Commuters who use Beaconsfield train station are calling for an independent business to replace a much-loved cafe that closed down ahead of station refurbishment work.

Lori’s Cafe, on platform one at the station, catered for commuters for more than a decade but the owners have vacated before the building undergoes a planned renovation.

In August 2014, supporters including Downton Abbey star Joanne Froggatt rallied around to save the cafe when it was given notice from Chiltern Railways to close while refurbishment work was ongoing, with the lease open to tender after that.

However the refurbishment work has been delayed with Chiltern Railways unable to confirm when it will begin.

Jennifer Payne, customer services director at the company said:  “At the end of last year we provided notice to the coffee shop to vacate for redevelopment purposes. However, the cafe at the station has taken the decision to close before their lease has expired.  We are working on finding a temporary solution to replace the cafe to minimise any inconvenience to our customers.

“Once the improvements to the station have been made, we will be undertaking a tender process for the new facilities which will offer customers both an improved cafe area and enhanced waiting room facilities."

Commuters are now calling for an independent cafe to replace Lori’s instead of a big name company.

Catherine Monk, who lived in Beaconsfield for 33 years and uses the station regularly, said: “It is awful that Lori’s Cafe has closed down. It was very friendly with a personal touch and I would hope there would be something similar in its place.

“The station really needs a refurbishment; I think it could do with a decent waiting room. When it is chilly, it is awful. A lot of people travel from out of town to use this station so it should have a decent waiting room at least.”

Hazlemere resident Mo Harvey said: “Lori’s cafe was an absolute godsend. They knew all their customers personally, which was lovely. I wouldn’t like to see a Costa Coffee or a Starbucks replace it, everywhere is already overrun with them.

“It would be lovely if another little independent cafe moved in, it is much more individual. It would be good for a small business to benefit from the space instead.” 

Despite no official confirmation about when the refurbishment work will begin, Emma Gascoigne from Chiltern Railways said plans are now being finalised after taking ‘longer than anticipated’.

She said: “We’ve been making improvements to the station as a result of feedback from our customers such as the installation of a new waiting room on the London bound platform and investment in extra cycling spaces. 

 “We are now in the process of finalising plans to improve the station building, which has taken longer than anticipated as we have extended the scheme to include upgraded drainage. 

“We’re working closely with Network Rail to finalise scope and design and to ensure the station improvements are fit for the future.”