Jazz, art and community come together at Coaltrains Café in Barry
STEPPING onto the station platform at Barry, you might be surprised by jazz filtering through the screech of train brakes and TfW announcements.
“People expect instant coffee and stale sausage rolls, but we’re not about that,” said Alan ‘Al’ Edge, who started Coaltrains’ station café in 2022.
“We like to surprise them with something better—live jazz, good vibes and a community space where everyone is welcome.”
Coaltrains has just started its new Groove Station event on Thursday evenings.
“It’s all about bringing something fresh and vibrant to the evening,” said Mr Edge. “We work with different producers, record labels, and DJs to showcase new music.
“It’s a nice wind-down after work, with mocktails, sharing platters, and a space for people to connect over good music.”
With the first event receiving great feedback, the café is excited to keep building as community, offering more free and accessible events.
“The best thing is the vibe. People are really responding to it. It’s all about sharing a moment, celebrating creativity, and just enjoying life,” said Mr Edge.
Check out Coaltrains’ Facebook page for the latest opening hours and gig updates.
