Friends of the Railway Hotel

28/10/2025

As one of the admins in this group (and in conversation with one of the other admins whilst at the new Railway) I do feel it's time to close it down.

The group was set up to support The Railway Hotel under the previous owners before and during covid shutdown.

As the pub is under new ownership and thriving - which is great news - there really is no real purpose in it continuing.

My suggestion is that all of those following this group switch over to The Railway Hotel group to follow, get news, gig details etc.

Or/and

Follow The Clifftown Rats group which was set up for the previous community to share events, release etc.

Both are of course fine!

24/08/2025

Some recent photos of The Railway Hotel, courtesy of Graham Burnett.

StarCo’s refurbishment works are underway, with the metal shutters removed, and three storey scaffolding in place around the frontage of the building.

You can see the full planning document for the brewery’s refurb, here:

👉https://www.starpubs.co.uk/-/media/project/starpubs/pubs/2302820101-railway-hotel-southend/documents/railway-southend-i4s.pdf

31/07/2025

25/06/2025

🗞 NEWS: 🗞

We’ve received reports that a new operator may have been secured for the Railway Hotel Southend, with contract negotiations reportedly underway.

J Foster, the current operator of The Old Garrison in Shoeburyness, is rumoured to be proceeding with discussions to take on the City’s bohemian live music venue.

The Friends of The Railway Hotel welcome this development and wish any new operator the very best, especially given the ongoing challenges facing Britain’s pub industry.

From 2007 until its closure in 2020, the Railway Hotel stood as the vibrant heart of Southend’s live music, cultural, and artistic scenes. With a loyal customer base numbering in the thousands and an international reputation, it was a shining beacon for the city’s creative community.

As one of the last remaining mid-Victorian pubs in Southend, the Railway was officially recognised as an Asset of Community Value in October 2022, thanks to a campaign led by the Friends of the Railway Hotel and supported by thousands of residents who petitioned the City Council to designate the pub as a community asset and to protect the pub against redevelopment.

We will closely review any proposed refurbishment plans to ensure the original 19th-century architecture and distinctive Charrington's heritage fittings are properly preserved. We remain hopeful that the new operator will appreciate and protect the unique features that make this venue such a vital part of Southend’s hospitality and heritage landscape.

It has now been 1,693 days since the Railway Hotel was last open to the public.

Please SHARE and FOLLOW this page for further updates:

01/12/2024

We're sad to hear of the passing of Railway stalwart Paul Stygal.

Paul was well known for his passionate involvement in many community groups and charities and was a cherished fixture of the Railway community. His love for both socialism and live music was unmatched.

Our thoughts are with Paul's family and friends, and he will be dearly missed.

(Image © Gaz DeVere)

10/12/2023

One of many iconic Southend Pubs. I’m sure many of you got plenty good memories and many stories with this Pub. Great building, or let’s say, parts of this building. I’m not sure what happened but clearly 2nd floor has been added recently?

More local sketches on my website: www.ss9art.co.uk

03/10/2023

🚨LIGHTS ON

The Friends of the Railway Hotel have this evening been informed that the main bar lights are on; for the first some in many months - providing us with this opportunity to peer behind the metal shuttering.

From what we’re able to see, the building is currently being secured by the firm, VPS, with their staff on site in the main bar.

It appears the security firm have also retaken possession of the upper floors, with new metal security shuttering on the middle and upper floors being installed in recent days. This was the area previously occupied by the squatter/s.

This development comes just four days after the persons illegally occupying the premises had their County Court hearing (Fri 29th Sep ‘23).

It appears the pub may finally be squatter-free.

01/09/2023

* New graffiti appears on Railway Hotel *

The Friends of the Railway Hotel have today confirmed that the pub has been targeted by additional graffiti in recent days.

Two large flypostings with the slogan "Evict The Tories" have been crudely glued onto the metal hoarding on the West and East faces of the building. The artwork attributes the design to artists/group(?) bvm.art. The Railway is just one of several locations targeted by the artist/group, and it appears they were targeting derelict/disused buildings in the City Centre, with other neighbouring buildings hit.

On the northern face of the building, there have been multiple tags made in silver pen, including (pictured) "Mr Gannon = P**ck." We can't read the last line (help appreciated).

Somehow, on the interior of the Nelson Street entrance to the pub, there are posters in the door windows advertising the circus that is in town this month. We are not sure if the circus advertisers have forced entry into the pub to display these posters, or whether the present occupants have willingly displayed these posters themselves.

Whilst the brewery can't be held responsible for the actions of these vandals, it is disheartening to those former patrons to see the pub in such a state.

The pub has now been boarded up for 163 days.

18/07/2023

* Legal Notices appear on Railway Hotel *

Today 18th July 2023, the Friends of the Railway Hotel have seen legal notices publically attached to the eastern doors of the Pub.

The notices disclose the details of the person/s illegally occupying the pub (which we have censored) and announce a County Court hearing on the 29th September 2023.

The brewery, Punch Partnerships (the legal owners of the premises) have instructed solicitors DLA Piper UK LLP to seek a legal end to the unauthorised occupation of the pub. It is this LLP that has served these notices on public display.

These legal proceedings are a promising indication that the brewery is making positive moves to evict the squatters who occupy the top floor of the building.

At present, Star Pubs and Bars are advertising the premises to new tenants, who would take on the building following a planned refurbishment.

The brewery advertises a minimum "ingoing cost" to any new tenant of £93,130 and an annual rent of £54,522. You can see full details on their website here;
https://www.starpubs.co.uk/pubs/railway-hotel-southend

It is our understanding that no refurbishment or reopening could take place whilst the building remains illegally occupied.

It has now been 985 days since the Railway Hotel was last open to the public.

27/06/2023

Mary Lodge is an independent printmaker based in Essex. 'The Railway Hotel, Southend-on-Sea' marks the beginning of a new print series, depicting loved music institutions around the UK, both that are still open and those that we have lost. The Railway Hotel, Southend-On-Sea was a beloved pub and music venue, steeped in history and memories of those that frequented it. Sadly The Railway closed to the public for the last time on 31st October 2020.

25% of proceeds from the sale of this print, and all prints that will be released in this series are going to be donated to our campaign!

This print alongside other artworks can be purchased here: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/MaryLodgeStudio

She will also be selling her work at the Metal Southend Christmas market today (Sunday 27th November) and the Old Leigh Christmas Craft Market on the 2nd December.

27/02/2023

27.2.23
Update on the exterior of the pub.

People have asked us for some photos of the Railway as it currently looks, specifically asking if the pub’s handpainted signage remains.

These images taken on 19/02 show the pub in its current state, boarded up and looking fairly lifeless. The original swing sign on the western edge is hanging off precariously, and looks like it’ll break any time now. The gutters appear overflowing with leaves and moss, and the pub has been vandalised by graffiti.

We had previously circulated that it looks like the illegal squatter has been removed, but recent evidence suggests otherwise.

The much loved pub signs survive in situ, but we expect these will be removed and binned by the brewery when the advertised renovation begins.

It would be a nice gesture if Star Pubs & Bars would let patrons have ‘first-dibs’ on the fixtures they’ll inevitably chuck. Personally I think they should be auctioned to raise money for the Music Venue Trust who are fighting against these multinationals closing music venues like ours.

James Vessey-Miller
On behalf of the Friends of the Railway Hotel, Southend.