• The Cotswold Halt – new catering venue on the GWSR • “A very good reason to visit Toddington station”
There is a new halt on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway: it is ‘The Cotswold Halt’, a new café at Toddington station which has replaced the ‘Flag & Whistle’ tea room.
‘The Cotswold Halt’ is an imaginative re-thinking of the catering at Toddington station which is run by the railway. Previously, catering was run by an external franchise, which ended after the 2023 season.
Since then, volunteers have been working flat-out to turn the café into an appealing 80-seat destination with a brand-new menu, to match the best comparable offerings elsewhere in the Cotswolds.
There is also a new bar called ‘The Halt Bar’ which will be opened on special occasions, specialising in local Cotswold beers, ciders and spirits.
Mike Robinson, the railway’s human resources director (and a volunteer), says: “Seeing this new venue completed is a huge thrill and I’m certain that it will have a broad appeal not just to those travelling on our trains, but other passing visitors too. It’s one more reason to make sure that our passengers ensure they pause a while at Toddington station, where the railway’s locomotive workshops are also located.”
An exclusive range of gifts called ‘The Cotswold Collection’ will also soon be on offer from the café.
The new manager of The Cotswold Halt is Tracey Jaggers, who was previously Café and Shop manager at Tewkesbury Abbey.
Commented Tracey: “I’m thrilled to be managing this exciting new facility for the railway which is already one of the leading attractions in the Cotswolds. Visitors can be assured of a very warm welcome and I’m looking forward to helping to build an outstanding reputation for ‘The Cotswold Halt’.”
The Cotswold Halt is open throughout Easter, from 9.00 to 16.30 and six days per week thereafter, (closed Mondays except Bank Holidays).
Easter also sees the line north of Toddington to Broadway re-opened following completion of Phase One of essential works on Stanway Viaduct, to re-waterproof the 120-year-old deck, failure of which was causing damage to the structure’s brickwork.
