The Railway, Birmingham

Fairly standard pub. It does sell real ale but only one was one today, Lion. While its not brilliant its ok of an afternoon. Only the front bar was serving in the afternoon.

Large split level interior that wraps round the bar. 2 real ales and food served.

Formerly the very unappealing Bright House, but the Cask Marque sign finally tempted me back in again. The furniture in the two large bars and intermediate seating area on different levels seems much the same, but a separate area on the Hill Street side looks to have been brightened up a bit. Background music, and a much less edgy atmosphere than I remember from days gone by. Now does food, albeit from a standard unbranded M&B (Oak Tree) menu, and real ale, again just Greene King IPA (£2.25) and Landlord, but all rather better than it once was.

This is a 1960s redevelopment pub, sitting under a casino, and built on the site of a Victorian pub called the Acorn. It is brick and glass, and fairly dull. Formerly the Bright House, those of us that come of age in the 80s remember this far better as Sam Wellers - indeed, i spent some of my formative years here; being turned down by many a lady with shoulder pads and big hair. Anyhow - it hasn't really changed in design. As you enter, there are seating areas to the left and right, with the serving bar to the right. As you follow the room around, you go up a couple of steps to find a couple of pool tables, but where once the young gathered to listen to the resident DJ on weekends - and it was nostalgic to see the DJ booth was still there. This area has its own serving bar area too. There are TVs, which were showing sport and the music was general and at a decent level. The place now does food - a basic budget menu. The decor is brown flowery wallpaper and coffee walls and there are lots of photos and 30s railway posters on the walls as befitting the theme. The service was fine and the place busy enough with a mixed clientele. Beer; usual tap stuff with Greene King IPA and a decent enough Moles' Molecatcher on handpull. A lot more tidy since the refurbishment and a place to pop into for one, especially as you can see through the window what is on as you pass.

Called into The Railway as it is now known as the sign outside said "eclectic real ales" and I had never been before, and it was massive inside. I went in from John Bright Street entrance and the Hill Street entrance was downstairs. It is massive inside, with 2 pool tables, music was playing and there were sports TV's. Food menu. The real ale we tried was from Sunny Republic and served well enough. Bombardier and another ale on too.