Pub of the Month - December

The Railway, Stafford

The Railway Inn, Stafford, is one of the best local examples of a traditional street corner pub.

It dates from the 1840s and, like the surrounding terraced housing of Castletown, was built after the Grand Junction Railway reached Stafford in 1837.

There were plans in 1998 to convert the pub into one large bar but thankfully this scheme was abandoned in favour of much more appropriate, and cheaper, alterations.

The traditional public bar at the front of the Railway has retained its identity despite now being linked to both the lounge behind and the small room beyond the main doorway. The Railway also has a meeting room and beer garden. There are sing songs some evenings at this family run pub which, since October 1998 has been kept by the Holloway's, who come from Bradford Georgetta is the licensee, with her mother Janine regularly behind the bar, and brother John often helping out.

Once an Ansells pub, the Railway was the first headquarters of CAMRA Stafford and Stone branch in the mid 1970s. It is now owned by Pubmaster. The 1940s handpumps are still in use and four cask beers are usually on offer - Charles Wells Bombadier, Greene King Abbot. Draught and a guest ale.

Traditional home made meals are available at lunchtime. The Railway is open from noon to 2 and 6 to 11 daily, except Sunday when the hours are noon to 4 and 7 to 10 30. At the opposite end of Castle Street to the Castle Tavern, the Railway is just a five minute walk, from Stafford Station having turned left along Railway Street

The Pub of the Month presentation will take place at about 9.30pm on Thursday 7th December.

From the Archives Central Staffordshire News Pub of the Month January 2001

Front Page Pub of the Year 2000 Potteries Pub Preservation Group Try the N/4

Belgium in a Bottle Pub News Titanic News 20th Stoke Beer Festival Report

Beartown Brewery Letters

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