Bushwackers, Walsall

Built in 1851, 2 years after the railway came to Dartford, the Railway Hotel is a rather down market pub but typical of the many pubs built primarily to service the short term requirements of rail travellers. The Railway is basically 3 rooms knocked through although they do have a separate identity. The main area nearest the station is a carpeted lounge albeit rather basic in approach with a couple of TV's largely used for sport. Down a few steps is a smaller central bare floor area with just a couple of high chairs and tables and another small TV. Beyond the pillars, in what used to be a totally separate function room (and home to the Dartford Folk Club for many years) is a games room containing 3 pool tables. The pub is quite vibrant and with all the plasma screens, fruit machines and video jukebox, they must burn enough electricity to light up a small nation. The clientele can be a mix of the occasional suited and booted just off the train types to a more permanent regular base of rather unsavoury looking stereotypical characters wandering around shirtless and flaunting their tattooes although to be fair, I have never witnessed any trouble in here. The beers are keg bitters and lagers only (no real ales) and sold at discount prices. The food is also basic and cheap (2 burgers for £5.45). If your idea of a good pub is cheap beer, a game of pool and Karaoke on a Sunday then you could probably spend a good evening here. Otherwise, you will find the pub rather lacking any class or finesse but OK to meet someone for a quick pint before / after getting off a train.

Very impressive late Victorian building opposite the Cenotaph. If any pub in Walsall deserved to sobriquet, pretty bricks, then forget the New Inn, it is this one. The facade tiles are a riot of colour, I have not found a name but I would guess they are by Burmantoft, Leeds. In later years it has been called the Tavern in the Town, Bushwackers and Two Toes. Originally it was the Turf Tavern,as the race course was just across the way, very apt as it is now a betting shop.