The Railway, Putney, SW15

Dating from 1889, the current interior metamorphosis the result of a makeover from September 2023, so unchanged and well described by BF below. Arriving at around 10.10pm last Friday, I entered a large place with modern pale boarded floor, slate grey paint or bare brick with white ceiling, modern mirror and steel bar back with white ceramic tiles. Furniture is conventional, décor in the form of eclectic prints; upstairs is a very swanky cocktail bar. Customers were young, trendy professional types, but the acoustics are appalling making conversation all but impossible. A lacklustre cask choice arose from one unused pump then just Gun Extra Pale, £2.75 a half and somewhat warm and diacetyl. This isn’t a great place but it’s like the Southampton meets the Audley compared to the Fox & Hounds next door; the Prince of Wales is still the place to beat along Upper Richmond Road.

Official site of The Railway - www.urbanpubsandbars.com

Official site of The Railway - www.urbanpubsandbars.com

Over the road from Putney station ,recently refurbed and reopened this is a large open plan pub with high tables all around the front section,with a long bench seat to the left side,a large sports flatscreen ahead and the wall to the right full of paintings and prints.The floor throughout is light pine,the wall coverings in dark Farrow & Ball,the bar to the right then some seating booths infront of a raised section which looked more like a dining area. Upstairs there is an area decribed as The Lounge,empty on a Friday evening trip but looking like a cocktail bar with lots of small circular high tables and stools. The lack of carpets creates a general din and the muzak was playing much too loud.It was popular with youngish office workers and a few old soak regulars but just one real ale ,Sambrooks Wandle (ever dull,NBSS 2.5) while the keg selection was mundane apart from a Siren and Deya tap.The short food menu with a median main at £16.50 and pizze around £13 didn't inspire confidence and few punters were eating. Unremarkable and a not very comfortable place,I will drift pass quickly when I'm next in the area.