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The Railway, Blackheath, SE3

16 Blackheath Village
SE3
SE3 9LE
Phone: 02088522390

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Pub Type

Castle (Mitchells & Butlers)

Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5 of 10) Add Review see review guidelines


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Rex Rattus left this review about The Railway

This really is an anonymous sort of pub, and I struggled to attribute any specific character to it. Its main draw I would guess is that it's handily placed right by the station, which is the main reason that we visited it. It has the anonymous grey/green decor that we see so often these days; bare-boarded of course, with the usual mix of furnishings.

They did have three beers on - Doom Bar, London Pride, and something called Boss Brewing Let the Dragon Roar. We all went for the latter ale of course, which is a 4% pale ale from Wales, and was fine. I've never seen this brewery's ales before; maybe the guv'nor has a Welsh connection? I didn't see a full menu. but I noticed that the fish & chips was £13.50. They must do Sunday lunches as well, as a blackboard on the wall advertised "doggy Sunday roasts" at £7. One of our group checked with someone behind the bar that it meant what it said - you can actually buy a Sunday roast for your dog! If I spent £7 on a meal I don't think I would give it to the dog - although on second thoughts I have on rare occasions bought food in a pub that would be better off inside the dog than inside me!

This is decidedly average pub - not good, not bad, and definitely in the "OK" category. The Boss Brewing ale was a definite plus though.

On 29th October 2019 - rating: 5
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Graham Coombs left this review about The Railway

A somewhat upmarket pub, as befits its prime location in trendy Blackheath village. Rather a long pub, all in tasteful, inoffensive décor with moody lighting and music. At the back is a small outdoor area, mainly under cover, although it didn't appear to be open. Draught ales were London Pride and Proper Job, with an out of use pump which I think said Turtle Pale Ale, whatever that is. A few craft beers on keg also. Convenient for the station, but not much else inspiring a visit.

On 30th January 2019 - rating: 5
[User has posted 3322 recommendations about 3259 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Malden man left this review about The Railway

This is a rather anonymous impersonal pub, right by the station in Blackheath, sterile interior with a polished wood floor, lots of grey paint and a bit of exposed brickwork. The open L-shaped interior is partially broken up by some solid square brick columns, there is a small slightly raised area to one front corner. Numerous pot plants, vases of flowers and small posies on the tables, décor includes a few local scenes as always plus some arty prints to the rear in a mainly sofa area. Lots of tracks of spotlights on the ceiling, thankfully off otherwise it would have felt like a kitchen showroom, there is unusually a non-smoking walled rear garden area although I believe there is a smokers' roof terrace but I didn't spot it.
Food served, slightly upmarket from pub grub, Saturday Brunch menu included the traditional breakfast for £8, paper table menus plus chalkboards had various mains eg, Gloucester Old Spot sausages, beer mustard mash, onion rings and gravy for £9.50.
There were three beers on the handpumps, Doom Bar, Sambrook Junction and a new one for me, Sunny Republic Shark Head, this turned out to be a real style pilsner lager beer which was certainly different and not fizzy, but I doubt I'd go for it again.
This pub could be anywhere, in anytown, it has little to offer in terms of individuality, ok for a pint if waiting for or just off the train and needing the facilities but nothing more for me I'm afraid.

On 22nd June 2013 - rating: 5
[User has posted 1707 recommendations about 1681 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Steve C left this review about The Railway

I found the barmaid here to be friendly, but I was offered no apology for having to wait whilst she had some lengthy dealings with a delivery driver and I received the shortest measure on a Guinness that I have ever seen. It would be forgivable if it was poured by a chimpanzee, but she seemed to know how to work the bar so it was an attempt to rip me off.

There was a selection of premium lagers alongside Pride, Spitfire, Harveys Best and Adnams German Kolsch available during my visit.

There is a covered area out the back with some potted plants and also an advertised roof terrace that I did not visit.

I found this pub to be very pretentious and I would walk past if in the area again.

On 27th October 2009 - rating: 4
[User has posted 5179 recommendations about 5148 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Roger Button left this review about The Railway

Now I have a thing about railway taverns. Every good station should have a pub next door called the Railway Tavern (or similar). Every commuter should make an effort to go to their Railway Tavern on a Friday after work before trudging home to his nagging wife and screaming kids. The pubs should be basic with 2 bars and serve a decent pint of cheap Real Ale. They should be largely a male bastion with conversations dominated by weekend football and tales of work journeys. They should not be used for a full evening session, just as an end of week wind down. This brings me to Blackheath's very own member of the Railway pub fraternity. Having gone through more image and name changes than Prince, Bowie and Puff Daddy combined, they have reverted back to its Railway name. WHY? There is nothing remotely railway like about the place. They have done nothing to encapsulate its setting or past history. No railway pictures, no railway memorabilia, no timetables, no nameplates, no Flying Scostmans or Mallards puffing away as they race over viaducts, no railway anything that a Railway pub should have. Probably not even a commuter inside. Instead we have a gloomy, purple walled, modern art gallery aimed at servicing the well heeled Blackheath socialites rather than the poor sods pouring out of London on the overpriced, cattle wagons that stop next door. On the plus side it is has friendly enough staff and does some decent guest beers and whilst I don't have a problem drinking there if I have to meet someone, the pub is not befitting of a Railway Tavern. Move along please...

On 8th December 2005 - rating: 5
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]