The Railway, Stockport

A beaten up exterior that might make you think twice about going in and, to an extent, the interior is pretty scruffy in parts as well. But it’s the beer that’s the star here, 11 hand pumps lined up along the front of the bar, continental beers on draft and a fridge full of dozens of interesting bottled beers, all of which are shown along with the ABV and prices on blackboards. There is also a blackboard and chalk in the Gents for those interested in graffiti - not that there was a great deal. The locals were welcoming and the bar staff certainly know their beers and are happy to chat and make recommendations. We spent a couple of hours here sampling the wares, it’s the sort of pub where time is lost but never wasted.

Also known as Porters Railway. Rossendale Pennine Ales (ex Porter brewery?), Floral Dance, Railway Sleeper, Sunshine, Pitch Porter, Rossendale Ale, Hameldon Bitter, also Phoenix Monkeytown Mild, Empire Brewing Ginger Ninja, Nelson Spanker. Keg taps offered Konig Ludwig Weissbier, St Louis Kriek (belgian cherry), Kaltenberg Hell, Krombacher, Warsteiner, Kingstone Press cider, also 3Cats med-sweet cider on gravity behind bar. Large single room pub, carpeted throughout except for wood-decked small raised ‘stage’ area with a scatter of tables/stools to rt of entrance, small book corner to the left. Upholstered banquettes around walls, wood-backed versions to rear, bar-billiards table nr doorway, railway shots & mural decorate rear of pub. Radio provides unintrusive background. Good to see Viz's ‘Real Ale Twats’ on the notice board nr entrance; some recognisable symptoms but not, as someone once suggested, ‘like looking in a mirror’! Good pub to visit in tandem with the nearby Arden Arms.