A breathtakingly enthusiastic outpouring of support has greeted the news that Winchester’s Railway Inn has announced a crowdfunding initiative to prevent it from closing. The explanation on the funding page lays out the position in stark clarity: “We’re Winchester’s only grassroots music venue. For over 40 years, we’ve been a home for live music in all its beautiful, messy, sweaty glory. Local bands, rising stars, absolute legends, weird art stuff, noisy stuff, funny stuff—it all happens here. And we want to keep it that way. But right now, we need your help.”
“Like most independent venues, we took a massive hit during COVID. We survived the lockdowns, cancellations, and years of reduced capacity, but we didn’t come out unscathed. We’re still carrying a chunk of debt from that time—rents that didn’t stop, bills that piled up, and overheads we had to cover just to make sure there was still a Railway to come back to. We’ve chipped away at it as best we can. We’ve cut costs, booked smarter, and hustled harder. But the truth is: we’re not struggling because we’re failing—we’re struggling because we’re still dragging the ghost of 2020 behind us. That’s what this Crowdfunder is for.”
Along with many other venues in the UK, the Railway is in dire need of support, but, as they point out, it’s all the surrounding complications that are the problem, not a lack of enthusiasm among customers. A regular stop for Americana tours (acts in the past have included The Felice Brothers, Frank Turner (see photo), The Delines, and many others), the Railway is renowned for its cosy ambience and outstandingly high-quality sound. The response to the launch has been nothing short of phenomenal, with half the target of £35,000 being reached within 48 hours and a total of over 1,000 supporters demonstrating just how much this historic venue is loved and appreciated.
Here’s to many more years of fine Americana shows in England’s ancient capital, and as a reminder of the quality of acts that have performed there, The Felice Brothers in their pomp. If you would like to help out, here is the link to the fundraising page.
