All aboard Paraparaumu's Blue Train

FULL STEAM AHEAD: Chris Evans, left, and Alan Kenyon, at Blue Train, a unique venue hire as well as lunch spot in Paraparaumu.

"I'm pleased it's the magical space I thought it would be," Londoner Chris Evans says.

"I would love it to be one of those legendary places like Ronnie Scott's."

Chris, who has had a passion for trains since childhood, was describing his unique venue hire business which has expanded to include a place to have lunch.

Blue Train, featuring two 1952 Johnsonville line train carriages, is located at 31 Rimutaka St, Paraparaumu.

One of the carriages has been converted into a delightful dining area while the other carriage is used as a fully equiped kitchen.

Linking the two carriages is a wooden deck, enabling people to sit outside if desired, which is expected to be popular in the summertime.

The venue opened in February and has already catered for a variety of functions ranging from cocktail parties, birthdays, theme nights, jazz session as well as a wedding.

This month the venue has expanded to include a place for lunch and is open Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 12 noon to 3pm.

The lunch time menu features things like soup of the day, chicken and beef pie, burgers, cake of the day and more.

Joining the Blue Train operation is an Australian, Alan Kenyon, who has been helping Chris with a business strategy, website, marketing as well as cooking, which the pair are passionate about.

"We want people to come here because it's got good food, good environment and is something different," Alan said.

"We really want to get a reputation as a lovely place to come to."

www.bluetrain.co.nz