The Railway Inn, Culham

The good lady and I decided to give the Railway Inn in Culham a try last week, encouraged by a free music festival, Wittstock, happening in the back garden.  Having been to a couple of similar events, I knew things could go either way, with a lot hinging on the atmosphere.

Imagine my delight then when we discovered this rather lovely throwback to a gentler time.  The pub doubles as a caravan park with one or two live-inn vehicles, and the whole thing has a bit of a rural seventies vibe, which isn't such a bad thing.  The marquee is more of a village hall - clean, spacious and very geared up for families.  I could imagine a barn dance here. 

As we entered we were surprised and thrilled to see our friend Michael playing violin onstage.  Once the set was over, he and his partner Jane joined us for lunch.

So what about the food?  Well thankfully this is no gastropub - we're talking no nonsense grub here.  The bar staff were friendly and arranged a small roast for the little one.  I had chicken, with the good lady going for her favourite, the lamb.  Without being flashy or particularly remarkable, the meal impressed me for its plain good taste and reasonable price.  It felt very much like home cooking, served with a friendly face, in unpretentious surroundings.  The little one even actually ate some, and from her that's a compliment indeed.

It's so great that, as some pubs are turning into variants of coffee chains in order to survive, places like the Railway Inn exist unmolested by free wifi and bagels.  Come when there's a few longhairs about and let the free times roll.