Platform

Two restored railway carriages and the old station ticket office, built in 1884, make up this family-run restaurant at West Bay, just along from the cliffs that Broadchurch made famous. The main carriage, Brunel, seats up to 45 and has a past worth knowing: during the First World War it ran through France as an ambulance train, carrying doctors, nurses and wounded soldiers from the Somme. Beeching, the newer carriage, is dog friendly.

The cooking is local, seasonal and sustainable, built around freshly landed seafood, local meats and garden vegetables, with a bit of fine dining flair in the execution. Relaxed lunches, afternoon teas, Sunday lunch and longer dinners all have their place here, and the sunny terrace is the pick when the weather behaves. Beeching takes groups of three to twenty, so it is worth asking for a particular carriage when you book.