Great Western Coffee Shop

Click here for key dates for the Melksham hub launch https://buff.ly/3quP0fs

Melksham Hub Cafe is a community rail initiative by TransWilts Community Interest Company. It is a not for profit organisation any surplus from the activities at the Melksham Hub will be invested in the local community. The cafe is expected to serve rail passengers and local businesses. There will be station adoption volunteers using the facilities and community events especially at weekends. A cycle rental scheme at the Hub means arriving and returning cyclists during the summer when Sunday cafe opening will be needed.
 
Kitchen fit out complete ? 23rd December 2020
Cafe manager recruitment commences ? early January 2021
Volunteers to clear site and paint building ? January-March 2021
Cafe manager in post ? mid February 2021 shadowing at Hearty Hare Cafe at Chippenham station
Volunteer training commences ? early March 2021
Soft launch date ? mid March 2021
Target Official Launch? Saturday 3rd April 2021 (Easter Saturday)

Sophie Martin, Community Rail Officer at TransWilts, is looking to update her mailing list of volunteers to help at the Melksham Hub, which they plan to "soft open" in March with a formal event on 3rd April. Please contact Sophie directly via sophie@transwilts.org, on 07379 175055, or the TransWilts Facebook page.

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Above posted at Sophie's request. This is in addition to the recruitment for a Cafe manager quoted earlier in this thread. It follows from the MRUG meeting on 13th January 2021, more fully documented in notes and minutes on the MRUG web site at http://www.mrug.org.uk (there are links to the documents on the front page - in the right hand "news" column )

Volunteer meeting planned for 4th February

Sophie wrote to me "Individuals who wish to be included in the meeting will need to contact me directly" (a confirmation of the post above in this thread)

We have decided that it is sensible to postpone the Melksham Hub Volunteer Meeting (via Zoom) scheduled for Thursday 4th February.

Once we have appointed our new Café Manager (mid February), I will reschedule a new date/time and publish this information.

Apologies for any inconvenience caused.
 
We look forward to seeing you later in February.

After the recent Government announcements we have decided it is sensible to move our official grand opening to Saturday 1st May.

All these dates are subject to government guidelines. But we’re planning to be open for takeaways from Monday 29th March.
We hope you will join us.
 
So to confirm we are currently planning……
Target Soft launch date – 29th March 2021
Target Official Grand Opening Launch – Saturday 1st May 2021

Hub Café at Melksham Railway Station will open next week

MEMBERS of TransWilts, the community rail partnership, say they "can't wait" for the opening of the new Hub Café at Melksham Railway Station.

The Hub Café will open on Monday, March 29 and will be available to the whole community not just rail passengers using the station.

Sophie Martin, TransWilt's community rail officer, said: "We can't wait to welcome you to the community Hub Café, which is located in a former commercial depot building.



"We have completed the restoration of the interior with a new kitchen and a new toilet with disabled facilities installed.

"The cafe will initially operate as a takeaway with outside tables offering a place to eat, drink, chat or wait for a train.

"We will be encouraging the use of the outside space for community events. Visitors will see lots of changes in the area with the replacement of industrial fencing."

The café even has a new manager, Sian Jones, 29, who started in February after leaving the Harlees fish and chip restaurant in Bradford on Avon.

TransWilts' chairman, Paul Johnson, said TransWilts has spent around £30,000 on the refurbishment of the former plant hire depot, and up to £100,000 on making Melksham station fit for the dramatic increase in passenger numbers over recent years as the town has grown.

He said: "We are obviously delighted with the project and we are looking forward to the next big milestone which is the opening of the Hub Café.

"Our passengers will be able to go in a buy a cup of coffee while they are waiting for a train, and we are providing a building which can be used by the local community as well.

"This is the culmination of several years' work and we are delighted to deliver this project with help from the local community and parish council."

Project sponsors include Melksham railway systems manufacturer Knorr-Bremse, and Great Western Railway through its major projects fund, with further support coming from Melksham Town Council, and Wiltshire Council's Melksham Area Board and the Community Rail Partnership.

Future plans include recruiting more volunteers to help run the café, and bringing out parasols, tables and seating when the weather permits the outdoor piazza area to be used.

Mr Johnson and Miss Martin are hoping that local community groups, such as the Melksham Book Club and the local Alzheimer's Support day club will use the café and its outdoor area.

They are keen that local groups and organisations will use the new facility for community events to help breathe new life into the station area.

In 2011, Melksham station was used by only 11,000 commuters but since then passenger numbers have increased dramatically.

The Melksham Hub now serves more than 75,000 rail commuters who use the station to get to Chippenham, Swindon, Trowbridge,Westbury and beyond.

Mr Johnson added: "With a community population of 30,867 we expect a substantial growth in passenger usage of up to 450,000 by 2026."

All aboard for railway station’s new community café

Story posted on March 30, 2021

THE transformation of Melksham’s railway station has moved a step forward with the opening of its new community café.

The opening of the Melksham Hub, which is initially open for takeaway, marks a milestone moment for the TransWilts project, which is working to improve facilities at the station and create a welcoming gateway to the town.

The new café is open for hot and cold drinks and food, open 7am to 3pm from Monday to Saturday.

“Passengers will be able to grab a coffee and bacon butty before catching their train,” said café manager, Siân Coppin. “A great way to start the day and your journey!”

And in the coming weeks, as Covid restrictions are lifted, the café will provide outdoor dining in a piazza-style area from 12th April; and an ‘official’opening is scheduled for 1st May.

The Melksham Hub will also be open to the community for hire once restrictions allow – both indoor and outdoors.

Sophie Martin from TransWilts said, “We are so excited to open the hub and are keen to get as many people engaged with supporting their local community café. We currently have 15 volunteers signed up to help run the café, some of which used to volunteer at the ArtHouse Café in the Market Place.

“And we want this to be a place for community groups to meet. We are in talks with a few local groups about them hosting their regular meetings here.”

Plans are also in the pipeline for floral planting, local art displays, and a mural painted by Young Melksham.

“We want to create a warm and friendly welcome to Melksham,” said Sophie. “And with the café here, it will start the journey into Melksham on a really positive note.”

Facilities at the hub include an accessible toilet, charging points for electrical devices, a departures and arrivals board, and bicycle hire for anyone wanting to explore the area on two-wheels.

For more information, visit the Melksham Hub website: https://melkshamhub.co.uk

We are adjusting our opening hours as of Monday 12th April.

Our Grand Opening at Melksham Hub Café on *Saturday 1st May* might not be as big as we planned (due to restrictions), but we'll still have some fun on the day and we hope to see you there! From 7.30am until 2.30pm

British Transport Police will be joining us for a bike marking event from 10:00-13:30. This is a free service!!

We will also be there distributing our new walking and cycling leaflets, our timetables, showcasing our rental bikes and much more. Pop down and see us for a natter or simply to get a cuppa and a piece of cake

From Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/TransWilts/posts/3462757353824282) yesterday

Come join us at Melksham Hub Café on Sat 1st May for cuddles with the lambs. Open 7.30am-12.30pm.

Occasional sunny spells greeted the official opening of the Melksham Hub Cafe this morning with the rain holding off.

It is with great sadness that we announce our lovely little community cafe will be closing at the end of May 2023.
 
The decision to close was not easy but with the increased cafe expenses, reduction in local funding and footfall at Melksham station we cannot find a way to keep the cafe open.
 
As a not-for-profit company our sole purpose was to provide a safe space for rail passengers whilst supporting and empowering members of our community from marginalised backgrounds. Thanks to the support from our amazing staff, our cafe volunteers have learnt they can make a valuable contribution to organisations and play a vital role in society.
 
For the time-being we will continue to stay open, albeit with reduced hours. These will be advertised in the next few days. Our Glee Club will also remain open every Wednesday 12.30-2.30pm until such time that we close our doors completely.
 
Thank you to our customers for your support. We hope that in a short period of time we have made a positive contribution to our community.

Sad news. The Melksham Hub cafe is to close in May 2023.