CAFÉ culture has finally arrived in Tweedbank.

And organisers behind the social enterprise training facility hope it will be a hit with both villagers and visitors.

Stationed only a short walk from the rail terminus, the new Whistle-stop Café will offer courses in customer service and catering for up to seven trainees with various degrees of learning disabilities.

The latest Working Together enterprise, which is operated by Brothers of Charity, opened its doors for the first time on St Valentine's Day.

Mandy Lowrie, who is manager of employment and enterprise with Working Together, has high hopes for the Whistle-stop Café .

She told the Border Telegraph: "We hope the Whistle-stop Café will be beneficial to the residents of Tweedbank and people who work on the industrial estate as well as the obvious benefits our trainees will get from working here.

"We felt for some time that there was a gap in the market for a cafe in Tweedbank and we are delighted that our plans have finally come to fruition.

"The ethos behind the cafe is the same as our other Working Together enterprises, the Bread Works bakery and our Green Works gardening services, to create training opportunities and work experience for people with learning disabilities and enable them to gain the skills required for seeking employment.

"There are no sit-down facilities at the railway terminus along the road, so we hope people using the trains will pop in for lunch or a coffee."

The Working Together enterprises which are based behind the Whistle-stop Café have been operating successfully for three years.

Dozens of trainees have graduated from the bakery and gardening courses.

And four of them have gained part-time paid employment with Working Together.

This latest arm to the social enterprise, which is partly funded by Borders LEADER, will offer training for up to seven people.

As well as preparing and serving the refreshments and light lunches, the trainees will also participate in skills accreditation courses with Borders College.

The organisers are also appealing for any willing volunteers from the community to help behind the counter.

Mandy added: "We would love to hear from anyone in the community who would like to volunteer for a few hours each week.

"We have great plans for the Whistle-stop Café to be not only a great place for training but also to become an integral part of the local community.

"We hope to create an outdoor seating area in the summer with a children's play area - and we are also creating an area for dogs so that walkers can stop off for a coffee."

The new cafe has been included as a VisitScotland information point for tourists.

And free wi-fi is available within the building for visitors.

Amongst the first to sip on an Americano this week was Tweedbank-based council leader David Parker.

Councillor Parker told us: "The new Whistle-Stop Café is a very welcome addition to the village of Tweedbank.

"It is a great new facility with produce prepared on the premises and the café has been fitted out to the highest standard.

"The menu represents very good value for money and the café will support people with leaning disabilities and help them into employment, so it is a really fantastic social enterprise.

"I have no doubt that visitors and local alike will make use of the fantastic new facility and the team behind the project promise a very friendly welcome in fantastic surroundings, serving delicious food.”

The Whistle-stop Cafe, which is based at Unit 6 on Tweedbank Industrial Estate, is open from 10am to 4pm every day except Sunday.