Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond MSP unveiled a plaque at Inverurie Station to mark a prestigious award to a business, which is based on the platform on Monday 26 May 2014. The business — the station’s first ever café — opened in 2012 after a conversion of the former Lord Kintore’s waiting room, which had fallen into disuse then was storage space for more than 10 years. The café won the Supporters’ Award for the best small project at the 2013 National Railway Heritage Awards, following the award ceremony in London where Loyd Grossman, TV personality, food lover and heritage campaigner, made the presentation in December 2013. Coco Works was the brainchild of owners Jennie and George Lawson, and opened with assistance from ScotRail, the Railway Heritage Trust and the Scottish Government’s Stations Community Regeneration Fund.
George Lawson said of the award: ‘It is not only a tribute to us and our customers, but to the support of ScotRail and guidance and funding by the Railway Heritage Trust and the Scottish Government’s Station Regeneration Fund.’
John Ellis, Chairman of the National Railway Heritage Awards, said: ‘We are delighted to make this award to Coco Works. The careful restoration of the original features to blend into the new use of the waiting room makes it a worthy winner.’
The unveiled plaque on the exterior of the Coco Works Coffee House at Inverurie station following its unveiling on 26 May 2014 with, from the left, John Ellis, Chairman of the National Railway Heritage Awards, Jennie and George Lawson, of Coco Works, and Scottish First Minister, Alex Salmond, MSP.