The Railway Inn in Winchester has celebrated reaching its aim on Crowdfunder, saying “we get to maintain doing what we do – however higher”.
The one grassroots music venue within the Hampshire metropolis, which has been residence to native and rising artists for over 40 years, had declared that they have been in ”severe hassle” final month, setting a aim of £35,000 and saying they might be pressured to close their doorways “for good” in the event that they weren’t profitable.
Frank Turner, a Winchester native, lent his assist to the attraction and stay music followers quickly rallied to the trigger. Inside per week, that first goal was efficiently reached. “WE DID IT. THANK YOU.” the venue wrote in an replace in early August. “We’re actually blown away.”
“This implies we will lastly clear the debt that’s been hanging over us for the reason that COVID years. It means The Railway will get a correct reset. And it means we get to maintain doing what we do – however higher.”
That is what neighborhood appears like. The Railway Inn, Winchester is about to hit 100% of its fundraising goal – an enormous…
Posted by Music Venue Belief on Tuesday, August 5, 2025
The Railway is now setting a second “stretch” goal of £50,000, which they are saying will permit them to “herald a solicitor to assist us negotiate our premises licence, so we will run extra 16+ exhibits and open the doorways to youthful native expertise.”
At time of writing, the fundraiser sits on £38,560 and you will discover the donation web page right here.
The Railway said that the cash from the unique goal will go in direction of clearing outdated hire and utility arrears, overlaying backdated overheads and fixing very important package. The truth that they’ve reached the primary goal now makes them “safe”.
SAVE YOUR VENUE!The Railway is in deep trouble—and if we don’t elevate some pressing funds, we might be pressured to close our doorways for good.We’re Winchester’s solely grassroots music venue. For over 40 years, we’ve been a house for stay music in all its lovely, messy, sweaty glory. Native bands, rising stars, absolute legends, bizarre artwork stuff, noisy stuff, humorous stuff—all of it occurs right here. And we need to maintain it that means.However proper now, we want your assist. Please go to our crowdfunder web page for extra data, and thanks for studying <3https://crowdfunder.co.uk/p/savetherailwayinn
Posted by The Railway Inn on Thursday, July 31, 2025
It’s a time of disaster for grassroots venues within the UK. In 2023, it was revealed that the UK was set to lose 10 per cent of its grassroots music venues, and MVT report warned that grassroots gig areas within the UK have been “going over a cliff”. That 12 months noticed 125 grassroots venues shut down – inflicting a lack of 4,000 jobs, with 14,500 occasions now not attainable and 193,230 alternatives misplaced to musicians.
A current Music Followers’ Voice survey confirmed that 93 per cent of followers have been totally supportive of a £1 ticket levy being carried out to assist the grassroots, and final spring, a authorities committee of UK MPs joined the decision for a levy on area and stadium gigs – in addition to a reduce in VAT.
Earlier this week, Keir Starmer spoke to NME in regards to the concern. “I’m very supportive of this initiative, the £1 levy going again into grassroots [venues], as a result of a lot of our music is grassroots,” he stated.
He acknowledged that smaller, impartial institutions are “the place lots of people entry their music”, including: “It’s clearly the place loads of musicians begin off, and due to this fact I’m vastly supportive of it. I’d wish to see it expanded much more, however I need to assist it in any means we will.”
When requested what extra might be performed to assist, the PM replied: “We have to assist venues – giant and small – throughout the nation. I’ll be taking a look at what we will do with a view to give them the prospect not simply to outlive, however to thrive. There are such a lot of several types of venues somewhere else the place artists have carried out for the primary time, and go on to do wonderful issues.
“But in addition it’s the place younger individuals particularly entry their first stay gig. It’s more likely to be the one nearest the place they stay – then that provides them an urge for food to go to see increasingly stay music. We want extra stay music and we have to assist it.”
Within the spring, it was reported that UK tour ticket contributions had raised £500,000 for grassroots areas. London’s Royal Albert Corridor has since turn out to be the primary area to decide to the £1 ticket levy, earlier than Oasis’ enormous Dwell ’25 residency at Manchester’s Heaton Park introduced in £250,000 for native venues.
