The Railway, Putney, SW15

An average example of the JDW chain enlightened by the discovery of the upstairs bar and a pretty good pint of Robinson's Young Tom at £1.99. I'm struck time and again by the unbeatable value JDW offers on food & drink but this is always somewhat mitigated by the poor lighting, samey decor and sterile atmosphere. Handy for the station though, if you have half an hour to kill.

This pub is housed in an impressive and magnificent Victorian edifice. Inside it’s an enormous barn of a bog standard Wetherspoon’s, with nothing exceptional about it except that it seemed to have more one-armed bandits than you usually see in a Wetherspoons. Guest ales are a bit more expensive (£2.20 a pint) than the ‘spoons I usually frequent slightly further out from the centre of town, where they are £1.99 a pint, but compared to “normal” pub prices they still represent excellent value. The first pint I ordered (Westerham’s Target) was rank and undrinkable, but this was readily changed for Dorking Brewery No 1, which was not good, but just about drinkable. It’s a ‘spoons – some love them, some hate them. Personally I can take them or leave them, and I think I’ll leave this one.

large 2 floor spoons

Modern looking from the outside, if you like that sort of thing, and ok on the inside. Not as busy as I thought a Wetherspoons pub usually is. Maybe its the setting, a shopping centre/mall with a few groups of noisey teenagers hanging around, it might seema bit intimidating and this was a week day lunch time. Anyway, only 5 real ales on tap, 2 Ruddles & 3 Rebellion. This was a lunch time and they had only one staff member working the bar, so everyone had to queue, I was stuck behind 3 people who wanted food and by the time I got served i forgot which ale I wanted, the sole bar staff was very helpful and we went down the bar to the ales where I was quickly served, she said the queue earlier was right up to the door. I would like to give a high rating for the friendly staff and choice of ales, but the queue system deserves a low rating.

The Railway Hotel, as it was originally styled, is situated opposite Putney station and opened in 1889 but has been run by Wethwerspoons since 1993. The sizeable interior is stretched over 2 floors with a small section with a few intimate booths tacked on at the rear of the ground floor. The cut away ceiling and open staircase to the upstairs bar makes it feel a bit more spacious than it actually is and finding a seat or table when Fulham are at home can be a hit or miss affair. Service can also be slow on match days and there is probably a better chance of getting both a seat and a pint in the upstairs bar although it is not as well stocked as the main bar. Expect the usual ‘Spoons offerings of discounted Ales (12 hand pumps downstairs, 4 upstairs), global lagers, bottled beers, wines, food etc. Unfortunately there were more “available soon” clips than beers on my recent trip which was disappointing. There are plenty of old local pictures (including one of the pub in its Victorian days) and a a run of muted TV’s (2 downstairs, 1 upstairs) usually tuned in for Sports news. The cutomser base isn’t the most welcoming bunch you will ever come across and whilst the Railway isn’t the worst ‘Spoons I have ever visited, it isn’t really worth going out of the way for unless you are a ‘Spoons collector.

It was pretty busy in here with the typical spoons crowd last Thursday lunchtime. I think that I spotted 7 real ales on and plenty of standard lager at very reasonable prices, as is expected in any Wetherspoons pub. My pint of lager was surprisingly OK and didn't have the usual nearing the sell by date twang. There were a lot of smokers huddled in the doorway which doesn't give the greatest impression when entering, but there is nowhere else for them to go. There are 2 bars with the upstairs one being very comfortable and bright, although the views aren't the greatest. There is also a plasma screen downstairs and a toy train going around the cornice in the main downstairs bar. It took a while to get served, but the barman was polite enough when he did get to me. This is one of the better Spoons.

One of those relatively-rare 'spoons which actually looks like a pub rather than a converted furniture showroom or bank. There are plenty of interesting external features from its heyday as the former Railway Hotel, but the interior has been largely stripped out and replaced (but the art deco-style windows on the rear staircase are also worth a look). Six handpumps downstairs plus a few more on the first floor, with a reasonable mix of common and rarer ales (including two from the excellent Westerham Brewery on my last visit, only let down by the paper signs in lieu of proper pump clips). However, the atmosphere was - as one would expect - all rather transient and impersonal.

Usual Wetherspoons pub. Visited on St George's day, had the flag out. Most of the pub is non smoking. Has an upstairs bar. Tried a pint of Manns St George. Tasted good.