A new gastro pub-like menu, an extensive range of drinks, including three types of fruit lager on tap (my personal favourites), and live chill out music on a Sunday afternoon to help relax you for the week ahead. A covered smoking area on a roof terrace, well away from the main building provides happiness for the smoker and non-smoker. Only a few doors from Blackheath train station, there is also a taxi rank within fifty yards, and bus stops right on the doorstep. The food is well worth its above average price, and I’d recommend a sharer platter for its large portion and it being the epitome of nouveau nibbles.

This place has always struck me as a tad trad – chocker with people you wouldn't really want to meet, boring decor, not much to offer. But speeding past this Sunday, the place looked buzzy and the chalkboard outside tempted us with promises of jazz and roast dinner. Weak at the knees at the mention of beef and yorkshires, we decided to defect from our previous destination and give The Railway a go.

I'm pleased we did; the atmosphere was really wonderful. Against an artful backdrop of retro wallpaper and vintage furniture, a saxophone/piano duo tinkled away in the corner, people played board games and read the papers and food was served with a smile. We ordered a trio of roast beef which proved tasty yet unpretentious and we drank a great Rioja.

There were some downsides in the form of puddings which tasted more M&S than homespun and some staff who were a little too efficient in clearing away plates. We also had to put up with a few less than musical punters who thought they were on X factor – sunday afternoon in the pub is not the place for 13 year olds warbling Annie tunes. But on the whole The Railway provided a superb Sunday experience which I will hasten to repeat.