Railway Bell, Gravesend

Service varies, not a bad pub but something needs to change. Mostly cheap foreign staff who can just about take an order

A sign in the door of the Railway Bell informs readers that representatives of Sky are not permitted through the door and any filming or photography is banned. One can draw their own conclusions from this, but I thought it a little odd as a welcome. The exterior suggests a traditional boozer; however the interior is anything but. The contemporary furniture, low tables and neutral décor have superseded any character that this pub once had. An internet jukebox is found on the wall and the two plasma screens were showing one of the X-men films that was being watched by the governor, barmaid and two locals. Considering the sign in the door I would imagine that Premiership football is shown here, but I didn’t see any advertisements for it. To the left of the bar by the entrance is a pool table. The bar is stocked with standard draught alongside Amstel and I didn’t spot any food advertised during my 14:00 visit on Friday afternoon. This pub is across the road from the Railway Station and holders of any weekly railcards get discounts off pints. There are better pubs a stones throw from here.

Funny pub and funny manager. Staff can be ok depends.... Inside is quite nice but pub could be a ton better under new ownership.

Only gets a rating because it shows all the Spurs games.

The weatherboarded exterior with its old Trumans sign is quite eyecatching and its position opposite the station entrance should make this place an obvious starter for a pub crawl or a pleasant nightcap after an evening up town. The interior however is a complete contrast to the charming exterior as the pub has become a victim of an interior designers vision, someone who obviously feels that pub interiors should no longer have any character and has set about creating a swanky, modern look with a total lack of sympathy for the building itself. Predomanantly pure white walls and ceilings, new pine bar, trendy cream seating lined up like a railway carriage, plasma screens churning out rubbish music, padded seats with fluffy cushions, triangular and cubed stools and regular DJs and karaoke nights to repel anyone seeking a a peaceful pint. No Ales either. Only the charming and welcoming barmaid gets any brownie points. She deserves better.