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Detail Pages
The Railway Guard, Epsom
Epsom
KT17 4DZ
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The Railway Guard
The pub consists of a single elongated L-shaped room with the rear area semi-separated by the see through gas fire and chimney. Carpeted with banquette and stool seating I agree with Rex below that the fake black beams and pillars on the white background give that retro 70s feel. The service was quick and friendly, five handpumps with three on at the time, Pride, Young's Bitter and Black Sheep Bitter with Timothy Taylor's Landlord "coming soon". A recess at the back has a fully functioning dartboard with blackboards and even a couple of sets of darts to borrow. Some sporting memorabilia in the form of framed prints of The Daily Mirror celebrating England's win in '66, a picture of George Best getting the better of Ron "Chopper" Harris and a framed Man Utd v Anderlecht programme from the 1968-9 season. There are also darts and rugby related photographs. An old photo of the pub from some time back shows it once to serve Mitcham Ales.
Several TVs were on offering a choice of darts or rugby but with the volume competing unsuccessfully with the juke box. I noticed that there is also occasional live music, lets hope they switch the TV volume down when that is on!
Not a bad pub in all and friendly despite being a locals sort of place.
On 9th January 2011
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1707 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Railway Guard
This pub seemed a bit more downmarket and basic than the nearby Barley Mow, but there was a fair number of punters in on a Sunday lunchtime, although it was by no means crowded. This is essentially a one-room pub, carpeted, and with red-upholstered banquette seating, small stools and normal tables. False beams on the ceiling gave it a sort of 70s look. That’s all very traditional in a funny way. In the middle of the room is a “through” fireplace that would probably at one time have been in a wall separating two rooms. The place seemed to be a bit TV dominated – there’s a small one on a pillar by the bar, a few feet away there is a larger one on the wall above one of the banquettes, and between the two in an alcove that looks as if it doubles as a darts area is a large pull down projection screen. All the TVs were on showing the F1 race, with sound coming from speakers on the wall, competing with some pop music being played. A bit of an overkill I think.
There were two ales on – Doom Bar and London Pride. The Doom Bar wasn’t particularly good, being too warm. I suspect that I probably had the first one of the day. I didn’t spot any menus or see anyone eating a meal, but there were nibbles (cheese, onions, etc) on the bar. However as a non-regular I didn’t feel it appropriate to partake.
This is not a bad pub, but I did find the faux vuvuzela incessant drone of the motor race, competing with the pop music, a bit offputting. Without that racket, and with a good pint, I think it would be a decent pub to while away an hour or two.
On 30th August 2010
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]