A new café bar will open at Horton-in-Ribblesdale railway station this Saturday.
It follows an extensive refurbishment of the station building by the Settle-Carlisle Railway Trust with grant funding also provided by the Railway Heritage Trust.
The station platform reopened to trains in 1986 but the station building remained locked up and unused for over half a century, except for occasional parish council and community meetings.
The building has many historic features such as original Midland Railway bench seating, decorative windows and a fireplace.
The careful restoration includes a new café bar with cask ale in the former waiting room, plus additional seating in the former ticket office.
A new kitchen has been created where hot meals will be prepared by a small team including volunteers from the Friends of the Settle–Carlisle line.
The menu includes freshly cooked bacon morning rolls, hot dishes at lunchtime, afternoon tea with scones, cream and jam plus puddings and snacks. There is also a fully licenced bar including a special Pen-y-ghent cask ale on tap.
Adrian Quine, trustee and executive director of the trust’s property company, said: “Horton is a stunning example of Midland Railway architecture and it’s exciting to be bringing the station building back to life after it was closed in 1970.”
Tim Hedley-Jones, executive director of the Railway Heritage Trust, said: “We are pleased to have supported this project by the Settle-Carlisle Railway Trust.
“When railway heritage structures are no longer needed for operational reasons, it’s important to find new uses for them. The new café will contribute to the local economy and community.”
Horton railway station is located at the start of the Yorkshire three peaks walk.
The café bar will be open initially at weekends from 10am to 6pm but there are plans to open during the week later in the year.
