IT is the family run pub at the heart of Botley, with an 'amazing community spirit' and a brand new and improved food menu.

Owned by Kay Blackman, and managed by her children Alice and Robert Blackman, the Railway Inn on Station Hill is a wintery style pub that is always rammed full of the cheerful Botley community.

The pub has been so successful since being taken over in 2015, that Kay was asked by The Greene King to take over another pub just down the road, the Brewery Bar, which has also been thriving ever since with the help of the interchangeable staff between both pubs.

Ally Bendle, the nephew of Kay Blackman, loves working at the Railway Inn full time.

He said: "It started off as just the core family, but the business has just kept growing. I love working here because there is a great set of young staff, and a great sense of community and atmosphere around the pub."

He added: "Just two weeks ago, we completely revamped our menu and it's been attracting so many new and old faces. We've received nothing but positive feedback."

While a lot of the core traditional pub foods remain on the menu, such as fish and chips and pies, the pub have also made new additions, such as the a variety of burgers that are 'going down a treat', as well as a whole new dessert menu.

Ally explained that the most sought after food at the pub is usually whatever is on as the special for that day, and Fosters to be a favourite with the customers alcohol wise, just beating off their selection of liquor coffees.

There is also a specially designed menu for large scale services such as wakes, weddings and birthdays, and sections of the pub can be completely rented out to suit functions ranging from 20 to 150 people.

Live events are also frequent at the pub, with the next one lined up for Halloween, where there will be a live band playing music for the punters to enjoy as the night begin to get darker.

In terms of access the Railway Inn ticks a lot of boxes, as it is both child friendly with high seats provided, and dog friendly except for in the eating area.

While it is a self-proclaimed wintery pub, they will be working on a brand new garden in the summer.