New monthly Pop-Up Café at Appleby Railway Station offers a warm welcome to the community
Tea, coffee, homemade cakes and a chance for a good old-fashioned chat are on the menu as Appleby Railway Station opens its doors for a new monthly community Pop-Up Café.
The Settle Carlisle Community Rail Partnership is launching the new initiative on Monday 23 November 2026, from 9am to 11am, in the booking office at Appleby Railway Station.
The café will provide a welcoming place for local residents to meet, enjoy refreshments and catch up with friends and neighbours, particularly as the winter months set in.
With Appleby Primary School next door, the café will also offer parents and carers the perfect opportunity to stop for a cuppa and a chat after dropping their children off at school.
Visitors can look forward to tea, coffee, delicious homemade cakes and a selection of sweet treats from local producers along the Settle–Carlisle Railway, helping to support businesses in the communities served by the line.
Karen Morley-Chesworth, Community Rail Partnership (CRP) Officer for the Settle Carlisle Railway Development Company, said: "As the days get shorter and the dark nights draw in, many people find they don't get out as much or have as many opportunities to meet other people. We wanted to create somewhere warm and welcoming where people can come together, enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and have a good old-fashioned chat.
"Appleby Railway Station is right next door to the primary school, so we hope parents and carers will pop in after the school run. But the café is for everyone, whether you're retired, working from home, new to the area or simply fancy some company on a Monday morning.
"Railway stations are at the heart of our communities, and we want people to see them as much more than somewhere to catch a train. You don't have to be travelling anywhere to visit your local station and receive a warm welcome."
Settle Carlisle Railway Development Company Operations Manager, Susie Smith, said: "We're particularly pleased that we'll be offering homemade cakes alongside sweet treats from producers along the Settle–Carlisle line, supporting local businesses while bringing people together.
"Sometimes all it takes is a cup of tea and a friendly conversation to brighten someone's day. We hope our monthly café will become a regular meeting place where friendships can be made and everyone feels welcome.
"We hope people will spread the word, bring a friend or neighbour, or simply come along on their own. There will always be a friendly face, a warm drink and something tasty waiting for them."
An outdoor pop-up refreshment bar at Settle Station in the summer proved very popular during the Ride2Stride event. Now the Settle Carlisle Railway Development Company CRP hope the new indoor pop-up refreshments will be provide a regular place for people to meet up.
Visitors to the café will also be able to browse the pre-loved book stall in the station booking office, offering an opportunity to pick up something new to read while enjoying their refreshments.
To make visiting even easier, café customers will be exempt from the station car park fee while attending the event.
The Pop-Up Café is part of the Community Rail Partnership's commitment to making railway stations welcoming community spaces, encouraging social connections and supporting local businesses along the historic Settle–Carlisle line.
The first café will take place on Monday 23 November, from 9am to 11am, with plans for it to become a regular monthly event. More information is available on the Settle Carlisle Railway Development Company’s social media.
Pop-up cafe dates:
Monday 23 November 2026
Monday 21 December 2026
Monday 25 January 2027
Monday 22 February 2027
Monday 22 March 2027
Monday 26 April 2027
Monday 24 May 2027
