IT was a busy few days for a Winchester music venue, after appointing a new manager and cancelling three events.

The Railway Inn, in St Paul’s Hill, unexpectedly cancelled three events in just two days last week amid reports that its manager Ben Ward has left.

A source, who asked not to be named, said it happened last Thursday (OCT 2), but has been in the pipeline “for a while”.

They said: “I was terrified that it might turn into a restaurant or something and that would have been the last nail in the coffin of what is the music scene in Winchester.

“The new owner, Christian Francis, will keep the license the same.”

The venue cancelled shows by DJ Format and Chris TT and the Hoodrats on Wednesday, October 1, and Scoundrels Comedy Club on Thursday, October 2.

The show was part of a four-day comedy festival, and was supposed to feature stand-ups Paul McCaffrey and Matt Forde.

A notice on the Railway’s website said DJ Format was cancelled “due to circumstances beyond our control”, and Chris TT and the Hoodrats “due to illness”.

There was no mention of the comedy event.

Oliver Gray, a local promoter who uses the venue, said: “I am so delighted that Winchester’s only music venue will be continuing as before, because otherwise it would have left a great gaping hole in the cultural life of Winchester.”

Despite repeated attempts, nobody at The Railway was available for comment.