One of the busiest places to be in Dartmouth during the recent 2018 Regatta was in the Platform 1 The Station Bar & Restaurant (formerly the Station Restaurant), which reopened in late July. Platform 1 The Station has undergone major refurbishment – its layout has been reorganised and the décor modernised to produce a more contemporary setting that fully exploits is unique position on Dartmouth’s Embankment.
New menus
As well as the physical changes, there’s been a major overhaul of menus and the range of drinks on offer that better meet the requirements of visitors and residents alike. Platform 1 The Station has created a much more sociable and relaxing venue for both eating and/or drinking.
Stunning views
There’s been a restaurant/café on this site for almost 50 years. The bar has been repositioned in the centre of the restaurant and the stunning river views opened up. It now has a proper panoramic view of the river, Kingswear and the Embankment – there are not many places in the South West or indeed the whole country that offer a better view.
Whilst more modern and contemporary inside, it hasn’t forsaken its heritage as a vintage GWR railway station. It is probably the only station never to have any trains arriving outside – these would arrive on the opposite side of the river in Kingswear and passengers would travel across by ferry.
You’ll find vintage GWR signage around the outside and traditional-styled cast-iron GWR furniture for the three outside areas, where you can sit and eat or drink and take in the stunning views. Inside, the historical connections of the town with Royalty and WWII and, in particular, with Winston Churchill, are all picked up.
Pol Roger champagne
The latter is particularly relevant as Platform 1 The Station are proud to have become an outlet partner for the prestigious Pol Roger champagne. Pol Roger holds the current Royal Warrant as purveyors of champagne to Queen Elizabeth II and it was Churchill’s favourite champagne. He is reckoned to have drunk 42,000 bottles in his lifetime, probably an overestimate as it would require him to drink 467 bottles of Pol Roger in each of his 90 years! But they did name a Cuvee in his honour. A glass of Pol Roger is on sale in Platform 1 for £15.
Wide range of food & drink on offer
There are the usual cocktails – and, of course, Pol Roger champagne plus a great selection of wines and beers etc. A loyalty card for local residents is soon to be introduced.
The restaurant has 70 covers (plus 30 outside) and is open 7 days a week from 7am to 11 pm with food available all day. The bar opens at 11am. There’s a big focus on providing a great breakfast - a full English is just £8.95. They will also provide brunch such as Eggs Benedict and their lunch and evening menus are extensive. Prices are very competitive - £12.95 for a kilo of mussels, £11.95 for a burger. The core menu all year includes the usual steaks, burgers, fish and chips etc with a seasonal specials menus e.g focusing on fish, crabs and mussels etc in the summer.
The take-away section has been overhauled with a menu that now includes salads, sandwiches, ice cream, pizzas etc. Takeaways are available from 9am to 9pm.
In the winter, they’ll be introducing some good quality and keenly priced evening meals to encourage more local residents to visit. The restaurant is now a main sponsor of the Dartmouth Rugby Club.
