SIT BACK, RELAX AND ENJOY DELICIOUS  HOME COOKING IN OUR DELIGHTFUL

   "BRIEF ENCOUNTER"    RESTAURANT 

AS FEATURED IN 'TALES FROM THE COUNTRY' ON ITV1

We serve wonderful home cooked lunches, morning coffees,  afternoon cream teas and evening meals - all to be enjoyed in the surroundings of our beautifully restored and decorated original station building, built in 1845. Take your refreshments in one of our three dining areas - as well as the Brief Encounter room, meals and teas are served in our main dining room, amongst a wonderful display of railwayana, potted palms and a piano or, for a more intimate experience, perhaps try our wonderfully atmospheric Victorian Station Masters' Parlour. In winter, you might enjoy a delicious and indulgent cream tea next to one of our open fires - wonderfully nostalgic and extremely comforting - and in summer perhaps sit at a table out on the platform itself, and enjoy our beautiful and award-winning floral displays.

  NORMALLY OPEN DAYTIMES DAILY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR 9.00am to 3.00pm

    see our menus page   

  Advance reservation is highly advisable at busy times

Voted as one of the UK's Top Ten Station Eateries in May 2009 by The Guardian newspaper.

The Brief Encounter Restaurant and the Wymondham Station Ticket Office were jointly awarded 1st Prize as "Best Station Retail Outlet" at the 2008 Community Rail Awards.

We were featured on ITV1s "Tales from the Country" in 2008 - click 'play' below to see a short excerpt from the programme.

  The 'Brief Encounter Restaurant' at Wymondham station was  shortlisted for the "Best Station Buffet" award at the 2007 Community Rail Awards. Here's what the Judges said:

"The Brief Encounter café at Wymondham Station typifies a fantastic mix of business entrepreneurialism and commitments to the local community. The proprietor David Turner’s efforts have been recognised previously for his contribution in the caring for the station, with superb floral displays and the immaculately kept station building. The Brief Encounter is a thriving catering business with an excellent reputation for its food and is the catalyst for everything that is good about the station."

For Sample Menus and Booking Details Click Here

  In our restaurant we pay homage to one of the most fondly remembered classic British romantic films of all time, Noel Coward's "Brief Encounter".

Released in 1946, and directed by David Lean, Celia Johnson and Trevor Howard starred as the two strangers who fall in love after meeting accidentally in the refreshment room at a railway station. Unfortunately, both are already married - but their romance blossoms over the tea and cakes! Although we can't promise that the same will happen to you, we do try to recreate a little of the atmosphere of the time here at Wymondham Historic Railway Station. We have many still photographs from the film on display, together with lots of interesting items connected with it. 

   You can read a full account of how Wymondham Station was rescued by local businessman David Turner and lovingly transformed into a wonderful visitor attraction here.

 The Brief Encounter Restaurant has been visited by a number of well-known names from the world of entertainment over the years. The official opening ceremony was performed by Bill Pertwee (Mr. Hodges in "Dads Army") and more recently stars such as Dora Bryan, Rita Tushingham, Virginia McKenna, Sylvia Syms and Shirley-Anne Field have visited us, in connection with personal appearances in Wymondham when their films have been shown at "The Regal Experience". You can find details here. A guest in April 2008 was the much-loved comedy actress June Whitfield, star of Absolutely Fabulous.

Eating Out : Read the EDPs restaurant review here. (Note this review dates from 2002 so the prices are not current!)

Some Customer Comments :

'Recently I went to a small railway museum at Helensville, New Zealand. The enthusiasm of the man there reminded me of going to your station and refreshment rooms during my visit to Wymondham a year ago. On my return from NZ I decided to look your website up and remember with great joy the lovely time I had in Norfolk. I was taken to your station by a friend from Hethersett. We loved the fresh daffodils on the tables. Thanks for the wonderful memories from your website too'. - Ruth Duncan, Australia by e-mail 17/3/09

'I enjoyed enormously my visit to Wymondham Station on a recent stay with friends near Norwich. I was impressed by the cleanliness and ambience and of course the 'Brief Encounter'. I live in Trowbridge, the county town of Wiltshire, and our main line station is a sorry comparison with your delightful one'. - Peter Bubb by e-mail 19/11/08

'Just wanted to praise you on an excellent meal that myself and my family enjoyed when visiting you yesterday (table 3); the food was excellent and the atmosphere wonderful.' - Darren Rose by e-mail 13/8/07

 'I would just like to add my name to the list of many
people who have expressed their appreciation of the beautiful and
evocative Brief Encounter Restaurant and enjoyed a delicious meal.' - Virginia McKenna, Actress and Wildlife Campaigner, by e-mail 10/9/07

Actress Virginia McKenna joined David Turner at the Brief Encounter Restaurant on Sunday 9th September 2007.

  As well as refreshments, we also have a good selection of gifts, books and souvenirs on sale, together with leaflets and information on many other local attractions and, of course, train timetables!

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The www.wymondham-station.com website is operated independantly and not by National Express East Anglia or East Midlands Trains. Information and links are shown for the benefit both of customers using the businesses based at the station and travellers using the train services calling there.