The Railway, Birmingham

Official site of The Railway - www.therailwaybirmingham.co.uk

Official site of The Railway - www.therailwaybirmingham.co.uk

Surprisingly on a Pub Trail detailed on the Birmingham CAMRA web site. I genuinely cannot think why - its grim looking on the outside, slightly more comfortable on the inside. A cavernous place, with TV Screens on every wall. Two cask on and the Purity Mad Goose was OK. So much choice, I cannot think why CAMRA are promoting it.

A pub I have used many times over the years. It is much improved from the old Sam Wellers. 2 ales on and my Hophead was in good nick. Very handy for the station.

I've always walked past this pub thinking what a dive it looked. It looks as if it might be dark and depressing inside, with lots of lager swilling yobs. The number of smokers hanging around outside the doors does not help with first impressions. Nevertheless, we decided to venture in after arriving at New Street station on one recent Saturday afternoon. The low expectations I'd set were soon exceeded. The pub actually has more of a feel of a Wetherspoon's than a dark and dingy city centre boozer. Granted that's nothing to shout about and many customers were indeed drinking lager. There were however, more women inside than I would have guessed and the atmosphere was reasonably pleasant with football showing on several TV screens and people engaged in friendly conversation. Two real ales were on - Doom Bar & Mad Goose. The latter was quite acceptable. The big positive here is its location. It will always prove to be a handy stopping point when arriving or departing from New Street station, but I doubt I'll be back.

I am pretty sure when i went in this pub in the mid 80s it was called Sam Wellers. Once inside the bar faces in a decent sized oblong shaped room which runs the width of the pub,the floor is carpeted and there is comfy bench seating and chairs for seating. There were two real ales on the bar,i had a drink of Doom Bar,which was a decent drink,the other real ale was GK IPA. I thought this was a pleasant and comfortable pub to have a drink in. Recent visit 15/7/2017