What's the food and drink like on the Night Riveria?

[bavvo]

I am catching the Cornish sleeper next week, so am curious, is the food worth having? How good is the breakfast? Do they serve an evening meal, and how late is the bar open

 

[ainsworth74]

Buffet is open all night as far as I'm aware. I wouldn't plan to eat in the evening on board as the menu is fairly limited (and can be found here) it is not as extensive as the Caledonian. If you're in a berth your breakfast will be either your choice of a bacon roll or croissant or cereal and a choice of tea or coffee. I believe they also offer one complementary hot drink for berth passengers in the evening as well just go to the buffet and ask.

 

[bavvo]

Buffet is open all night as far as I'm aware. I wouldn't plant to eat in the evening on board as the menu is fairly limited (and can be found here) it is not as extensive as the Caledonian. If you're in a berth your breakfast will be either your choice of a bacon roll or croissant or cereal and a choice of tea or coffee. I believe they also offer one complementary hot drink for berth passengers in the evening as well just go to the buffet and ask.

Ah ok, thanks. I'll probably try and eat before I leave then.

 

[IanXC]

That said the snacks are pretty good - just don't expect more than that.

 

[ainsworth74]

Agreed if you want a hot snack they're fine (and I seem to recall not outrageously priced) but definitely not for a main meal.

 

[atillathehunn]

I didn't try the bar, but the First Class lounge at Paddington is well stocked. I loaded up well for the journey and nabbed a couple of bottles of wine to make it more fun.

Breakfast is reasonable, bacon sandwich was hot, as was the tea. However, the cabin attendant will just open the door and throw it in. Which, when you are a little busy in the morning with your lady travelling companion, is a little awkward...

 

[ainsworth74]

Yeah they don't do knock and wait. In my experience the door is usually half way open by the time they actually knock. Though usually, if you're not 'distracted' and you're not the first person in your carriage to be woken, you get some warning from other people being woken up.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Yeah they don't do knock and wait.

That's rather poor service. If I have a cabin I expect privacy, and I do not expect anyone to enter without me opening the door or shouting for them to.

 

[atillathehunn]

Yeah they don't do knock and wait. In my experience the door is usually half way open by the time they actually knock. Though usually, if you're not 'distracted' and you're not the first person in your carriage to be woken, you get some warning from other people being woken up.

I've been working on ways to combine bacon and 'distraction' for some time, this seemed to be as good a solution as any. My girlfriend at the time was Italian and this intrusion didn't seem to bother her at all.

I was getting off at an intermediate stop, Lostwithiel, so my alarm call was rather early and I don't recall anybody else daft enough to get off there at that hour in the morning.

It's not a hotel, and there doesn't seem to be much of an effective lock on the door, so I suppose lower your expectations a bit. I'm being sent to Beijing next week (potentially...) so I think the temptation to try the overnight train to Pyongyang might be overwhelming. If I go, I'll write a comparison with the Cornish sleeper.

 

[Iskra]

I am catching the Cornish sleeper next week, so am curious, is the food worth having? How good is the breakfast? Do they serve an evening meal, and how late is the bar open

You get a complimentary drink in the evening. Bar is open all night I think.

Bacon roll in the morning is fairly decent.

They don't really do full meals.

Yeah they don't do knock and wait. In my experience the door is usually half way open by the time they actually knock. Though usually, if you're not 'distracted' and you're not the first person in your carriage to be woken, you get some warning from other people being woken up.

My experience was the opposite (about a month ago). I was woken at 5am, the lady waited for me to answer the door.

Once I was ready to leave she waved me off as I left the train.

The staff on this service could not have been more friendly/helpful and were an absolute credit to their company, as indeed were all the FGW staff I came across on my travels.

 

[ainsworth74]

My experience was the opposite (about a month ago). I was woken at 5am, the lady waited for me to answer the door.

Hmm I've only ever had male stewards (and I'm also male) so that might have played a part in it. I also want to make clear that I'm not complaining about the service on the Night Riviera. In my experience they are some of the best and friendliest staff that FGW have and I've written to FGW on a couple of occasions to tell them just that!