Fancy yourself as a Reggie Kray? If so then you may consider a trip to the railway bell. Now im sure everything is above board and im just being a big girl but this place feels like a recruitment centre for the criminal underworld. If it were any rougher it would be made of sandpaper.
That said im drawn back time and time again as despite the fact that the regulars are hitting shots of neat testosterone this place does in many ways embody the idea of a typical london pub which is sadly much in decline. It has a beautiful exterior, a small garden and inside it's spacious with a pool table, long bar and a technicolour carpet thats seen better days.
It has the usual array of beer and shows just about every sporting event going with various screens showing various sports (usually football)
Its a real male working class environment in here but has an air of nostalgia and for all its sins has an actual atmosphere rather than the many sanitised places we're told are good these days.
So to sum up if you want a taste of the true london pub experience put on your best cockney accent and drop in at the railway bell - just dont look anyone in the eye!! read more