Media Centre

National Express East Anglia - the best station cafes

8 Jun 2009

Three cafes situated at stations on the National Express East Anglia network – have been recognised as amongst the top ten station cafes in the country. ‘Ten of the Best Railway Cafes’ by Dixe Wills, was published on The Guardian website on Tuesday 12 May 2009. National Express is the only train operator to feature so prominently in the list.

Dixe Wills commented:

"It's cheering to discover that great station cafes actually do exist in some corners of the country, with train travellers in East Anglia having the fortune of being particularly well served. The fact that such excellent facilities have been provided through the co-operation of station operators and independent retailers is a cause for hope that such cafes might one day prove the norm rather than the exception."

The Whistlestop Café, Woodbridge Suffolk, the Station Buffet, Manningtree, Essex and the Brief Encounter Café, Wymondham, Norfolk all feature in the top ten list.

The Whistlestop Café (at Woodbridge on the Ipswich to Lowestoft line) was nominated because of the outstanding home-baked produce served there.  Food so good that local residents visit it regularly, even when they are not planning to catch a train.

The Station Buffet (at Manningtree on the Norwich to London Mainline) was nominated by Dan Milmo, the Guardian’s Transport Correspondent for its pub-like atmosphere and good pulled pint. A place you don’t mind seeing your train come and go, in order to stay just a little bit longer.  

The award–winning Brief Encounter Café, (at Wymondham on the Norwich to Cambridge line) has long been known for its good food, character and warmth of welcome. This outstanding café was winner of the ‘Best Retail Outlet’ at the 2008 Community Rail Awards. 

Andrew Goodrum, Customer Services Director for National Express East Anglia said:

‘I should like to congratulate the owners of the station café outlets at Woodbridge, Manningtree and Wymondham stations for their success in the Best Station Café listings. At National Express we work very closely with our retail partners at stations to enhance the service for our customers through progressive partnerships.’

National Express East Anglia offer a range of Rover and off-peak leisure tickets which are suitable for customers wishing to visit these cafes. More Information can be found on their website at www.nationalexpresseastanglia.com/train_tickets/ticket_types.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

‘Ten of the Best Railway Cafes’ by Dixe Wills, was published on the The Guardian website on Tuesday 12 May 2009.

For further information about this press release, please ring the National Express East Anglia Press Office on 0207 549 5966.