The Railhouse, Raynes Park, SW20

The pub has closed again but the exterior ground floor walls have recently been painted purple and the name changed to "Funktion". Whether about to reopen and indeed if it does, still as a pub is anyone's guess.

It’s clearly re-opened since Elizabeth McGraw’s posting of Aug 09. This pub has got the look of an inter-war pub that has definitely seen better days. The old Charrington’s pub sign is still outside, but looking a little faded now, and giving a clue as to what the rest of the pub will be like. The opening of the JDW Edward Rayne round the corner must have put a serious dent in its takings. The furnishings consist of some of the scruffiest armchairs I’ve seen, plus some small round tables and the inevitable bar stools. The cheap carpeting is pretty grubby as well. There was some too loud pop music being played, competing with the Sky Sports being shown on a TV on one of the walls. The decor consists of advertisements for Sky Sports events and an AFC Wimbledon scarf draped over a mirror. There was no real ale of course, although there were three unused handpumps. However, on the plus side the barmaid, or the landlady perhaps, was friendly and welcoming, and I did notice the fact that at least one of the windows still retained the Charringtons trademark green bands. But on the whole, there really is very little to recommend this pub.

CLOSED According to "London Drinker" Licensee banned for persistently serving underage drinkers