In praise of the station buffet bars return..

[Snapper]

If you want to have a look at the wonderful variety of station buffet bars that grace the network, you might like this...

"Anyone who has been a rail traveller since the 1970s will remember the BR era of station rationalisation when many stations lost all their fine buildings & facilities & had them replaced with draughty bus shelters or ugly brick bunkers. Thankfully, that era is long gone & stations are enjoying a new age where they’re very much part of the community again. One great example of this is the rebirth & spread of the station buffet & bar"....

Read more here;

https://paulbigland.wordpress.com/2015/04/12/in-praise-of-the-station-buffet-bars-return/

 

[yorksrob]

Some classic bars there (and a couple of familiar faces in the photo's )

I noticed recently that Brighton's gained a very nice buffet bar called The Cyclist. Perhaps the Southerners are beginning to catch on.

 

[LDECRexile]

Sadly, they don't all make it. There was a wonderful restaurant - delightful staff, fine food, fab setting - at Langwathby Station on the Settle and Carlisle, but it appears to have gone out of business.

I agree that the standard of station catering has improved out of all recognition in the last 20 years or so.

A consequence is pressure on on-train catering. For example I tend to buy food and drink at Lime St before boarding a long distance train, as it is there and in my hand, whereas on-train services are hit and miss. This spirals downwards on trains.

 

[marko31161]

Irlam station has recently reopened, and very nice it looks too.
Total transformation from when it was a rundown home for pigeons.
No good at links so Google it.

 

[scott118]

you can still have a 'brief encounter' in the bistro at Wymondham.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8ZwflB3vpg#t=116

 

[Butts]

you can still have a 'brief encounter' in the bistro at Wymondham.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8ZwflB3vpg#t=116

Without a cigarette, hardly authentic

 

[Snapper]

you can still have a 'brief encounter' in the bistro at Wymondham.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8ZwflB3vpg#t=116

I was there the other day. I see it's changed hands & all the rolling stock has vanished.

 

[Tetchytyke]

There was a wonderful restaurant - delightful staff, fine food, fab setting - at Langwathby Station on the Settle and Carlisle, but it appears to have gone out of business.

Their website says they were looking to sell due to retirement, obviously they didn't find a buyer.

Interesting blog from Paul, it was pleasing to see so many people in the Jubilee Refreshment Rooms.

I'd agree with him too. Even at the biggest stations you now see bars and pubs (like the Parcel Yard) that you simply wouldn't have seen incorporated in an 80s or 90s station refurbishment.

 

[scott118]

Without a cigarette, hardly authentic

authentic? Have you no artistic license?

 

[RichmondCommu]

I'd agree with him too. Even at the biggest stations you now see bars and pubs (like the Parcel Yard) that you simply wouldn't have seen incorporated in an 80s or 90s station refurbishment.

However even by London standards the Parcel Yard isn't cheap. And to be honest the same can be said for places like the Sheffield Tap. Most organisations (including the one that I work for) would not tolerate you stopping in there and claiming it on your expense account.

 

[theblackwatch]

Some classic bars there (and a couple of familiar faces in the photo's )

I noticed that too.

I was there the other day. I see it's changed hands & all the rolling stock has vanished.

That's a shame - I had an excellent breakfast there on my way to the Mid Norfolk on a cold winter's February day a couple of years ago, just what I needed!

 

[Tetchytyke]

However even by London standards the Parcel Yard isn't cheap. And to be honest the same can be said for places like the Sheffield Tap. Most organisations (including the one that I work for) would not tolerate you stopping in there and claiming it on your expense account.

It's not that expensive, given the location and given it is a Fuller's pub (which tend to be pricey).

Who said anything about expenses? But most places would cover dinner on expenses, including a non-alcoholic drink, if you were on business and wouldn't object to you buying your own alcohol.

 

[dk1]

Now i'm a big fan of The Head of Steam at Huddersfield but their Liverpool Lime Street branch has always been an awful experience whenever i've visited. Whether its the filthy toilets, dirty uncollected glasses or just the general couldn't care attitude i always chose to avoid the place. Just seen that its to become The North Western Wetherspoon's from 7th July.

http://www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk/home/pubs/the-north-western

 

[RichmondCommu]

It's not that expensive, given the location and given it is a Fuller's pub (which tend to be pricey).

Who said anything about expenses? But most places would cover dinner on expenses, including a non-alcoholic drink, if you were on business and wouldn't object to you buying your own alcohol.

Yes I would agree that Fullers pubs are not cheap but even in London (and I've been a Londoner for many years) I consider £4.60 for a pint of Real Ale to be expensive.

I mentioned expenses and I mentioned them because that is pretty much the only time when I will buy beverages at stations. Yes we will cover dinner expenses but would take a dim view if our employees continued to patronize establishments similar to the Parcel Yard at Kings Cross.

 

[martinsh]

Yes I would agree that Fullers pubs are not cheap but even in London (and I've been a Londoner for many years) I consider £4.60 for a pint of Real Ale to be expensive.

... if our employees continued to patronize establishments similar to the Parcel Yard at Kings Cross.

Finally the last few posts now become clear ! I got really confused thinking you meant the Parcel Yard at Leicester (http://steamin-billy.co.uk/ourpubs/parcelyard.php ) which is a Steamin Billy pub - and I don't recollect being over expensive.