Bodmin Parkway caf^ up for national award

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the Cornish Guardian:

Bodmin Parkway Station's Signal Box Caf^ has been shortlisted for an award at this year's National Community Rail Awards.

The caf^ has reached the final in the Best Station or Train Retail Outlet award which recognises establishments that provide outstanding products and service on or near a railway station.

The Signal Box caf^ is run by the Bodmin and Wenford Railway Company. General manager Richard Jones said: "I am thrilled we have been shortlisted for this award. We have recently refurbished the Signal Box caf^ and are very happy the judges obviously enjoyed one of our bacon sandwiches as much as we do."

Richard Burningham from the Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership who nominated the caf^ said: "The caf^ is one of those lovely little places to enjoy a cup of tea and a cake whilst waiting for your train. We wish them every success at the awards."

The National Community Rail Awards is an annual event which celebrates the work being done to promote and enhance Britain's local and rural railways.

The award ceremony is being held in Swindon on Friday, September 28.

[RichardB]

They won, too.  First place.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Great news, RichardB! 

[Southern Stag]

Great news, it's a lovely little cafe to have a drink in. The lady who works in there is so friendly.

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the Cornish Guardian:

Forget the rest ^ the Signalbox Caf^'s best

A little caf^ which operates from an old signal box at Bodmin Parkway station has been judged the best retail outlet on the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) rail network.

The Signalbox Caf^ which is run by Wan Ho Chadwick and is operated by the Bodmin and Wenford Railway, has been awarded the Best Station/On Train Retail Outlet in this year's National Community Rail Awards.


On track - Signalbox cafe manageress Wan Ho Chadwick with the top award

The Signalbox Caf^ beat off competition from similar outlets in Derbyshire, Hertfordshire and on the Isle of Wight to take the title, recognising establishments that provide outstanding service on or near a railway station.

The local railway company was presented with a glass trophy and ^250 by Mark Hopwood, managing director of First Great Western at a gala dinner held at the Steam Museum in Swindon.

The caf^ is located in the former signalbox which was closed by British Rail in 1983.

Richard Jones, general manager of the Bodmin and Wenford Railway, said:" The award is a fitting tribute to the manageress of the station's caf^, Wan Ho Chadwick, who presents a professional and caring image to our customers.

"Ho in particular works incredibly hard to ensure the caf^ is the success that it undoubtedly is and the award, which is richly deserved, is testimony to this hard work.

"The caf^ serves a wide variety of hot and cold drinks, sandwiches, snacks, cakes and sweets, and provides a very valuable service to both travellers on the national railway network, local people, visitors to the area, as well as our own customers.

"It is a very popular place and Ho's home-made cakes are a joy to behold," said Mr Jones.

The Signalbox Caf^ was nominated for the award by both the Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership and First Great Western.