Commuters' new cafe (From Stroud News and Journal)

Commuters' new cafe

COMMUTERS in Stroud can look forward to a cup of coffee to pass the time on the platform as a new cafe opens its doors next week.

The Goods Shed Cafe will officially open its doors next Monday, November 22, to cater for the early morning crowd from 6.15am to 11am.

But keen-eyed commuters will have noticed it has already been open on the odd day or two as owner Nick Clarke tests that everything is ready.

"We opened up a little cafe in Kemble called Off the Rails about six months ago and that has gone really well," said Mr Clarke.

"So we thought we'd give it a go in Stroud." The cafe will serve teas and coffees, freshly baked pastries, bacon rolls and newspapers.

"We'll cater to all the commuter trains at the moment," he said. "If the trade's there we might expand our hours and open up for lunch time."

He said if the Kemble success was anything to go by the cafe should be a hit with bleary-eyed travellers keen to start the day with a decent dose of caffeine. "It's been fantastic," he said.

"People are very appreciative that they can get a decent cup of coffee at 6.15am." The tasteful cafe will also double up as a small gallery showing work by local artists, including Nick himself.

"I paint so we have original art on the walls by various artists including myself." "We're pleased that somebody wanted to take this on," said the company's Anne-Marie Delrose of Wessex Trains which is renting the building to Mr Clarke.

"It's a very good service to offer our customers."