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Disappointment of the week with Tris39
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
The Railway, Birmingham
Birmingham
B5 4AH
Pub Type
Oak Tree (Mitchells & Butlers)Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5½ of 10) see review guidelines
Ian Mapp left this review about The Railway
Surprisingly on a Pub Trail detailed on the Birmingham CAMRA web site. I genuinely cannot think why - its grim looking on the outside, slightly more comfortable on the inside. A cavernous place, with TV Screens on every wall.
Two cask on and the Purity Mad Goose was OK.
So much choice, I cannot think why CAMRA are promoting it.
On 3rd April 2024
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1337 recommendations about 1323 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Delboy 20 left this review about The Railway
A pub I have used many times over the years. It is much improved from the old Sam Wellers. 2 ales on and my Hophead was in good nick. Very handy for the station.
On 9th January 2023
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 1656 recommendations about 1556 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Railway
I've always walked past this pub thinking what a dive it looked. It looks as if it might be dark and depressing inside, with lots of lager swilling yobs. The number of smokers hanging around outside the doors does not help with first impressions.
Nevertheless, we decided to venture in after arriving at New Street station on one recent Saturday afternoon.
The low expectations I'd set were soon exceeded. The pub actually has more of a feel of a Wetherspoon's than a dark and dingy city centre boozer. Granted that's nothing to shout about and many customers were indeed drinking lager. There were however, more women inside than I would have guessed and the atmosphere was reasonably pleasant with football showing on several TV screens and people engaged in friendly conversation.
Two real ales were on - Doom Bar & Mad Goose. The latter was quite acceptable.
The big positive here is its location. It will always prove to be a handy stopping point when arriving or departing from New Street station, but I doubt I'll be back.
On 29th September 2021
- rating: 4
[User has posted 2452 recommendations about 2451 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alan Winfield left this review about The Railway
I am pretty sure when i went in this pub in the mid 80s it was called Sam Wellers.
Once inside the bar faces in a decent sized oblong shaped room which runs the width of the pub,the floor is carpeted and there is comfy bench seating and chairs for seating.
There were two real ales on the bar,i had a drink of Doom Bar,which was a decent drink,the other real ale was GK IPA.
I thought this was a pleasant and comfortable pub to have a drink in.
Recent visit 15/7/2017
On 27th October 2017
- rating: 7
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Al Bundy left this review about The Railway
Fairly standard pub. It does sell real ale but only one was one today, Lion. While its not brilliant its ok of an afternoon. Only the front bar was serving in the afternoon.
On 30th September 2015
- rating: 5
[User has posted 3487 recommendations about 3390 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about The Railway
Large split level interior that wraps round the bar. 2 real ales and food served.
On 28th July 2015
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Railway
Formerly the very unappealing Bright House, but the Cask Marque sign finally tempted me back in again. The furniture in the two large bars and intermediate seating area on different levels seems much the same, but a separate area on the Hill Street side looks to have been brightened up a bit. Background music, and a much less edgy atmosphere than I remember from days gone by. Now does food, albeit from a standard unbranded M&B (Oak Tree) menu, and real ale, again just Greene King IPA (£2.25) and Landlord, but all rather better than it once was.
On 17th January 2015
- rating: 6
[User has posted 8086 recommendations about 8086 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Soup Dragon left this review about The Railway
This is a 1960s redevelopment pub, sitting under a casino, and built on the site of a Victorian pub called the Acorn. It is brick and glass, and fairly dull. Formerly the Bright House, those of us that come of age in the 80s remember this far better as Sam Wellers - indeed, i spent some of my formative years here; being turned down by many a lady with shoulder pads and big hair. Anyhow - it hasn't really changed in design. As you enter, there are seating areas to the left and right, with the serving bar to the right. As you follow the room around, you go up a couple of steps to find a couple of pool tables, but where once the young gathered to listen to the resident DJ on weekends - and it was nostalgic to see the DJ booth was still there. This area has its own serving bar area too. There are TVs, which were showing sport and the music was general and at a decent level. The place now does food - a basic budget menu. The decor is brown flowery wallpaper and coffee walls and there are lots of photos and 30s railway posters on the walls as befitting the theme. The service was fine and the place busy enough with a mixed clientele. Beer; usual tap stuff with Greene King IPA and a decent enough Moles' Molecatcher on handpull. A lot more tidy since the refurbishment and a place to pop into for one, especially as you can see through the window what is on as you pass.
On 27th November 2013
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3067 recommendations about 3062 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Railway
Walked past this pub on many occasion with the impression of it being a tad on the downmarket side, so once through the doors on this visit, I was pleasantly surprised. The pub is large and comfortable and had a good relaxed atmosphere about it, so I believe they're doing something right. What with John Lewis moving in across the road and the New Street station refurb, this pub is defo on the up. We went for the Moles Brewery Mole Catcher. Staff were very friendly.
On 18th November 2013
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Gill Smith left this review about The Bright House
Called into The Railway as it is now known as the sign outside said "eclectic real ales" and I had never been before, and it was massive inside. I went in from John Bright Street entrance and the Hill Street entrance was downstairs. It is massive inside, with 2 pool tables, music was playing and there were sports TV's. Food menu. The real ale we tried was from Sunny Republic and served well enough. Bombardier and another ale on too.
On 4th August 2013
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1339 recommendations about 1222 pubs]