The Railway Hotel, which also boasts a bar and restaurant, is located on Station Road. It was originally opened in the 1860’s by Eldridge Pope, a Dorchester Brewer and served Fordingbridge Railway Station, which was one of the stops on the newly built Salisbury and Dorset Railway. The line was closed in 1964 and the Railway Hotel became The Load of Hay and was later named after the artist Augustus John. Work to restore the building has taken around two years and cost in the region of £2million. The project has been spearheaded by Brian Currie, who restored The Regal Cinema in Shaftesbury Street, Fordingbridge.