July - Railway (West Didsbury)
Railway
3 Lapwing Lane, West Didsbury, Manchester M20 2NT
The Railway on Lapwing Lane in West Didsbury is the July Pub of the Month. Simon Green explains why it won.
The Railway is a thriving, traditional pub that champions cask beer and serves the community in West Didsbury. Entertainment includes a Tuesday quiz night, Thursday night performances from the pub’s own band, ‘The Railway Men’ and an open mic night on the last Thursday of each month. Complimentary food is available on Sundays during the football season for televised matches, and, on the first Monday in July, the Railway hosted its first comedy night.
The beer and food are amongst the most affordable in the area. The pizzas are made by the local restaurant, Proove, and the seven handpumps include regular beers of Holt’s Bitter, Mild and Two Hoots, along with Bootleg Brewing’s Chorlton Pale Ale and Fools Gold. The other two handpumps change seasonally, usually featuring Old Rosie cider and a seasonal ale, which in winter months is Sixex, rarely seen elsewhere on cask. Other ciders are available in bottles.
The Railway is a great pub with a friendly atmosphere, good beer and attentive staff, making it popular with lifelong residents and new visitors alike, but less than a year ago it had few customers and only one handpump. Opening Times dropped by to find out about the transformation that began when Stacy Saunders and her partner Mark Wilson took over in October 2023.
Stacy began work for Joseph Holt with a bar job whilst still a student, and says she progressed to be Holt’s youngest landlady at the Ape & Apple in Manchester, which she managed for eight years before moving to another city centre pub, the Old Monkey, for twelve years. The Railway was her dream pub, and it is that enthusiasm along with the experience that is now bringing the rewards. The first change was to increase from one to seven cask beers, which proved popular immediately. New events brought more customers, and the community aspects of the pub were extended. The Railway sponsors a Sunday league football team, holds events to raise funds for charities of personal interest to regulars, and hosts relevant local community groups, including a silent book-reading club and a menopause awareness group.
The Railway is highly recommended, so join us on Thursday 25 July, when the Pub of the Month Award will be presented. The Railway is close to the Burton Road Metro station and is about half a mile from bus routes such as the 42 on Wilmslow Road and the 23 on Barlow Moor Road.