Station Masters Cafe

Station Masters Cafe occupies the old Station Masters House at Barnstaple railway station, an abandoned building the current owners took on in 2005 and spent three years restoring before opening in 2008. It's family-run and has picked up multiple awards since, sitting right on the platform with a courtyard for outdoor seating and easy access onto the Tarka Trail for anyone walking or cycling the coastal path.

Breakfasts run the traditional English route alongside snacks aimed squarely at people catching a train, plus coffee and cakes baked on site most days. Local suppliers cover the eggs, bacon, sausages, milk and pasties where possible, which keeps it a step above standard station catering. Dogs are welcome, there's an app for pre-ordering and a loyalty scheme, and the location inside a UNESCO Biosphere area makes it as much a stop for walkers as for passengers waiting on a delayed train.