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Picture of The Railway
Image posted by paulof horsham
Submitted on Saturday, 9th December 2023
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The Railway, Sutton

32 Station Way
Cheam
Postal town: Sutton
SM3 8SQ
Phone: 02083955393
Correct details

Served areas

Reviews of The Railway (Average Rating: of 10) Add Review see review guidelines

Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Pub SignMan left this review about The Railway

As the name might suggest, this simple traditional pub is located just across the road from Cheam train station. The pub has a J-shaped single room layout, carpeted throughout and with the servery, and perhaps more pleasingly, the handpulls, directly in front of you upon entering. The servery boasts a nice dark wood curved counter with a similarly styled bar back and stands opposite a couple of large bay windows. Each window has a decent padded banquette running beneath it, but aside from these, seating is fairly limited in this part of the room. The left hand side has a truncated feel to it, stopping just a short way past the end of the bar, but this still leaves enough space for a darts area next to a small fireplace. The right hand side of the pub is far nicer, with some old dark panelled walls with modern floral wallpaper above giving the space a proper, lived-in pub feel. Some standard tables and chairs run underneath attractive stained glass wall lamps whilst there are what appears to be a series of fake gas lamps along the end of the servery. A drinking ledge down the right hand wall is served by basic high stools and an impressive Railway Hotel pub mirror hangs on the wall here. To the rear, clapped out old banquettes run in a U-shape around the back wall, with a large trophy cabinet to one side capturing your attention. The cabinet is full of trophies won by the pub's golf society (a recurring theme in Cheam's pubs) and a board above a doorway lists the society's various captains down the years. A sign on the end of the bar gantry reads: 'Ye Olde 19th Hole', as if any further proof of the pub's golfing credentials were needed. Apropos of nothing, an acoustic guitar was propped at the end of one of the banquettes, but more fitting décor in the shape of a huge inflatable Guinness rugby ball and flags of various rugby playing nations hung from the ceiling, seemingly having remained in situ since last year's Rugby World Cup. A fine soundtrack played throughout my stay and I enjoyed eavesdropping on a good-natured post-Brexit discussion between two grizzled old locals and the European barmaid.
This pub used to be Cheam's destination real ale venue and a CAMRA favourite, but it has dropped out of the Good Beer Guide and locals in another pub mumbled something about a problem with the landlord which had resulted in a big drop in their customer base. There were three other customers in when I visited on a Sunday afternoon, in sharp contrast to other Cheam pubs I visited that day. Five ales were still available though - Courage Best and Directors, Taylor Landlord, Brains Rev James and Tetley's Three Lions. I had a pint of the Landlord, which struck me as pricey at £3.90. It was in reasonable shape but I wonder if they're getting the through-pull they need to keep their beers in good condition.
This pub has got character and a bit of charm but felt a little neglected and in need of some care and attention (fixing those banquettes at the rear for instance). It could quite easily be the best pub in Cheam but other venues are currently pulling in the crowds and I left feeling that this place was sadly heading in the wrong direction. I hope to return though and perhaps find its fortunes revived somewhat.

On 14th July 2016 - rating: 6
[User has posted 3093 recommendations about 3093 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Moby Duck left this review about The Railway

A U shaped traditional interior with a central bar boasting five handpumps,unfortunately the beers on offer were a little too traditional as well, Courage Best and Directors,TT Landlord,Brains Reverand James and a beer called Three Lions brewed I believe by Carlsberg, I resisted that temptation and tried the Landlord which I found to be in fair condition. My visit was in late June and it was unseasonably cool, I was however surprised to see the open log fire full ablaze. This is a nice pub without being particularly remarkable but I would call in again should I happen to be nearby.

On 1st July 2016 - rating: 6
[User has posted 1853 recommendations about 1827 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


John Bonser left this review about The Railway

Situated virtually opposite Cheam Railway Station is The Railway, apparently a former hotel that dates back to 1810.

On the pavement outside, we see a sandwich board telling us that “David, Paul, Robin and the team welcome you”. The traditional, wooden L shaped bar counter is directly in front of us as we enter and, on the bar gantry, we see the message – “abandon hope all ye who enter here”.

It’s a smallish single room that extends back round the side of the bar on the right hand side. There’s something of a more modern feel to the décor than at The Prince of Wales, with dark flowery wallpaper, window blinds and contemporary style lighting contributing to an apparent desire to attract a younger, trendy clientele. Down one side of the room is a ledge for drinks with bar stools, suggesting that the pub becomes busy at certain times.

Hanging down from the ceiling is a long thin green plank with the inscription – “all stations to Motspur Park, Wimbledon and Waterloo” – which will be instantly recognisable to all those who travelled on local train services in the 60s/70s as a train destination indicator that used to be suspended horizontally from a pillar on the platform edge, but apart from that, there’s no railway memorabilia at all. A golf society is evidently based at the pub, but there’s no feeling that this is a community orientated local in any way. Reading the previous review from Maldenman, it is clear that the pub has had a makeover and perhaps changed hands since his 2010 review.

There’s 5 pumps of which 4 were in action, offering Courage Best, Directors ( it’s a former Courage pub ), Skinners Cornish Knocker and Hogs Back TEA. The pub was in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide for 2011 and 2012 and the stickers are prominently displayed, but it’s not in the 2013 edition.

The Hogs Back TEA was pretty reasonable, but I didn’t particularly warm to this pub in any way.

On 20th November 2012 - rating: 5
[User has posted 560 recommendations about 560 pubs]


View more reviews of The Railway (5)
External web links for The Railway

No known official website for this pub.

Pub location see interactive map of local area
Map location corrected by Rex Rattus
Cheam, 0.51 miles, 9 min walk (show)
West Sutton, 1.02 miles, 19 min walk (show)
Sutton (London), 1.38 miles, 26 min walk (show)
Latest updates View all updates for The Railway, Cheam
9th Dec 2023, 17:39
Picture submitted by paulof horsham approved
 
9th Dec 2023, 17:39
Picture submitted by paulof horsham approved

Pub Details

Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.

  • Accommodation : No last updated 14 July 2016 by Pub SignMan
  • Bar Billiards : No last updated 05 August 2013 by Nick Davies
  • Beer Garden : No last updated 05 August 2013 by Nick Davies
  • CAMRA Discount : No last updated 05 August 2013 by Nick Davies
  • Car Park : No last updated 05 August 2013 by Nick Davies
  • Darts : Yes last updated 05 August 2013 by Nick Davies
  • Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 05 August 2013 by Nick Davies
  • Function Room : No last updated 14 July 2016 by Pub SignMan
  • Hot Food : No last updated 05 August 2013 by Nick Davies
  • Jukebox : No last updated 14 July 2016 by Pub SignMan
  • Live Music : Yes last updated 14 July 2016 by Pub SignMan
  • Live TV Sports : Yes last updated 05 August 2013 by Nick Davies
  • Micropub : No last updated 14 July 2016 by Pub SignMan
  • Pinball : No last updated 14 July 2016 by Pub SignMan
  • Pool Table : No last updated 14 July 2016 by Pub SignMan
  • Real Ale : Yes last updated 05 August 2013 by Nick Davies
  • Real Cider : No last updated 14 July 2016 by Pub SignMan
  • WiFi : Yes last updated 14 July 2016 by Pub SignMan
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