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Station cafe wins coveted national award

The awards – which “celebrate outstanding achievement in Community Rail Development” – are organised by the Association of Community Rail Partnership and this year the Signalbox Cafe at Bodmin Parkway beat off competition from similar outlets in Derbyshire, Hertfordshire and on the Isle of Wight to take the much coveted title.

The ‘Best Station/On Train Outlet’ award recognises establishments that provide outstanding products and service on or near a railway station.

It is the first time the Signalbox Cafe has won the award.

The Bodmin & Wenford Railway was presented with the award by Mark Hopwood, the managing director of First Great Western at a gala dinner held at the STEAM Museum in Swindon, organised by ACoRP and sponsored by FGW.

The award comprises an engraved glass trophy, a framed certificate (both of which are now on display inside the Signalbox Cafe) and a cheque for £250.

The cafe – located in the former Signalbox at Bodmin Parkway station, which was closed by British Rail in 1983 as an operational box – is operated by the Bodmin & Wenford Railway under a lease with First Great Western, which is responsible for the overall running of the station.

“The award is a fitting tribute to the manageress of the Station Cafe, Wan Ho Shadwick and her small team who present a professional and caring image to our customers." Comments Richard Jones, general manager of the Bodmin & Wenford Railway. "Ho in particular works incredibly hard to ensure the cafe is the success that it undoubtedly is and the award, which is richly deserved, is testimony to this hard work.

“The Signalbox Cafe is open 363 days a year, 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,” continued Richard. “It is a very popular place and Ho’s home made cakes are a joy to behold.”