The Zig Zag Railway Co-op Limited (Railway) is a leading entertainment and tourism operator incorporating a working steam locomotive tourist railway, workshops and sheds, training institute as well as tourist amenities across the Great Lithgow Zig Zag heritage listed rail corridor. The current café is a temporary instalment and is a professionally constructed stand-alone café manufactured from a shipping container by Modulate Containers Pty Ltd. All customers are ‘walk-up’ and limited seating is available. No table service is provided.
The Railway is popular with visitors to the Blue Mountains and the Greater Western Plains, and the café is the first step in the reimagination of the Zig Zag railway catering operations. The opportunity provides an entry level participant with access and a mechanism to leverage an existing business and/or create a long-term strategic partnership with an internationally recognised entertainment and tourism business. The café is a modern and partially equipped venue and holds exclusive rights at Clarence Station and, subject to further negotiation, the entire network.
The café area is located on the hardstand adjacent to the Railway’s Clarence Station and car park on Chifley Road, Clarence. The café services customers from 8.30 am to 5:00 pm on running days with hours of operation by consultation on Special Running Days. The licence allows for additional use of the licenced area outside of the opening hours of the Railway – 6 am to 6 pm seven days a week. There is also the opportunity for the Café proprietor to engage after hours events subject to additional charges outlined in the MLA.
There is an expectation that the Café will service all requests or catering for venues within the Railway’s operations, in addition to corporate programs and events held by the Railway. There is currently very limited scope for on-site preparation of food/meals.
The Licence to operate the Café will be for a two-year period with an option to renew for a further two years. The commencement date and access prior to operation will be negotiated with the successful tenderer. Tenderers should be available to commence operation from the middle of April 2023
All responses to this Tender are to be made through: procurement@zigzagrailway.com.au.
As part of the Tender process, tenderers are encouraged to inspect the Zig Zag Railway.
Site inspections can be booked directly with the Corporate Resources Manager, John Hirt, by email corporate.resources@zigzagrailway.com.au
Note:
TENDER DOCUMENTS
FOR
THE LICENCE TO OPERATE CAFÉ –
QUESTIONS amended 20/03/2023
Note: TENDER DOCUMENTS FOR THE LICENCE TO OPERATE CAFÉ – QUESTIONS-1 updated 24/03/2023
