K&ESR Newsletter
The latest news from all around our railway, 10th February 2026
A New Season Message from our Chairman
In many ways, 2025 was a challenging year for our railway, with a lot of ‘firefighting’ which inevitably had an impact on morale. I believe the railway entered 2026 in a much better place.
However, 2025 was a year of sustainability when the financial situation was stabilised following several years of losses that peaked at £350,000 three years ago. In simple terms, the railway risked running out of cash in 2025. This frightening scenario was alleviated thanks to a £200,000 grant from the Rother Valley Railway. In the end, it was necessary to draw down only £100,000 and the railway now enjoys a positive cash balance.
The company no longer has – or needs – an overdraft and everything is funded from revenue. ‘We’re in a far sounder position’ said chairman Derrick Bilsby, ‘2025 saw us pay down a further £53,000 of debt, live without an overdraft, pay our suppliers on time and start to invest in capital projects, and that's no mean achievement’. 2026 will see the COVID Recovery Loan fully repaid while the long-standing CAF loan will be repaid in 2027, meaning the railway will be debt-free for the first time since the 1970s.
The 2025 Santa Special season was the best-ever with revenue up over budget and costs down below budget. This saw the Santa operation contribute a profit of some £360,000. ‘With over 117 turns of duty per day, it is fantastic the way everyone rallies around to achieve this superb result,’ said Derrick. Santa Specials, the brainchild of former Commercial Director Donald Wilson, have been running 51 years and are the railway’s most important cash-generators as well as becoming a much-loved family tradition.
The Board has agreed a 3-year Permanent Way strategy costing £90,000 per year to fully stabilise the track in readiness for extended operations to Robertsbridge in 2028. With the agreement of the RVR, the draw-down of the grant funding has permitted the release of £25,000 to be spent this year on ballast allowing the full railway to be tamped to improve ride quality and reduce the incidences of broken locomotive springs.
Following the successful Santa season, the remainder of the RVR grant will be drawn down to deliver the remaining 2026 Permanent Way budget requirement of £30,000. A further £30,000 is being sought from other sources as a capital spend to deal with the long-standing problem with the badger sett near Wittersham Road.
‘We've all worked very hard over the Santa period, and everybody's contributions are valued’, said Derrick ‘without this, none of our considerable successes would be possible. With the benefit of the firm foundations laid in 2025, we can look forward to a prosperous 2026’.
Author: Mark Toynbee from interview with Derrick Bilsby
Carriage and Wagon Department
The arrival of 2026 sees the department being kept busy with the ongoing maintenance of the running fleet, and progression of the heavy overhaul of Mark One BCK No. W21245.
In the case of the BCK, good progress has been made, with all the window units removed from the body sides, all the doors have been dismantled as required, and all the seating removed from the compartments and placed in suitable storage, in readiness for the body refurbishment. The corridor end baseplate has been removed from the drawbar at the Robertsbridge end of the carriage, along with the rusty lower sections of the crash pillars, and a replacement baseplate welded into place. New repair sections for the crash pillars have also been fabricated and are in the process of being welded in at the time of writing.
Despite the time constraints mentioned last time, it is pleasing to report that Maunsell NBO No.54 returned to service as part of the “Wealden Pullman” set in December last year, with one side fully lined, lettered, and numbered, and the other lettered and numbered only, looking a credit to all those who worked on it. No. 54 has now returned to the shed to have the final lining applied to the Tenterden platform side, thus completing its superb repaint. The opportunity has also been taken to remove two thirds of the interior ceiling panels in the central and Robertsbridge end of the main saloon area of the carriage, to treat and repair some minor rot issues in the roof cavities.
The “Woolwich Coach”, No. 67, has also received attention, with repairs to one of its compartment door latch posts being carried out on the Tenterden loop side of this venerable carriage, along with the replacement of one of the lower external panels and mouldings on the same side of the guard’s compartment. In order to ensure effective protection of these repairs, all of the replacement woodwork has been treated with West System Resin, a product more normally associated with repairs and conservation of wooden boat hulls in the maritime world, but one that has also been used to good effect conserving the timbers of the Railway’s wooden bodied and framed stock. While these repairs have been taking place, routine maintenance has also been carried out on the braking system and running gear.
Box wagon M515184, better known as the “Kit Kat Van”, entered the shed in December for attention to its roof and the replacement of a rotten sliding door. The aluminium roof panels have been resealed and loose screws replaced with new items where required, and a new sliding door manufactured and fitted to the Tenterden loop side of the wagon.
Finally, Mark One CK No. 86 has received its eighteen monthly examination, which revealed no major problems with this very useful compartment carriage.
Author: Chris Davis
Terrier Updates
Here is an update on The Terrier Trust’s Terriers - Knowle and Poplar.
Knowle
Knowle passed its Annual Boiler Test in late October 2025 but is currently out of service with badly worn spring hanger bushes on the rear axle. This will require the loco to be jacked up, the wheels dropped and then the bushes rectified. This meant that Knowle was not available to provide back-up for the Santa services.
This is almost certainly the last boiler ticket for Knowle before she is withdrawn for a major ’10-year’ overhaul. The overhaul is expected to require repairs to the boiler, firebox and replacement of the cylinder block so it is likely to be extensive, expensive and prolonged. Knowle will be 150 years old in 2030. Unfortunately, given the scope of the overhaul, it is unlikely that it can be returned to service in time to haul trains to celebrate its own Terrier 150 and star in a special event that would attract Terrier fans to the K&ESR.
At a meeting with K&ESR, it was noted that Rolvenden currently does not have the capacity to undertake an overhaul of this complexity and it is likely that the overhaul will be carried out, offsite, under contract. K&ESR will manage any ensuing overhaul projects and contracts.
The Terrier Trust has offered its support in raising funds and seeking grant aid. Realistically, Knowle is unlikely to return from overhaul until sometime in 2032.
Poplar
Poplar continues to rest in the Carriage Storage Shed (CSS) at Rolvenden.
K&ESR’s insurance policy covers the costs of repair to the locomotive, damaged whilst it was out on hire in July 2022. In 2024, the badly bent connecting rods went to Somers Forge to be straightened but unfortunately it proved to be impossible to return them to true. At a meeting in November 2024, it was agreed with the insurer’s loss adjuster that the rods need to be replaced. Since these rods are not available as spare parts they will have to be manufactured from new. Due to the age of the loco and its having been through multiple overhauls and rebuilds; it was agreed to be imperative that any engineering drawings are validated against the damaged rods.
A set of drawings have been received and signed off by K&ESR’s Loco Engineering Department ICP (Independent Competent Person). The insurer’s engineering authority now requires the loco frames and the clearances of the proposed rods to be measured and checked as it is felt that there is minimal space between the frames to allow for any errors.
Due to the lack of available, competent resources at Rolvenden, it has not been possible to carry out the required measurements and after further discussion with the insurer’s loss adjuster, the possibility of the loco going “off-site” to be repaired and returned to service is being explored. Due to the workload of the potential contractors, there may well be a delay before the work can start. However, given previous delays due to the lack of resources for this project at Rolvenden, is probably the best way to expedite the repair.
A further concern is that whilst Poplar remains out of use its ’10-year’ boiler ticket that started in early 2022 continues to run down, meaning that now only six years remain.
After a joint appeal by The Terrier Trust and K&ESR, £150,000 for Poplar’s overhaul was raised by donations from individuals together with significant contributions from both The Terrier Trust and K&ESR.
Separately, one job outstanding from Poplar’s 2022 overhaul is replacement of the four coupling rods. New coupling rod blanks had been forged, but not machined, before the overhaul was completed but no money was left in the appeal fund to finish them. Recently, the blanks were located and fresh quotes for the work obtained, and The Terrier Trust has agreed to contribute £10,000 to pay for their completion. Work has been underway at the contractors who have identified inaccuracies in the drawings used and it has been agreed that the coupling rods currently fitted to Poplar will be removed and used as templates for the creation of new drawings and the machining of the new rods to ensure that they will be fit for purpose.
We are indebted to Patrick Favell taking on a voluntary project management role at K&ESR, one aspect of which has been to monitor the Poplar project and help move it forward.
Author: Terrier Trust
Santa Special Season 2025
Firstly, I want to say how grateful I am that we all helped successfully deliver the 2025 Santa Season - from the huge amount of preparation involved to the delivery on the day and of course, the all-important clear down afterwards.
In just ten days, we carried 11,146 passengers and made just over £546K, a hugely important sum which, once costs have been deducted, goes directly back into the operation of the business.
One of the highlights for me is seeing all the smiling customer’s faces each day and the lovely customer comments - like those below - saying what a wonderful time they had. It makes all the hard work worthwhile. It is not surprising that many mention the friendliness of staff, something we are now well known for...
“I just wanted to thank you for such a lovely time we had on your Santa Train. Santa was amazing. Your magician was so talented and funny. Every elf and Station staff were lovely. The fair ride was really nice that it was free. The photos taken were so good. The whole experience was perfect. See you next year!”
“I just wanted to say a HUGE thank you to everyone for our absolutely fabulous experience on the Christmas train on Saturday. Our Grandson was overwhelmed seeing Santa. Us, as adults loved it, especially being in our own compartment. Just took us back to the good old days (although we're not that old). Will definitely book for next year.”
There are two specific examples I would like to highlight of people coming forward to turn potential issues around.
The first is when at the last minute it looked like we would have no car park marshals on one of the days as the police cadets could no longer help. With very little notice, volunteers came forward to fill the gaps.
The second is when both a Santa and Head Elf unexpectedly became unavailable on the same day. Ian Malaugh and Laura Clark-Monks stepped in to save the day with great thanks to them both. This shows how we pull together when the chips are down, so we don’t let our customers down.
Author: Heather Packham
And here's more from visitors who love what we do!
"The most amazing Santa train, there are not enough superlatives to describe the wonderful experience, we visited as a party of 8, ages ranged from 2 to 67, we all want to rebook for next year. The volunteers all deserve a pat on the back!! Thank you for making the day so special."
"Wonderful experience for the Santa Special, our two boys absolutely loved it. Extremely well organised and fantastic value for the price with hot drinks for the adults, snack box, family photo and a free carousel all included. The presents from Santa on the train were good quality also. All staff very friendly and helpful. Thank you!" 😊🎄
"This is a truly authentic British heritage experience. We attended the Santa Special on Christmas Eve and booked the most economical coach ticket. What’s included: a return steam train journey from Tenterden to Northiam in a table-for-four coach; in-train table-side entertainment by a performer; Santa visiting the children to chat and present gifts tailored by age and gender; a complimentary cup of mulled wine or hot drink for adults from the station (which can be taken onboard); mince pie and juice for children presented in a woven bag on the table; a children’s activity booklet on arrival; one family photo session with a printed 5×7 photo in a K&ESR Santa Special mount; and a beautifully presented model railway displayed in a dark “Winter Wonderland” room with a Scandinavian-style snowy, starry forest theme. On top of all this, there are unlimited carousel rides (moderate to high speed!) for everyone. Excellent value for money. There was genuinely nothing to complain about. K&ESR operates on a larger scale, with more volunteers and staff, while remaining equally well organised and efficient. What really sets K&ESR apart is that the steam train passes through real level crossings on active town roads, giving a strong sense of heritage existing in the real, living world rather than on a closed or purely preserved line. We would be very happy to visit again."
"NYE Pullman Experience was absolutely fantastic, highly recommend. From arrival to departure the care and service by the mainly volunteer team was exceptional. Pre-dinner drinks in the cafe so we didn’t need to get chilly pre boarding and the jazz trio set the mood perfectly. Once on board the drinks and food just flowed effortlessly. Chef created a beautiful meal, loved it all best shout out for the Bailey’s bread and butter pudding. Lamb cutlets were also exceptional. Fireworks at Bodiam Station were the best we’ve seen for a long time. And a surprise gift from Santa was a magnificent end to a lovely evening. Thank you to all in front and behind the scenes. We'll be back for other trips x"
"This is a wonderful day out. We travelled to Tenterden from Bodiam hauled by a steam train. We had a snack at Tenterden station and travelled back on the last train. Every single member of staff, from station staff, to catering staff were all very friendly and helpful and made a great day even better. My Grandson even managed to get in both engine cabs for a look round, which made his day. Keep supporting the KESR."
New Steam Locomotive for our Railway
To help ensure adequate locomotives are available when the Kent & East Sussex Railway (K&ESR) services are extended to Robertsbridge, the Rother Valley Railway Heritage Trust (RVRHT) will be making two additional steam engines available.
The very extensive overhaul of RVRHT-owned Manning Wardle locomotive ‘Charwelton’ is approaching completion - including fitting a new boiler and cylinders - and is expected to be ready for use very soon. RVRHT has now also been able to secure the 10-year loan of GWR locomotive No 4270 through the great kindness of its owner, to help further strengthen the railway’s fleet.
While Loco No 4270 is in all round excellent condition, its boiler is due removal for a 10 yearly examination, along with the replacement of its boiler tubes, before it returns to operation. To complete that work, RVRHT has formed a partnership with the 4253 Locomotive Group, based at the railway’s Rolvenden Workshops, who will look after the work on No 4270 and oversee its use on the K&ESR.
With their own loco GWR No. 4253 well on the way to being ready to enter service, this new agreement will therefore result in three additional locomotives being available to the K&ESR.
More news concerning engine No 4270 will follow later this year, once it has arrived at Rolvenden.
Mike Hart, Rother Valley Heritage Railway Trust
20th January 2026
K&ESR out in the Community
You may have seen us out and about last summer as we attended several events – Robertsbridge 800, Ashford Works Open Day, Inspiration Train at Margate, Rail Fare in Lewes. Being visible within our community is important, not just to promote our visitor experience, but also to recruit new volunteers and to be good neighbours, especially as we approach our reconnection with the mainline at Robertsbridge.
Our plan for this year will see the volunteer teams at K&ESR and RVRSA unite as we present a 'one-railway' message in the local vicinity. By combining our our resources, we hope to lift the load more easily. We’ve decided to focus on more community-based events rather than the big shows.
Without detracting from our imperative to successfully run operating days on our railway, if you feel able to help with any of these events, please contact us and we’ll get back to you! newsletter@kesr.org.uk
- CFBS Fete Vapeur - 25 - 26 April
- Samrex Model Railway Exhibition - 23-24 May
- Tonbridge Works Open Day (GBRf/Great Ormond Street) - 13-14 June
- East Dean Village Fete (Planes, Trains and Automobiles theme) - 11 July
- Rural Past Times – 8-9 August
We have also been invited to bring an exhibit along to the 50th "Festival of Transport" at Hellingly on 29-31 August - please let us know if you are planning or willing to take something along!
Inspiration Train
to visit Hastings Railway Station
K&ESR will be sending 2 representatives along to the Partner Zone for each day that the Inspiration Train is visiting Hastings Station from 12-15 March*.
The event is ideal for school-aged children and adults alike, and free tickets can be requested by following this link: Hastings station – Railway 200
*Please note: the volunteer roster has already been agreed, but if you wish to attend as a visitor, please register for your free tickets online! You will need to be registered to enter the site.
News from Robertsbridge
The very extensive overhaul of Rother Valley Railway Heritage Trust-owned Manning Wardle ‘Charwelton’ is nearing completion. Work has included fitting a new boiler and cylinders and the locomotive, which will carry its original maroon livery, is expected to return to the railway soon where its capability of hauling four-coach trains will be welcomed.
The Buildings Appeal is well underway and would very much welcome any donations! Work on the shed will be phased and details, together with a fund appeal update, will appear in a future edition of the K&ESR Newsletter.
The internal fit-out of the station building continues apace with the first-fix electrics in place and the walls and ceiling plastered. Externally, the ramp for visitors from the car park to the building will be built shortly and a formal opening will take place in the Spring.
To this end, an Open Day is planned for Saturday 18th April with some special motive power expected.
The recent heavy rains have led to flooding in the valley and route surveying will continue when ground conditions improve. In the meantime, efforts are being concentrated at Robertsbridge Junction.
Finally, watch out for a very attractive and evocative period poster appearing at K&ESR stations soon!
Lord Peter Hendy lends personal support to Rother Valley Railway Heritage Trust’s Buildings Appeal
Lord Peter Hendy, the former Chair of Network Rail, has lent his personal support to the Rother Valley Railway Heritage Trust’s £350,000 Buildings Appeal, launched in December last year.
In a specially recorded video message for the Trust, which went live on 26th January, Lord Hendy spoke of his lifelong support for heritage railways and in particular for the RVR project to reconnect the Kent & East Sussex Railway to the mainline railway at Robertsbridge.
The five-minute highly personal message encourages donations to the Buildings Appeal to help complete what he describes as a “brilliant” project that is close to his heart, and which represents a “gargantuan effort” by all concerned.
After highlighting the immense amount of work completed to date and the importance of creating the final buildings at Robertsbridge Junction, Lord Hendy said that the reinstated line: “Connects real places … and we should just get it done.”
Lord Hendy goes on to explain that having a dedicated locomotive shed would ensure that visiting engines and trains could use the line and would: “bring people, drive revenue and make the railway successful”. The appeal, he says, is therefore well worth supporting with as large a donation as people can afford. He concludes: “Let’s make this a success, let’s build a locomotive shed and let’s open the railway.”
Speaking as the video went live on the RVR website and YouTube Channel, Chair of the Rother Valley Railway Heritage Trust, Gardner Crawley said:
“We’re deeply grateful to Peter, Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill, for offering his personal support to our fundraising appeal — a moment of real encouragement for everyone working on the Rother Valley Railway project. In making this video, Lord Hendy has recognised the dedicated work of our team so far in bringing the railway between Robertsbridge to Tenterden back to its full glory."
The Phase 2 building programme will include six core elements:
Covered accommodation for locomotives; inspection pits; fuelling points for steam and diesel engines; staff rest and washroom facilities; public viewing areas, and solar panels to reduce long-term energy costs. These important facilities will support a flexible and efficient heritage train service from Robertsbridge to Tenterden, says the Trust, benefiting visitors.
The total cost of the locomotive facilities project has been calculated at £600,000, of which over £250,000 has already been secured through gifts and grants. The Buildings Appeal is therefore seeking to raise the remaining £350,000 to complete the task.
The Trust has maximised the ways in which supporters can contribute to the Building Appeal - from making one-off donations of any amount to providing significant upfront amounts to committing to monthly giving. All options can be found on the website at rvr.org.uk/fundraising.
Supporters can subscribe via direct debit, make a payment online or download a donation form from the website which, once completed, can be returned by post. Forms can also be obtained by sending a stamped self-addressed envelope to the Appeals Director at Robertsbridge Junction Station.
Donations from UK taxpayers are eligible for Gift Aid, increasing their value to the Trust by a further 25 per cent at no extra cost to the donor.
K&ESR Receives its First ‘Through-Booking’ Enquiry
22nd January saw history made when the first enquiry was received for a party to travel from Tenterden through to London Charing Cross! The query, from a local civic group, wants to be the first party following reopening in 2028 to make the trip by rail from Tenterden to the capital, where a formal lunch is planned, before their return the Weald later in the afternoon.
Word of our reconnection, and enthusiasm for it, is spreading!
Author: Mark Toynbee with Press Release by Alison Miles
AGM 2026
To enable members to review the achievements of the past calendar year earlier than previously, and in accordance with modern governance best practice, please note that we intend to move our AGM to earlier in the calendar year.
Provisional plans are in place to meet on Saturday 9th May 2026 - more details to follow.
Update from the Commercial Department
A great deal of time was spent ‘de-Christmassing’ Tenterden Station site and the two train sets used for the service. The ‘A’ set has been stabled in the Carriage Storage Shed at Rolvenden since New Year and has been fitted with de-humidifiers, as has the Vintage Set due to the damp conditions in the shed.
The ‘B’ set, stabled at Tenterden, has been the subject of a deep clean in closed season by champion cleaner Paula Oliver and her son Kian in readiness for the resumption of services. The ‘A’ set will return to Tenterden at the beginning of February and will be given the same treatment ready for Half Term.
Work has begun planning for the 2026 Santa season. A ‘wash-up’ of the 2025 operation was held on 19 January with all relevant departments in attendance. The train sets have been reviewed and some changes made to the formation in the light of experience. That done, the information was loaded into the booking system and tickets for December 2026 will go on sale very soon.
There is already considerable demand for tickets which has obvious cash-flow benefits at this time of year. The service has been reduced from 10 to 9 days and will finish earlier on Christmas Eve to ease the pressure on volunteers and staff and to improve train loadings.
Earlier completion of the annual Planning Process means that Laura Clark-Monks has been able to prepare operating diagrams in good time. As a result, advance group bookings are running at a higher level than in previous years.
The annual Wealden Pullman staff meeting will take place on Sunday 1 March with a train evacuation exercise, operated in conjunction with Kent Fire and Rescue, arranged in the morning before the meeting. Pullman bookings are holding up well, with tickets for Mothering Sunday lunch sold out. As well as Saturday evening dinners and Sunday lunches, Afternoon Tea trains will run by popular demand. Two charter trains are in the pipeline, with one in August unusually starting at Bodiam.
Trustee Patrick Favell has been overseeing the installation of solar panels on the Carriage Shed roof with scaffolding in place to allow the work. The installation has been supported by the UK Government through the Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF). The railway was successful in its application for a Rural Energy Transition Grant, part of the REPF administered through Ashford Borough Council, which has contributed towards the overall cost. The panels are unobtrusive to passengers, and the electricity generated will support our usage in Carriage & Wagon, the Tenterden Refreshment Rooms and Signal box, with any power that we do not consume feeding back into the National Grid. More on this project in the next issue.
Author: Mark Toynbee
Safeguarding Appeal
With the removal of the role of General Manager, we are in the process of appointing a volunteer Safeguarding Lead – more on that once it’s confirmed. We will also need to recruit and train volunteer Safeguarding Officers. If this is something that might be of interest to you, or if you’re already a trained Safeguarding Officer, please make yourself known to Matt Hyner, our volunteer People and Development Director – mhyner@kesr.org.uk.
In parallel, our Safeguarding Policy and Guidance will be reviewed and republished in the light of organisational changes, and to comply with the latest legislation.
Tori Jones has very kindly agreed to see the first year of the Youth Program through to completion in August, so this will continue to run as planned with the support of Geoff Colvin and Murray Motley.
Author: Matt Hyner
Moving Forward - Commercial Business Review
Separate to ‘business as usual’, Working Groups are being established to review how we are performing, and to recommend changes for improvement.
As well as setting up groups to focus on Retail, Catering, Marketing and Communications and Events, a new group has been proposed under the leadership of Mark Toynbee who has volunteered to head up our initiative for Customer Excellence.
Working with all roles that have a direct impact on Customer Service, Mark will bring representatives together from stations, platforms, booking office, commercial and cleaning teams to help us focus on, and deliver, the right standards of excellence.
Author: Julie Wilkinson
Telling Your Stories in Video
Helping to tell the stories of the people who make our railway run, volunteer videographer, John Bolton, has produced over 12 K&ESR videos in the last 12 months. Subscribers to our official YouTube channel have increased from around 320 to 863 – with over 20,000 views of videos that focus on telling your stories.
Please look out for John as he continues his appeal to come visit all our departments and show the full range of work we all do.
Email and we’ll be in touch! newsletter@kesr.org.uk
Here is a summary of some of the videos John has produced - click on the title to view it:
NEW! A Day in the Life of a Signalman – Joel Pearson
A Day in the Life of a Ticket Inspector - Ian MaLaugh
Day in the Life of a Station Master - Murray Motley
The Gardening Team - Ba(bara)Robertson
Being a Volunteer at the Kent and East Sussex Railway
K&ESR from the Air
Bodiam Station 25th Anniversary
Update from our New Chairman
Author: Julie Wilkinson
Could you be our new Easter Bunny?
Delighting families and children over the Easter break has become a tradition at the K&ESR – with activity sheets and bunny trails to make a day out with us delightful. But…we need your help! Could you, or someone you know, be our next Easter Bunny? We have invested in new costumes – now we need to find people to fit them!
We’re looking for a few volunteers so that shifts can be short and rotated – our great thanks to Gavin Field who admirably pulled us through the season single-handed last year! If you believe you could be our next Easter Bunny, please contact Heather Packham by email at hpackham@kesr.org.uk.
Do you know someone looking for
part-time work in Catering?
We are on the look-out for new Casual Catering Assistants to replace those who’ve gone on to their next career steps. Flexible hours across our peak periods makes this ideal for someone looking for part-time work in a front-of-house or food preparation role - or those looking for a new volunteering opportunity!
Experience in catering or hospitality is preferred, although training can be arranged for the right candidates. Please contact jwilkinson@kesr.org.uk in the first instance!
Our Award-Winning Railway
The Kent & East Sussex Railway Dwarves of Steam Gala has been crowned Event of the Year in the 2025-2026 Beautiful South Tourism Awards for Excellence, announced in December. The Wealden Pullman picked up Bronze in the Restaurant of the Year category, confirming its already high reputation as an exceptional dining experience.
The Beautiful South Awards celebrate excellence across the tourism and hospitality sector, with the winners selected by an independent panel of industry experts.
The Gala, which was sponsored by Rapido Trains, lifted the coveted Gold Award against stiff competition from three other top regional events at a glittering ceremony held in Brighton on 9 December. As a Gold winner, The Dwarves of Steam will now automatically go through to the national Visit England tourism awards in 2026.
The Gala, held back in April, celebrated the small but mighty unsung heroes of the golden age of the railways as part of Rail 200. Whilst other railway galas focus on the sheer size of some locomotives, in The Dwarves of Steam the K&ESR showcased the charm of the humblest of historic locomotives: small but powerful engines employed as works or depot shunters and on country branch lines as the backbone of the early railway system.
The Wealden Pullman has been giving passengers exceptional fine dining experiences for the last 51 years, with the K&ESR the very first UK heritage railway to offer Pullman dining. The Pullman Society considers the Wealden Pullman the finest on any heritage railway. Pullman Manager, Meg Gooch said, ‘I am delighted we have been awarded bronze in the Restaurant of the Year award which followed a ‘mystery shopper’ couple dining with us in September. The award was collected on our behalf by Kevin Bulled and Louise Clarke. That we have achieved this accolade is testament to the unfailing efforts of the whole railway, not only the Pullman team. Thanks to you all for your professionalism and wonderful support’.
These two new awards are the latest in a series of accolades picked up in 2025. They include being named Best Family Experience in Kent in the Muddy Stilettos Awards - entirely voted for by the public - and picking up a 2025 TripAdvisor Travellers Choice Award for a second year in a row, once again placing the railway in the top 10 per cent of attractions to visit worldwide based on verified visitor reviews.
Commenting on the news, K&ESR Chairman Derrick Bilsby said: “This is a truly special way for us to end the year. We couldn’t be more delighted to have received these awards which recognise the exceptional visitor experiences that we strive to create for our passengers. Their high quality and therefore customer satisfaction is very much down to the amazing staff and army of dedicated volunteers who make the magic happen. They are the heart of the K&ESR, so these awards are very much for them.”
Author: Mark Toynbee
Thank you for keeping the Bees Buzzing!
Thanks to our appeal for a new Beekeeper for our hives in Bodiam garden, we’ve had two volunteers come forward! Thank you – we’ll be(e) in touch!
