The Railway Tavern, Bexley

Grubby station pub. Ignorant landlady wouldn't let me in with my young son even though the pub had just opened and we would have been the only customers. 'no bleedin kids in ere'. Usually I would agree with her but I just wanted a swift pint before a long train journey.

As the name would suggest this pub is ideally located by Bexley train station and I’m happy to report that it was very busy with locals and not just passing through commuters like many station pubs are. There are a couple of hand pumps which were drawing Courage Best and a guest and there is also a standard draught selection from which I received a well pulled pint of Guinness from the enthusiastic barman. It’s a thin pub with banquettes running along all of the exterior walls and there is a plasma screen which was switched off giving way to some dance music. This music can be escaped from at the far end of the pub where there is a door leading to a paved beer garden where some covered and uncovered picnic tables can be found. I liked the fact that this pub had a mixed crowd of all ages and the inclusion of a dartboard that was actually being used was a bonus. If I lived locally this would probably be my local and I would have no problems returning for a longer stay next time I’m in the area.