Calls for Expressions of Interest for Café at Streamstown Station

Closing date: 4pm on Friday 1^st April 2022.

Westmeath County Council is seeking expressions of interest from suitably qualified and experienced catering companies or individuals for the unique opportunity to operate a new café at Streamstown Station on the Old Rail Trail Greenway. This new facility will be a vital amenity for all users of the greenway, adjacent playground, and wider community. The provision of a good quality and reliable service at this location is of upmost importance for the Council.

The Old Rail Trail is a 43 km greenway that brings visitors through the scenic Midlands landscape alongside the historic Great Western Railway line, connecting the Royal Canal Greenway in Mullingar with the River Shannon in Athlone. In 2021 the greenway was extended to the Marina in Athlone Town. A new River Shannon crossing is under development, which will connect this greenway to the west side of Athlone, alongside Athlone Castle. This is part of a larger project to develop Ireland’s first coast-to-coast greenway from Dublin to Galway.  Streamstown station is located on the popular Moate to Castletown section. This fantastic location benefits from additional visitors to the playground beside the café building and has ample parking.

Monthly users on this section of greenway

Catering and Submission Requirements

The recently converted Station House is 44.7 sq. m. with space for seating both inside and outside on a picturesque platform overlooking the greenway. Expressions of interest will be assessed on the listed requirements and experience. Submissions should include details of:

Requirements

• The proposal should give detailed information on the type of café offering proposed to include food, beverages, eat-in and take out options.
• Proposed opening days and hours, at a minimum the café must operate during peak periods including but not limited to weekends and bank holidays.
• Proposed pricing structure (food, soft drinks and hot beverages).
• Proposed staffing and management structure.
• Proposed marketing and publicity strategy.
• Knowledge of and commitment to compliance with all health and safety and legal standards and operational procedures of a catering business.
• Proposal for dealing with waste disposal and cleaning requirements of both the café and adjacent toilet facilities.
• Commitment to cover all utilities, insurance and maintenance costs.

Experience:

The operator must have relevant business experience and must show evidence in their submission of:

• Previous and current operations in the catering business.
• Training in catering or hospitality management.
• Experience in merchandising and marketing.
• Names and contact details for two references, one financial and one most recent employer or leaseholder.

Confidentiality

Interested parties are requested to treat all information which may be gained during this process in the utmost confidentiality, and not disclose any such information to any person or company not directly involved in this process.

In addition, applications will be held in confidence by Westmeath County Council and will be dealt with in accordance with the Councils Data Protection Policy.  The privacy notice for Westmeath County Council can be found at: https://www.westmeathcoco.ie/en/privacy/.

The closing date is 4pm on Friday 1^st April 2022.

Expressions of Interest will be accepted by post or email and must be clearly marked “Streamstown Café Expression of Interest” and addressed to Helen de Lacy, Local Enterprise Office, Aras an Chontae, Mullingar or localenterprise@westmeathcoco.ie