Lyme Regis: Post Office reopens in community cafe Waffle

The branch in Broad Street has been refurbished and reopened under new management in the same premises as a community venture.

Owners of Waffle, a not-for-profit organisation, have taken on the responsibility of the services at the site where the post office was previously located.

Waffle opened up its community café at the site earlier this year and have been working to reopen the post office in the same spot alongside the café, with help from Lyme Regis Town Council.

The Post Office facilities in Waffle Lyme Regis(Image: Post Office)

The post office officially reopened on September 11 and Tim Whiteway, one of the directors of the business, will be taking on the day to day responsibilities.

The facilities on Broad Street will be open five days a week and will provide a total of 48 hours worth of service.

The Lyme Regis branch closed in July 2022 due to ‘unforeseen circumstances’.

The Post Office wrote to Lyme Regis Town Council with an official statement stating that it hoped the period of closure would be kept to a minimum.

Lyme Residents were left with no choice but to use alternative branches in Uplyme, Charmouth, Musbury and Axminster.

Outside Waffle/The Post Office in Broad Street(Image: The Post Office)

Giles Hewson, Post Office area change manager, said: “We are delighted to have restored a post office to Lyme Regis as we know how important a post office is to a community. The branch’s opening hours make it convenient for customers to visit.”

As well as traditional postal services some banking facilities will be available to customers, as well as parcel deliveries for Royal Mail, Evri, DPD and collecting and returning online shopping items.

Other services include bill payments, foreign currency with Euros available on demand and Post Office Travel Card.

Matt Smith, director of Waffle, said: “It’s not just the practical services that we think are important to restore but the post office is a key social touch point, offering people an opportunity to talk to a human even if only for a few seconds.

“This is what we are all about at Waffle and we are excited that the post office will create a bit more waffle in the town. 

Waffle from Left to right: Sophie McLachlan, Timothy Whiteway, Elizabeth, Tony and Matt Smith(Image: Waffle)

“We do ask people to be patient with us as we get used to the system and manage the flow of people in Waffle.”

READ MORE Post Office to open in Waffle Lyme Regis September 9

The new branch will be open Tuesday to Friday from 8am to 6pm and on Saturday from 9am to 5pm.