handpumps face you on entering, mainly showcasing the local fff brewery beers. On my visit four of the brewery's beers were on, Alton's Pride, Moondance, Stairway and Witches Promise. A further pump had Mr Whiteheads Cirrus Minor, leaving two unclipped. A further handpump around to the right was serving a cider.
Although effectively one main area at the front, it feels like two rooms as they link through via a narrow opening next to the chimney. Wood flooring, light wood bar and wall panelling, lots of old tin adverts on the walls. Hops wind along the bar gantry and a ceiling beam. Further decoration includes shelves of old beer bottles and a display box containing an assortment of wood planes, beer taps and glass bottles. Two red painted barrels with "Watneys" painted on hang from the low beamed ceiling. Seating is hoop backed chairs and settles at rectangular tables or a row of bar stools. There is a seperate room to the rear with a few benches and a central pool table. Further outdoor seating to the back beyond here. There are also a few outdoor benches to the frontage. A good first or last stop in Alton, very close to the railway station.
On 28th September 2010
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1708 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john mcgraw left this review about The Railway Arms
Great little and cosy pub selling the range of triple F beers and a couple of guests.Has a cosy front bar and a more open one at the back which leads into a secluded garden.2 mins from the railway station.
On 7th August 2009
- rating: 10
[User has posted 2044 recommendations about 2025 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
train man left this review about The Railway Arms
After being suitably impressed by Moondance a while back, I decided to google Triple fff brewery and head for the source, and the Railway Arms is certainly the place to enjoy their marvellous product. fff Alton's Pride, Moondance, Hallelujah, Pressed Rat & Warthog, Stairway, also Dark Star Old Ale & Addlestones ‘Cloudy' on handpump. An early visit and beers were drawn thru & inspected before serving, the best indication of proper care. The hop adorned horsehoe bar is surrounded by barstools & will no doubt be a focal gathering point for returning train travellers, post work. Some breweriana (watneys barrel hangs from ceiling), various old bottles & advertising plaques, ‘Spratts Ovals' the best small-dog biscuit! I love the picture to the right of the main bank of pumps – 3 old boys enjoying a drink at the bar in a former, rather simpler & preferable era. Larger room to the rear with plenty of seating plus a dartboard &, beyond this, an outdoor area with picnic sets; a virtually illegible note from my later rtn (hic!) suggests a covered pergola or summer-house construction(?). Small outdoor seating area at the front below a flowered post carrying barrel-bearers on a plinth. Notices advertise local breweries ‘fest at Medstead Green (5m) 12July, & Vic's Buskers open mic nt, 29Jul. Staff were still ensuring beer quality when I returned late afternoon, great stuff!
On 6th July 2008
- rating: 9
[User has posted 412 recommendations about 411 pubs]