The Railway Arms in Saffron Walden has stood in the shadow of the old, now closed, Great Eastern branch line since 1865. Situated on the southern edge of the town centre on the corner of Station Road and Station Street, the pub has long been renowned for serving some of the best cask conditioned ales and good pub grub to the regulars of the local area.

The pub is fondly remembered worldwide by old students of the nearby language school who were regulars back in the day. Indeed the former landlord of the pub from 1958 to 1998 – Jim Jordan – was awarded the OBE for his tenure at the pub.

In January 2017 the pub was closed by its former owners and was under threat from residential development. A campaign group formed by residents in the area STRAP – Save The Railway Arms Pub, lobbied local residents, councillors and the general public to keep this lovely building as the traditional pub. STRAP was also successful in raising funds to purchase the pub by a local community share offer and a grant from the Plunkett Foundation’s More Than a Pub campaign. In the summer of 2020, the community were successful in purchasing the pub and in October 2020 finally took charge of the keys to the premises and renovations began.

After renovation of the pub during the winter of 2021, the Railway Arms re-opened its doors on 6th April 2021.

Since May 2021, the pub has been superbly managed by Graham Pearson who has over 30 years experience in the licencing trade (Graham pictured right with his wife Marie and daughter Isla)

Soon after re-opening of the pub it was named as runner up in the Campaign for Real Ale’s (CAMRA) National Pub Saving award. The pub has frequently won CAMRA’s ‘North West Essex Pub of the Year’ as well as winning ‘Essex Pub of the Year’ and in 2026 went one step further by winning ‘East Anglian Pub of the Year’. The pub has also gained recognition for its own-produced cider being a regional cider-pub winner in 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. Where is The Railway Arms, and how do I get there?

You’ll find us at Station Road, Saffron Walden, Essex, CB11 3HQ. We’re a traditional Victorian street-corner pub with a connection to the town’s railway history. If you’re visiting for the first time, use the postcode in your maps app for directions. We do not have a car park, there is usually parking available on Station Street, please do not park on the pavement and be mindful of our neighbours and parking restrictions.

2. What are your opening hours?

We are open every day. Our opening hours can be found on our Contact Us page. Vennings Cafe times for food are also shown.

3. Do I need to book a table, or can I just turn up?

We’re a relaxed local pub, and customers are welcome to drop in for a drink. We do not book the internal space of the pub, but the garden and/or the outside covered area ‘The Nook’ can be booked by contacting the pub by phone or email. We hold a Sunday Quiz from 7.30pm, team/table bookings can be made on the ‘Book the Sunday Quiz’ page of this website.

4. Do you have a beer garden or outdoor seating?

Yes, we have outdoor seating, making us a good place to enjoy a drink when the weather is fine.

5. Are dogs and children welcome?

Well behaved dos and children are most welcome. Dogs must be kept on a lead.

Drinks and refreshments

6. What real ales do you have on tap?

Real ale is an important part of what we offer. We have 6 constantly changing cask ales of different styles. All cask ale is sourced from local breweries. Our house beer ‘Railway Ale’ is a constant on the beer – brewed by Nene Valley Brewery which is gluton free.

7. Do you serve craft beer, lager and stout?

We offer a range of beers beyond traditional cask ale, we have craft beers from Wylde Sky Brewery in Linton. We also have national brands Carlsberg, Saint Miguel and Guiness.

8. Do you sell real cider, including locally made cider?

Yes, real cider is a passion of ours with award winning Wriggers’ Cider produced on the premises. We stock changing real ciders from local producers and also have Inch’s on tap.

9. What drinks do you offer for people who don’t drink alcohol?

We aim to have options for customers who aren’t drinking alcohol, alongside our alcoholic drinks. All soft drinks are also sourced locally.

10. Do you use local breweries and keep your beer prices reasonable?

We aim to support local producers wherever practical, with a preference for drinks from nearby suppliers where possible. Our goal is to offer quality drinks at reasonable prices, while keeping the pub welcoming and accessible to the community.

Food, facilities and activities

11. Do you serve food?

Venning’s Cafe operates from our stable building and serves high quality food at reasonable prices such as burgers, sandwiches and sides. Specials are often available. All bread is baked on the premises every morning. Excellent quality coffee is served as well as other hot drinks and soft drinks.

12. What events and activities do you hold?

We host community activities and events from time to time. The programme changes, so check our website and social media for the latest announcements, dates and details.

13. Is The Railway Arms a good stop for walkers and cyclists?

We’re a friendly local pub and a handy place to stop for a drink after a walk or ride around the area. We have outdoor seating, and walkers and cyclists are most welcome.

14. Do you have disabled access and accessible toilets?

The pub has accessible access and toilets

15. Is The Railway Arms a community-owned?

Yes. The Railway Arms is owned by Saffron Walden Community Pub Ltd, a Community Benefit Society. That means the pub belongs to its community of members and is run for community benefit, rather than being simply a privately owned pub.

16. Can I become a member or shareholder of the pub?

The Society has community shareholders who help support the pub’s long-term future. If you’re interested in becoming a shareholder, please enquire over the bar. Shares are £50 each with a minimum purchase of 4 shares ie £200

17. Why is it called The Railway Arms?

The name reflects the pub’s connection with Saffron Walden’s railway past. The pub is a Victorian street-corner local near the route of the town’s former railway branch line and station.

18. Do you accept card payments?
Yes, we accept card payments but not Amex. We accept cash payments too