The Railway, SW4

This is a mid-19th century pub, once a Lion’s house, later Charrington’s and notable for the fish skeleton along the corner splay. This is very much at the heart of Clapham High Street’s ‘hospitality’ sector, the entrance guarded by bouncers come Friday or Saturday as I found out, which warranted a more sedate Wednesday visit instead. With little authenticity remaining, there’s a modern boarded floor, new bar back and a multitude of hanging lamps with filament bulbs and tall, simple furniture; the only item of heritage spotted was an attractive ceiling. Customers were more middle-aged than most around here, all guarded by a vintage Dalek (see photo). Two unused pumps yielded yet more Oil at a wincing £3.85 a half, served by a smiley barman. This isn’t the worst pub in SW4, but the imperfect Falcon over the road is preferable.

Trendified local but showing enough of its origins to be a reasonable pub. Handy for Clapham High Street station and mostly notable for the 'fishbone' artwork adorning the front. Upstairs bar not visited. Doom Bar and Rosie's Pig on handpump, with Hophead promised.

A quite lively modernised corner pub,leaning toward the gastro end of the spectrum but perfectly comfortable enough to sit in for drinks alone.Its a single square room with a high ceiling and mixture of high and low seating,I didn't investigate the upstairs room. Four pumps dispensing the inevitable Doom Bar, Moorhouse Stray Dog, Adnams Ghost Ship( I strongly suspect it was wrongly clipped and was actually Mosaic, It was very good anyway), the fourth handle had a reversed Tribute clip. I did quite like this pub.

The Railway sits on a corner at the end of Clapham High Street a stone’s throw from Clapham High Street Railway Station and Clapham North Underground Station. On the pavement out the front are four picnic tables that sit under a couple of awnings. The interior consists of a bar that faces seating that runs around the exterior walls. Premium keg products line the bar that also supports four hand pumps. During my visit on a recent Saturday evening these were drawing St Austell’s Tribute, Rudgate’s Dick Firkin, York brewery Company’s koma - Off the Wall and Sharp’s Doom Bar. Food is available with mains that start at around £10 and roasts on Sunday that start at £12. Upstairs is the Overground bar that is reached via a staircase that is adorned with railway memorabilia. In here is another bar and more seating. I didn’t spot any televisions in either bar, but there was some background music that was hardly audible over chatter. I found the Railway to be a reasonable high street food led pub.