The Railway Hotel & the Hansom Cab

The Railway Hotel in Lytham is a well-known historic pub that has stood for over 175 years, witnessing the transformation of the town from a quiet coastal settlement into a bustling seaside resort. Purpose-built in 1847, it was constructed adjacent to Lytham’s first railway station—known as Lytham Station (Station Road)—which had opened the previous year, on 16 February 1846. The original station was designed in a grand classical style, built from Longridge stone, featuring a striking façade and an octagonal booking office topped with a domed roof. The Railway Hotel was intended to serve travellers arriving by train, offering refreshments and accommodation, and quickly became an important social hub in the area.

In 1874, passenger services were withdrawn from the original station when a new station opened further inland on Ballam Road. However, the Station Road site continued as a goods depot until 1963, before being demolished in 1968 and replaced by a fire station. Throughout this period, The Railway Hotel remained open, serving locals and railway staff alike. A significant change came in 1895, when the hotel was acquired by Catterall & Swarbrick, a prominent local brewery. They invested in the property by adding a billiard room and four guest bedrooms, enhancing its status as a well-appointed public house. A bowling green at the rear of the premises added further appeal for recreational use, though this was later built over and removed by 1955.

By the mid-20th century, the hotel changed hands again, becoming part of the Bass Taverns pub estate—then one of the UK’s largest and most recognisable pub companies. Under Bass’s ownership, the venue was rebranded as The Hansom Cab, a name reflecting Victorian elegance and transport, perhaps aiming to modernise its image while nodding to the past. Later, the pub was sold to J D Wetherspoon, who undertook a refurbishment of the property and, recognising its local heritage, chose to restore the original name. On 10 July 2012, it reopened once again as The Railway Hotel.

Today, The Railway Hotel is a Grade II listed building, noted for its architectural and historic importance. A heritage plaque displayed outside commemorates the hotel’s long history, its connection to the former railway, and its varied uses over time. Wetherspoon’s restoration of the name and features has helped preserve the building’s character, while updating its interior and facilities for a modern audience. The Railway Hotel remains a central and much-loved part of Lytham’s landscape—bridging past and present in a town shaped by the coming of the railway.

Chronological Timeline

1846 – Lytham’s first railway station (Station Road) opens on 16 February.
1847 – The Railway Hotel is purpose-built beside the station.
1874 – Station closes to passengers (1 July); remains a goods depot.
1895 – Hotel purchased by Catterall & Swarbrick; billiard room and bedrooms added.
1955 – Rear bowling green removed and developed.
1963 – Station ceases goods services.
1968 – Station demolished; fire station built on the site.
Mid-Late 20th Century – Hotel taken over by Bass Taverns; renamed The Hansom Cab.
2012 (10 July) – Wetherspoon reopens the pub under its original name, The Railway Hotel.