A few years ago, we were asked to fit a Costa Coffee into a narrow rail platform site, which was a Listed Building.
The service counter dominated the space, and as a result, we proposed changes to individual rooms to create better flow and allow for a reasonable seating capacity.
The windows dictated much of the backfitting, but we were granted permission to install the menus in front of them and to deviate from the standard approach to the backfitting.
Beneath the well-worn flooring, we discovered a Victorian tiled mosaic floor. In some areas, tiles were missing, and in others, crude cement repairs had been carried out.
These sections were replaced with matching mosaic tiles, although the colour match was not perfect due to the age of the original. The conservation officer preferred this approach.
All stakeholders were in agreement on retaining the listed components while taking a sympathetic approach to the full refurbishment. The Rail Heritage Trust also contributed and assisted with sourcing replacement glass and ironmongery for the windows.
Working to respect the history while progressing with the present…
