The Railway, Formby

The Railway in Formby

It is a couple of years since I visited the Railway. Since I was last there, the pub has been attractively refurbished and has recently gained new management. However, the most significant change from my point of view is that the choice of real ales has been much expanded, and there was a good selection available when I called in. The permanent beers available were: Timothy Taylors Landlord, St Austell Tribute, Black Sheep Ember Ale, plus Old Rosie Cider; the changing guests ales were Woodfords Wherry, Navigation Britannia and Brains Reverend James. Other regulars not on at the time include Sharps Doom Bar and Brakspear Bitter.

You will be given 20p off a pint if you show your CAMRA membership card. The licensee Martin, who took over the pub fairly recently, told me that the real ales formed a significant part of the pub's sales, which is a measure of their popularity in this pub: I certainly found that the three different beers that I tried were in good form.

The pub is popular for its food, which is available from midday to 10.00pm every day, and on Saturday and Sunday they serve brunch between 10.00am and midday. They have various special events each week: quiz nights on Sunday and Wednesday evenings; Wine Club on Sundays from 5.00pm when selected wines are £10 per bottle; Cask Night on Mondays when all real ales are £2.49; Fizz Friday with Prosecco at £10 a bottle. They currently are running a Spring Ale Trail where you get a card stamped to earn free pints and entry into a prize draw.

Children are welcome, the pub is dog friendly and they have free Wi-Fi. They are open until 11.00pm Sunday to Thursday, and until midnight Friday and Saturday. The outside drinking area has large static umbrellas against the weather and there is a good-sized car park. Formby Railway Station is just yards away, and various Formby circular buses stop nearby, as does the 44 bus from Crossens. The Railway is at 2 Duke Street, Formby, L37 4AS. Phone: 01704 831072. They also have their own website.

This is part of a series of articles that I am writing for the CAMRA column in our local paper, the Southport Visiter. Previous reviews are here.