The train station near Bristol voted one of the South West’s best

A village station near Bristol was recently shortlisted as one of the UK’s best-loved stations.

Yatton railway station was one of 48 rail way stops in the country competing in the World Cup of Stations 2023, which all went head to head in a week of hotly contested regional heats, semis and a final.

The competition celebrated stations which positively impact the public by supporting local businesses and creating social spaces.

While Wemyss Bay, near Glasgow, was crowned the 2023 champion, we took a trip to south of Bristol to find out what made Yatton station so special.

Be careful not to miss your train while enjoying the traditional cafe

After stepping off the train in Yatton, we were instantly welcomed by the Strawberry Line Cafe Project nestled on platform one.

The community cafe was born in 2010 out of frustration “by the lack of opportunities for adults with learning disabilities to get paid jobs”.

“We decided to open a community cafe in Yatton,” the website reads. “And the derelict building on platform one of Yatton station seemed like the ideal spot.”

Inside, the former waiting room was decorated with railway memorabilia, giving the space a nostalgia and homeliness rarely seen in modern train stations.

Named after the Strawberry Railway Line, which linked Yatton to Cheddar and Wells for a century, the compact cafe had a deceptively large capacity for welcoming guests, equipped with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating.

Friendly and attentive staff brightened the already picturesque day, with a community warmth that is a permanent feature of Yatton station’s climate.

A courtyard is the perfect sun-trap to wait for the frequent services to Bristol Temple Meads, Weston Super Mare and Taunton

Supported by the North Somerset Council, the Strawberry Line Society converted the line to a recreational path in 1983.

The Strawberry Line Community Cycle Project in 2020 to financially support the cafe and to offer people with learning disabilities vocational training and work.

A member of the project enthusiastically matched cyclists to their bikes for the day, with various adaptive and wheelchair accessible types available to hire.

Bike hire is available on the station’s doorstep

A wander on foot down the path landed us in in the midst of a thriving nature reserve. Educational signposting evidenced Yatton’s pride of its wildlife and historical heritage.

From the hedges at the side of the Strawberry Line, the vocal presence of the bird population could be heard who have the made Biddle Street site of scientific interest their home.

The area hosts migrating birds in the summer, such as South Saharan Sedge and Reed Warblers, as well as Redwings and Fieldfares in the winter.

An art installation marks the beginning of the Strawberry Line path

Although Yatton was voted third place from the Rail Delivery’s South West shortlist, our morning at the railway stop proved its brilliance as a community hub and tourism spot.

Community efforts continue as local campaigners push to extend the existing Strawberry Line Path, hoping to create a 30-mile route between Clevedon and Shepton Mallet.

This would produce a traffic-free connection for over 70,000 people and extend the community magic of Yatton station Somerset-wide.

All photos: Olivia Loughran

Read next:

• £8m ‘birthday buses’ scheme criticised as ‘gimmick’
• Is Bristol gearing up to become a 15-minute city?
• £3.6m funding for new walking and cycling improvements 

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