Greggs, Costa, and Simply Fresh to open at Darlington Station

Greggs, Costa, and Simply Fresh have been confirmed as tenants in the station’s brand new building, which finally opened to the public today (Sunday, May 17). 

The sausage roll chain will take up the largest shop in the concourse at 148 square metres, followed by Simply Fresh, which will boast 79 sq m of space. 

Costa will take up a 36 sq m kiosk near the exit to the two new platforms, which is also expected to have a small seating area with tables and chairs. 

The new Costa at Darlington Station (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

New signs have now gone up in the windows of each store teasing their arrival – although it is not currently known when each store will open. 

This will mark Greggs’ ninth store in the town, with the pastry chain having shops on Northgate, High Row, the Cornmill Shopping Centre, Skinnergate, and at Morton Park. 

The new Greggs at Darlington Station (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Coffee firm Costa – which has sites on Northgate and on Sainsburys on Victoria Road – already has one kiosk within the historic station. 

It is not yet known whether the current kiosk in the station will remain once the new shop opens in the new concourse.

For Simply Fresh, an upmarket and healthy firm known for focusing on local and best of British products, this will be its first shop in the town. 

The new concourse is arguably the standout of the major £140m redevelopment project, complete with its new entrance and 650-space car park. 

Simply Fresh at Darlington Station (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

An elevated walkway connects the new concourse to the existing historic station, which has also been given a facelift and will soon boast a modernised western entrance.

The extension to the station has been designed to “mould the historic grandeur of the Grade-ll listed station” with modern facilities and waiting areas. 

The overhaul is intended to improve reliability and capacity on the East Coast Main Line, improving the frequency and reliability of trains along the line and across the region.

The Tees Valley Combined Authority has contributed £43million to the overhaul while Network Rail and the Department for Transport put in £96million.