By Lyn Funnell 
The weather was terrible. It was bucketing down and visibility was bad.
So we parked the car opposite a very interesting building. I had trouble getting out of the car as the gutter was flooded. But we made a dash for it across the road.
It turned out to be a huge antiques market. It was a maze of 18 small shops on two floors displaying an amazing selection of antiques, completely different in each shop, and we both wandered off to explore.
Hubby John appeared and said, ‘There’s a café in here.’
We were soaking wet and dying for a coffee so we went into the café. The sign on the door said it was called The West Station Tea Rooms.
What a fascinating place! There were small tables with old tablecloths, and rugs under the tables.
Antiques on shelves lined the room and more shops led off in different directions.
Old tin signs hung on the walls. The ceiling was high.
The counter was covered with delicious home-made cakes, scones, pasties, and more.
Most important for me, there were Hygiene certificates on the front of the counter.
We ordered two lattes, which were perfect. I like my coffee hot.
I spoke to Paul and Carol, who run the café.
They have rented the café for two years. And they also sell antiques which are displayed around the room and in a small shop hidden round the corner.
Carol makes all the cakes and everything’s home-made. Someone else makes the sausage rolls, scones, etc. All the sandwiches and baguettes are freshly made. There is a limited selection of hot food, including sausage and bacon sandwiches, and jacket potatoes.
Their afternoon cream tea is very popular.
An auction is held once a month, on a Friday. It’s a very popular event and the café is full all day.
Paul told me that the building used to be a station, Bexhill West. It closed on the 13th June, 1964 due to the Beeching Report.
It’s a stunning building and very noticeable as you drive past.
If you fancy a day out, I highly recommend Sivyers and the West Station Tea-Rooms.
Sivyers Antiques Emporium
Old West Station
16 Terminus Road
Bexhill-On-Sea
East Sussex TN39 3LR
Open Mon to Sat 9am-5pm & Sun 11am-4pm.
Tel : 01424 217640
Email : sivyersantiques@gmail.com
Web : www.sivyers.com
Web : www.antiques-atlas.com/sivyersantiques/
