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Cafes and bars at stations where you can watch trains/trams

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The Cricketers’ Arms on Addiscombe Road in Croydon has a constant parade of trams between Lebanon Road and Sandilands Stations. There are tables out the front on what is now not a very heavily trafficked road (at least in number of vehicles terms - though each vehicle may well be quite heavy).
 
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Ianno87

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An international entry: the Hortus Restaraunt and Garden Bar adjacent to Pompei Scarva Circumvesuviana station (Italy) has its dining garden back onto the Circumvesuviana tracks.
 

Fireless

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Another international entry (the Isle of Man is not part of the UK after all): The Terminus Tavern in Douglas with the beer garden overlooking the Derby Castle terminus (and from the right tables also the depot) of the Manx Electric Railway and the Douglas Horse tram.
 

Condor7

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The Pot Place at Plumpton Cumbria just outside Penrith.

It depends where you sit but it is next to the WCML and the tables that look out over it get a decent view. Likewise where you park your car also gets good views. On top of that it is an excellent cafe and is consistently getting good reviews on trip advisor.
 

Jon125

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Bristol Parkway to right just before barriers upstairs, restaurant food place windows that overlook all tracks.
Weston Super Mare, Off The Rails on platform.
Yatton, The Railway Inn adjacent to station entrance but can see the train pass.
 

AlbertBeale

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I remember - and yearn for - the days when there were little bars on some of the station platforms on London Underground's SSLs. I think one was on the westbound at Sloane Square, and there was another at one of the other stations along there, but I can't remember which. The one at Baker Street wasn't on a platform, but up on the higher level concourse connecting the stairs from platforms of the terminating lines with the overbridge for Platform 6 towards Edgware Road.
On occasions when heading west on the trunk part of the District, if the first train shown wasn't going my way (more than likely, with the 4 different routes served), I'd get whatever was coming, leap off at Sloane Square, and have a quick half before my train turned up... Sigh.
 

DerekC

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If picnic areas are allowed I can recommend the one at Ropley on the Mid Hants.

And the most spectacular railway view while eating/drinking that I know is from the dining room of the Rannoch Hotel as the northbound sleeper approaches across the Moor, with the snow capped mountains of Glencoe in the background. I have it as the wallpaper on my laptop!
 
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superkev

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The Mitre, behind Knaresborough station...good choice of ales at decent prices + food. Admittedly it's only 155s + 153 changing platform for return to Leeds and an intriguing signal box built onto the end of terrace, to control crossing gates. but good spot to spend a sunny afternoon in't beer garden
Some friends who where regulars there went last week and reported it was dire with poor food and no customers. Perhaps its changed hands so take care.
K
 

Pyreneenguy

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There's a great view of Blackpool North from the upstairs café in Sainsbury's. A Clotted cream tea will only set you back £2.80, I was there over the New Year and added a mince pie for 70p !
 

Undiscovered

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Nice pub on the down platform at Codsall, on the Wolves to Shrewsbury line. Always seems very busy.
 

56 1/2

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Long gone but my favorite was a window table in the upstairs eating area Burger King Waterloo before the Arial walkway , You could watch the bustle right across the concourse but just sit and relax, and yes there were a few trains beyond the barrier. Very few customers used upstairs and the staff did not hassle so stay as long as you like. I think the same window was used for some shots of TERMINUS 1961 Day in the life documentary by the then unknown John Schlesinger
 

hexagon789

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Starbucks at Edinburgh Haymarket. The outside seating area has excellent views over Haymarket station.
 

Condor7

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"301 Miles From London" on Carlisle Citadel station especially if you sit at the tables outside on the platform, and they have free wifi.
As an aside the bacon butties are fantastic from there, and if you enjoy an alcoholic tipple, there is a selection of decent beverages too.

Having read this I decided to give the place a try yesterday as I was at the station over lunch time. I fully intended to go for the bacon sandwich but got tempted instead for the burger with cheese in a sourdough bap. I have to say it was delicious. I was also tempted by the chocolate brownie which looked homemade, that to was lovely.

The cold sandwiches also looked lovely wrapped in brown paper rather than plastic which was nice to see. All the food appears to have a fresh homemade feel to it. I will certainly be back to try other things soon. Thanks for the recommendation.
 

bewildered

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In Leeds I'd suggest:

On a sunny day Water Lane Boathouse if sat outside you can get a good view of trains coming into platforms 15, 16 and 17

The roof bar at the Doubletree Hotel offers good views over the western end of the station, shame the balcony isn't on that side of the hotel.

The roof terrace of The Brewery Tap on New Station Street has a decent view of the eastern end of the station
 

PeterC

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Long gone but my favorite was a window table in the upstairs eating area Burger King Waterloo before the Arial walkway , You could watch the bustle right across the concourse but just sit and relax, and yes there were a few trains beyond the barrier. Very few customers used upstairs and the staff did not hassle so stay as long as you like. I think the same window was used for some shots of TERMINUS 1961 Day in the life documentary by the then unknown John Schlesinger
If we are going into history I must vote for the buffet on the footbridge at Liverpool Street before redevelopment. It was fascinating to watch how slam door stock emptied with each compartment forming its own little line on the platform for second or two before merging with the rest.
 

AlbertBeale

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If we are going into history I must vote for the buffet on the footbridge at Liverpool Street before redevelopment. It was fascinating to watch how slam door stock emptied with each compartment forming its own little line on the platform for second or two before merging with the rest.

That reminds me - was Liverpool Street another of the (SSL) Underground stations with a bar on the platform [as per my earlier post]. I really can't remember for sure which they all were now - anyone can help??
 

bearhugger

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Having read this I decided to give the place a try yesterday as I was at the station over lunch time. I fully intended to go for the bacon sandwich but got tempted instead for the burger with cheese in a sourdough bap. I have to say it was delicious. I was also tempted by the chocolate brownie which looked homemade, that to was lovely.

The cold sandwiches also looked lovely wrapped in brown paper rather than plastic which was nice to see. All the food appears to have a fresh homemade feel to it. I will certainly be back to try other things soon. Thanks for the recommendation.
You're welcome! The bacon bun was purely based on what I normally have when I go there. Based on your reccommendation I will give the burger a try next time i'm there. The staff are pretty good and the beer/alcohol choices (if you enjoy a tipple) change quite regularly so always worth a look and ** I think** they may let you have a sip of something if you're not sure about the brew!
 

6Gman

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Actually watching the trains, or being in a catering establishment near to trains?

Rajdhani restaurant at Dore & Totley is in the old station building with windows onto the platform and tracks - old photos of the station in its heyday on the walls.

There's an Indian restaurant in the old Corbridge station building.

Also an Indian restaurant in Nantwich station building.
 

Matt_pool

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York - York Tap has tables and chairs outside on platform 3/4.

Bristol Temple Meads - there's a bar/cafe called Bonapartes with tables and chairs outside on platform 3.
 

unlevel42

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Beeston - Victoria Hotel. Beer garden with platform access. Footbridge nearby.
Blackpool - Aquarius cafe outside old tram depot(still there?)
 

Howardh

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At Piccadilly I sat on the balcony, passing the time and watching the trains and passengers go by and had a pint of a well-known Spanish lager.............which was £6.50.

Been cheaper if I'd bought a return to Stockport and bought a tinny!!
 
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