Our Story
Centenary Lounge
Our first café opened in 2009 at Birmingham Moor Street, on the centennial anniversary of the station’s opening by the Great Western Railway (GWR), hence the name ‘Centenary Lounge’.
In 2012 we expanded our offering with a refreshment stand at Birmingham’s Snow Hill Station based on a 1920’s Empire Fruit Stall. Complete with dark wood panelling and chrome accessories, Refreshments by Centenary Lounge honours our commitment to contemporary yet elegant Art Deco design.
Our latest addition, Centenary Lounge Worcester, opened in early 2019. Spread across two floors of a beautiful Grade II listed Georgian building, this is our largest facility to date. The ground floor continues the 1930s Art Deco theme whilst the upper floor takes inspiration from the building’s original features with a stylish Georgian-style tearoom.
Aasia Baig
About the Founder
Aasia Baig our founder began her journey in the railways in 2001, when she and her husband opened their first retail store in Solihull Station.
In 2003 Birmingham Moor St Station reopened after extensive restoration by Chiltern Railways. When Aasia visited the station looking for an empty unit where she could open a quality cafe, she fell in love with the charming quaint station. This encouraged her to learn about the history of the railways and the refreshment rooms and thus the idea of recreating a 1930s Great Western Railway inspired refreshment room was born.
In the Spotlight
Literature
History of GWRAwards
- We’re proud to report that our Moor Street Café won a Theo Paphitis Small Business Sunday Award, and was shortlisted for a National Railway Heritage Award. Here’s Centenary Lounge founder, Aasia Baig, accepting the award from the man himself.
- We have also been awarded the Certificate of Excellence from TripAdvisor 5 years in a row.
TV & Radio
- The Moor Street Café also features in the popular BBC One six-part drama series The Game, starring Tom Hughes and Brian Cox and the BBC Two Documentary series Great British Railway Journeys hosted by Michael Portillo.
- In 2010 BBC Radio 5 Live’s breakfast show hosted their General Election debate at the Moor Street Café, with Conservative Chancellor George Osborne and Lord Paddy Ashdown of the Liberal Democrats.
- In 2017 our Recreations crockery made an appearance on Channel 4’s Amazing Spaces.
