If you like a magical treat, it’s time to make tracks to York Station.
Head to platform 5, and there you’ll find the Kiosk Under The Stairs – home to The Potions Express.
Officially opened by York town crier Ben Fry today (Friday), the shop sells gifts, hot dogs and spellbinding potions – including the elixir called coffee, known to magically perk up the weariest commuter!
It is the latest launch from the popular Potions Cauldron brand, based on the success of the shop on Shambles in York city centre.
“When customers have been coming into our shop on Shambles they rave about our products,” said director of wizardry Phil Pinder.
“But many say they have to come back at their end of their trip, before they catch the train home, so they don’t want to carry around an abundance of potions when they explore the city – so when the opportunity to have a presence at York Station came up we couldn’t miss out the opportunity.”
Phil said they went through three layers of history when fitting out the kiosk. The team removed previous branding for when it was a Whistle Stop food concession, a mini WH Smith shop – and an off licence.
Another nice touch is the model LNER Azuma train in the window – from Monk Bar Model Shop.
This is the second local business to open at York Station, after York Gin opened its shop there in November.
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Claire Ansley, customer experience director at LNER, said: “We’re passionate about supporting local businesses along our route so we’re delighted to be welcoming The Potions Express to York Station, enhancing the retail offering and giving customers another reason to choose to travel by train and visit this great city.
“We’re confident that The Potions Express will help provide a magical experience for the many thousands of visitors who we welcome to the city every week.”
The station business, open seven days a week, has created three jobs.
And the empire, jointly run by Phil Pinder and Ben Fry, is expanding further with an opening in Blackpool next on the agenda.
This will be an experience combining both The Potions Cauldron shop and the Hole In Wand – the mini-golf attraction the pair launched in the Coppergate Centre last spring.