Café set to CaterCater for bus passengers by | Gloucester News Centre - http://gloucesternewscentre.co.uk/Bus passengers and shoppers are able to enjoy refreshments and light bites on the go from the new café at Gloucester bus station.
The café, which will be run by local company CaterCater, will serve sandwiches, paninis, cakes, coffee and much more and will open from 8am – 5.30pm Monday to Friday, 8am – 4pm on Saturdays, and 9am – 3pm on Sundays.
It is currently open for a soft launch but will be officially open from tomorrow (Thursday).
CaterCater currently provide catering to a variety of prestigious venues around the county and the café will see an expansion of the business in an exciting new direction.
While the opening enhances the £7.5 million glass fronted transport facility that opened last year complete with digital screens showing real time for passengers, and modern and welcoming seating areas.
The bus station is also equipped with solar panels to power internal lighting and has been designed to be fully accessible for people with disabilities.
Funded by Central Government, through the GFirst LEP, and the City Council, it has space for 12 bus bays.
It is a key part of the part of the ambitious Kings Quarter regeneration scheme, which will see a multi- million pound revamp of the north of the city centre.
It will include the refurbishment of Kings Square, making it into a space for events and performances and the buildings around the square are set to be redeveloped into offices and apartments, a hotel and a creative business hub.
Gloucester railway station is also due to be given a major facelift following a successful application by Gloucester City Council and Great Western Railways to the GFirst Local Enterprise Partnership Growth Fund, for funding of £3.75m.
Since it opened the bus station has attracted a number of accolades making the Council finalists in the South West region of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors awards (RICS Awards) under two categories: Regeneration and Infrastructure.
And it has also seen the transport hub’s architects, BDP, nominated for an Architect of the Year award for their design.
Councillor Paul James, Leader for Gloucester City Council, said: “The bus station is a fantastic asset for Gloucester and this new café will make it even more appealing. I’m particularly delighted that it is a local company that will be running it.”
Austin Powell, Director at Cater Cater, said: “We’re sure most of the Gloucester’s commuters will be looking forward to the coffee and breakfast provisions but there will also be snacks and soft drinks available too. We are all very excited about this new project and have already received some good feedback after opening the doors for our soft launch on Monday.”