A conceptual illustration of the new bod bar at Stoke Station
Work has begun on the creation of a new Titanic Brewery café bar at Stoke Station, with bod Stoke set to open on Monday, October 8.
It will be situated in the former first class lounge of the city’s mainline station, with access from both platform one and the pavement on Winton Square, Stoke.
It will be the second Titanic bod bar, a new concept from the Burslem-based brewery, and will be open from early morning until late in the evening.
Dave Bott, joint managing director of Titanic, said the development represented an £80,000 investment at the historic station building. Twelve jobs will be created.
He said: “We have had huge success at our first bod in Weeping Cross, Stafford, and are confident that we can build on that and create a space which will successfully serve both train passengers and the general public at Stoke Station.”
Titanic Brewery has released conceptual drawings of the new development ahead of the opening.
‘Comfortable space’
Dave added: “As a brewery, we are well known for our award-winning community pubs, but we see the bod concept as meeting a new need in the market. bod opens early and is a comfortable space for coffee and a light breakfast or lunch before evolving into a craft beer café bar for visitors from lunchtime onwards.
“We are excited to acquire the prime site at Stoke Station following the decision of Virgin Trains to partner with a local company to bring extra facilities for passengers. bod, at Stoke Station, will be fitted out to a high specification with plenty of comfy seating and space for business meetings.
“We have designed bod Stoke to appeal to both the local community and rail passengers, giving visitors to our home city a good and lasting first impression of Stoke-on-Trent.”
Mark Taylor, station manager for Virgin Trains at Stoke-on-Trent, said: “We are incredibly excited to be working with Titanic Brewery, who deserve great credit for their energy and passion. We have no doubt bod will be a great success and we look forward to playing our part in making this happen.
“It is part of our strategy to challenge the traditional views about station management and deliver a vision whereby they become more integral to the communities they serve.
“Our overarching aim in this instance is to improve the experience of all customers using the station, whilst at the same time partnering with a local business to bring new life to the station and the surrounding area. It will also create 12 new jobs and provide a boost for the local economy.”
Titanic Brewery is also looking to create a third bod at nearby Trentham. The brewery has acquired the former NatWest Bank, Longton Road, and has submitted a planning application to Stoke-on-Trent City Council.
