If you’ve been down to the train station lately, you’ll be well aware of the fact that it’s a corner of Cambridge which is undergoing an impressively radical transformation at the moment. Gleaming homes and offices are popping up left, right and centre, we’ve got ourselves a (well overdue) new bike park and a huge ibis hotel has popped up as well.
Downstairs in the hotel, rather excitingly for any regular commuters, a huge new coffee shop has launched, offering a cosy stop-off for a drink and a bite to eat. Opened in late September, Chill#02 serves up hot and cold breakfasts, as well as lots of home-made dishes create using local companies including bread from The Earth’s Crust (a regular on the Cambridge market for over a decade), as well as cheese from local favourites Cheese+ and drinks from Cambridge Juice Company. After something a little harder? They’ve also got a bar, stocking, we’re delighted to see, tipples from Pinkster Gin and Harston-based brewery Blackbar.
“Supporting local suppliers is something we all feel strongly about as it is vital to the local economy and helps the community to thrive,” says Frank Bechemilh, general manager at ibis Cambridge. “Cambridge’s artisan food and drink culture continues to go from strength to strength with local produce being of such outstanding quality. Our location at Cambridge train station enables us to showcase local suppliers’ fantastic offering to those who pass through Cambridge by train each day – and it is pleasure to do so and to play our part in celebrating and supporting independent local business.”
Need some sustenance before a red-eye train? Breakfast is available 4am to 12 noon.
