Catering, especially coffee!!!

Interesting you should mention Ellis's tea room -- it's been a bit of a victim of its own success, so to speak, in terms of that at peak times like lunchtime at gala events you can't get a seat for a while. Shows what can be done with catering (lovely bacon sarnies, can't beat a slice of the arse of a dead piglet). Get the local housewives who have no interest in railways involved in running a tea room at weekends with their teenage daughters (sorry that's a slightly sexist stereotype but it appears to be true!). Now they're planning on building something similar at Quorn which should hopefully relieve the pressure on Ellis's a little bit.

 

I popped in to the carriage on Swanage platform today and did indeed have a perfectly acceptable mug of filter coffee. I wish I'd known about Kidderminster's catering though! I shall have to head that way soon.

 

There is in fairness the Station buffet at Kidderminster SVR, but I have always thought that lacks "character". I am sure what they serve is fine, but have not tried it myself.
Having a coffee or a snack in the Museum you get character surroundings for free!

 

I agree that Theodora had a certain charm. However having just 6 seats (and that was after enlarging the area!) was far too small 25 years ago! There is also the small matter of compliance with current food hygiene legislation.

We've worked hard to create a period atmosphere in the enlarged buffet which fits with its exterior. If anyone's interested in buses, the building was (allegedly) the first purpose built bus station in the world when built in Maidstone. You can just see it behind a trolleybus in this picture.


What I do find surprising is the number of heritage sites (not just railways) that build a beautiful period building to fit in with the site and then fill it with nasty modern furniture & stacking chairs. Illusion and atmosphere destroyed! It doesn't have to cost the earth either: nearly all our fittings came from auctions or eBay.

Re. the coffee machine, it's rather like a computer: if you put crap (coffee) in, you get crap (coffee) out!

Catering activities form the largest source of profitable income on the K&ESR. For us, it's not a sideline but a fundamental core part of our business.

 

On the K&ESR, we operate a trolley service. If for some reason that's not possible, a counter service is provided from the RMB. The difference in turnover between the two is a factor of at least 8. On that basis, fitting a few rubbing strips on the stock and bumpers on the trolley is very well worthwhile!
Incidentally, the tea and coffee onboard is made in pots, not pre-packed cups.....

 

I have to say when i visited the new restaurant at kiddy station when it was finally finnished i couldnt have been more disapointed. The room looks awfull, no atmosphere at all. Has anyone been to the brief encounter at carnforth station?? Now this is a lovely setting to drink a cuppa.