Great Western Coffee Shop

http://www.bitecard.co.uk/ (http://www.bitecard.co.uk/)

For those with a bite card, or even those who do not but will find this information useful, to gain/retain 20% discount at retailers at stations throughout the UK need to sign up or sign up again for a bitecard as soon they will no longer be accepted unless you have the new style bitecard. Essential for those who wish to save cash having a sneaky pint waiting for the train at certain stations  ;)

Thanks for posting that, I can safely say I didn't realise!

Cheers for the heads up. Not getting a cheap(er) pasty or pint would have been a terrible discovery.  ;)

In the T&Cs, someone was a bit over-enthusiastic with CAPS 'search & replace':

 ;D

I'm a big fan of Bite card but didn't realise you could get a discount on beer! Which outlets give you a discount on a pint (and where?). Thanks for the heads up.

Thanks for the heads up.

Licensed Upper Crusts, Pumpkin Cafes etc will give you BITE discount on the beers wines and spirits they stock for off-sales.

Pubs/Cafe Bars on stations that are operated by Select Service Partners also give the BITE discount on alcoholic drinks.

These can be found at:

Aberdeen - Hero
Belfast - ?
Birmingham New Street - The Shakespeare
Bristol Temple Meads - Bonapartes
Crewe - Hero
Derby - Hero
Dundee - Tay Bar
Edinburgh Waverley - Nor Loch
Glasgow Central - The Arrol
Glasgow Central - The Central Bar/Bonapartes
Glasgow Queen Street - Bonapartes
Inverness - Bertie's Bar
Leeds - The White Rose
Liverpool Lime Street - Coopers
London Bridge - Oast House
London Charing Cross - Boadicea
London Charing Cross - Bonapartes
London Euston - Britannia
London Fenchurch Street - The Fen
London Liverpool Street - The Wren
London Marylebone - Victoria & Albert
London Paddington - Sloe Bar
London Paddington - The Isambard
London Victoria - Bonapartes
London Victoria - Iron Duke
London Victoria - Mash Tun
London Waterloo - Sloe Bar
London Waterloo - The Wellesley
Manchester Piccadilly - Balcony Bar
Manchester Piccadilly - The Terrace
Manchester Victoria - The Metro Bar
Newcastle - Hero
Preston - Hero
York - Coopers

EDIT NOTE: This list may not be complete and locations may've changed names, moved or closed. SSP don't have an up to date list online; I had to look at their defunct 'Real Pubs on Stations' website using an internet archive, with the latest info from late 2010. As well as collating what I found there, I also looked at NRE's 'Stations Made Easy' maps.

'Stations Made Difficult (natch)' isn't that up to date either.  :-X

Very worth knowing bignosemac - thanks for sharing the info. What is The Isambard like at Paddington? I usually go upstairs to the Fullers pub.

The Isambard is just a nondescript unit on the concourse by the gate line for Platforms 10-14. I too prefer the Mad Bishop & Bear, or occasionally, if I want to people watch, I'll sit on the balcony of the Sloe Bar.

I have tried signing up yet it will not accept my mobile number of any number I type in.

Big fan of the Mad Bishop. Nothing better than a glass of Fullers Golden Pride and then the 22:45 home!

Post I've seen on another forum suggest inputting 07000 000000 (try with or without the space). That was the suggestion from SSP to someone who was also having issues entering a mobile number.

Odd: it accepted my T-Mobile number (without a space) no problem at all.  ::)

And my Orange one (transferred from O2), also without spaces.

But I do like the idea of entering 070000...

Thanks Matt -much appreciated.

Thanks for this. I was going to post this myself as my friend works for SSP and knowing how much Coffee I buy when travelling, sent me an email yesterday :)

The Waterloo Pub Beer Guide optionsm though are definitely wrong. The Sloe Bar closed whilst the station is being refurbished. Whether it'll come back or not, I'm not sure. There is a Bonapartes at Waterloo opposite(ish) to Platform 18

Although, personally, I wouldn't recommend it. It's a very small bar so you often don't get a seat especially on a Friday night and as a result people aimlessly stand around the bar making it very difficult to actually make the staff aware you'd like serving. The Coffee is AWFUL! It's worth the walk to Starbucks and handing over 2.50 to the Americans and know that if you're not happy with the coffee provided, they'll make it again for you or refund without any trouble (99% of the time anyway) Also, said pub has no Toilets either, so you'd be 30p out of pocket unless you fancy a 2 minute walk to the secret toilets that are free... but considered as CfN once put it "Hygienically Dodgy"

Also something you all might like to know... The BiTE card occasionally works in SSP Outlets in Airports but is very hit and miss, all depends on who is serving and if they know it exists. They have time restrictions on it's use though. But me being me, decided to ask the question when I was at Luton earlier this year. After all, If you don't ask... You don't get! I've used it at Birmingham and Cardiff Airports too ;)

You are right thetrout. I'd forgotton about Boney Parts near 18/19 at Waterloo. Shouldn't have though - I often sit outside waiting for a mate to arrive in from Bracknell.

I have added an edit note to my list to explain that it may not be up to date. Best I'd could do with the limited (and possibly out of date) information available on line.

 

Getting a bit peeved with Pumpkin at Taunton station.

They are still insisting that BITE card discount does not apply to alcoholic beverages purchased there.

I showed the 'Team Leader' a receipt from Swindon Pumpkin which had a discount applied to a can of Fosters. I also showed the T&Cs printed on the reverse of my BITE card where it states the exclusions, none of which mention alcohol. Also pointing out that the T&Cs state that alcohol is only available to over 18s and during licensing hours. Why, if that is mentioned, do the staff at Taunton Pumpkin still insist it isn't valid?

It was only after I moaned a bit more did this 'Team Leader' redo the transaction and actually press the BITE discount button on his till did he find out that the till WOULD process the discount. He still insisted though that it shouldn't be applied. He kept my receipt as well; saying he needed it to explain to his boss my complaint and what he'd done by finally allowing the discount.

I could've then asked for the item for free seeing as SSP state that if you don't get a receipt your purchase is free. Didn't push that though. I was peeved and the people queueing behind me were also.

Gonna have to get an email response from SSP to carry around I think.

Grrr.

 ::) >:(

Cobblers.  :P

In the past, Pumpkin at Bristol Temple Meads have given me the discount on a can of cider, no problem at all - in fact, with a cheery smile!    And Ollie was there - it was his BITE card I was using (before I registered with them for my own!)  ;D

This is bleddy T**nt*n were talking about though, Chris.  ;)

In their own little world down there in Somerset it would appear.

Swings and roundabouts.....

After my problems in Taunton, it was nice to use my new BITE card in Bonapartes, Temple Meads, this evening with no problems. I bagged a free pint as well. Server forgot to give me a receipt for the last pint of the evening. SSP have a policy that says, "If you get no receipt your order is free." Lovely jubbly.  ;)

I'll let grahame take the floor and explain the issues he had with using his BITE card......

My new BITE card came today.  Unlike the old card it doesnt show the places it is valid on it - only in the letter that accompanied it.  Makes me think they are due to change - wonder if they will be more widely accepted or cut back.....

OK ... basically, it seems that the 20% discount applies to Food OR Drink, not to Food AND drink offered as part of a package deal.

* Curry, 6.95.  16 Fl Oz Coke, 2.05 - bought separately with 20% BITE card discount 5.56 and 1.64 = 7.20 in total.
* Curry + Coke together is a "special deal" - 8.95, and "Bite card discounts do NOT apply as it's discounted already". Yeah, by 5p!

Did sort it out with the manager later, who was very helpful. Full story and pictures from the evening: http://www.wellho.net/mouth/3711_Kiss.html

Has anyone not received the new card yet?

The post here is incredibly hit and miss if the sender doesn't include the flat number (which doesn't appear in the Royal Mail address file).

I had my card nearly two weeks ago so they have been sent out for some people. However I have seen elsewhere that some have received their cards whilst others are still waiting. Just a waiting game for now but apparently the old card is still being accepted for the timebeing so should be ok for now

My new one arrived in about a week.

Same here: I reckon it was about a week to ten days after I applied when mine arrived, a couple of weeks ago.

I spoke too soon.  My new card arrived today.

There's a law about that  ;D

Applied for mine on the 19th of April,still waiting for it to arrive :(

Mine turned up in under a week. When I used it last night for an emergency Burger King at Paddington after a late shift they asked to swipe it on there machine. Are they turning away old cards now?

Had no problem with my old card being accepted in the last couple of weeks but my new one has now turned up. They should be swiped but most people have reported that they haven't actually had them swiped yet.

Yes I used my old one yesterday with no problems however I am still waiting for my new card

They won't get swiped until SSP have updated the relevant outlet's POS system to include the facility.  I was told that could take ages yet, as there are so many individual outlets across the country...

Paul

Was reading this thinking it's been 2-3 weeks since I registered for my new card, and what should be on the mat when the postman came this morning?

Indeed, received mine Friday...letter promises lots of deals and updates! Thanks for the OP alert!

The Wellesley at Waterloo started swiping my card last week. They've got new tills. Not sure if they're still taking the old cards though and also don't know if they've sorted out debit/credit card payments yet. On the old system it used to take ages to authorise.

Just a reminder for anyone who has not "upgraded" to the new plastic card that the old style ones cease to be valid from 1st May 2013.

Many thanks for that very timely reminder, bobm - darned if I can even find my old-style card, now that you mention it!  :o ::) :-[

I got my Bite card in February this year. Would I need to get a replacement also or do I already have the new style card?

Thanks

If your card is hard plastic with a magnetic strip on the back then it'll be of the newer type.

It was the previously issued laminated paper type cards without mag strips that are no longer valid.

If it is mainly green and the same thickness as a debit or credit card with a magnetic strip on the back you have one of the new ones - which I suspect is the case if you got it in February.

edit: basically what bignosemac said     ;D

I recently discovered that Bite cards are also accepted in Bristol Bus Station's Pumpkin outlet. 

I'm posting in this old thread because it keeps the info with other relevant points.  Hope that's ok.

There are other bus/coach stations across the UK with outlets where BiTE is accepted.

Chances are if it's one of the Select Service Partners brands/franchises then the card will be accepted. There are even a few SSP Burger King franchises on the High St where BiTE is accepted.

From 9th June 2014 the BiTE Card discount is reducing from 20% to 10%. That, for me, is likely to tip the balance in favour of non-SSP outlets on stations, or see me look for alternatives outside the station.

I agree: a 10% discount won't reduce those premium prices to an acceptable level, as far as my personal budget is concerned.  :-X

Me too, thanks for the heads up BNM. Shame because the 20% discount made paying SSP's premium prices at stations acceptable, not anymore it doesn't.

I forgot to mention, the 'heads up' came by way of an email from SSP. With them attempting to sugar the pill with the offer of a free drink. I'll take the freebie of course, but 'tis likely, when I have time to kill, you'll find me more often in the Knights Templar rather than Bonapartes at Bristol TM in future.

Not had that email.

Being the lazy so and so I am, I used SSP outlets before the discount so I suspect I may still do. It is ok when you know where alternative outlets are outside a station - but if time is short sometimes you can use up drinking and eating time just trying to find somewhere.

I had an email but it had no offer of a free drink:

I've not had an e-mail either.

Perhaps the 'hotels-near-stations' list needs to have a parallel 'alternative-refreshments-near-stations' list?

I've not received an e-mail, either.  I'd have been rather peeved if I'd gone to use it in Blownapart's next week and only then found out about the reduction in the discount.  :o

The range and quality of the beer is generally better in Wetherspoons, anyway.  ;)


Good idea: I'll ask grahame how best we could set that up.  ;D

I've not had an email yet either.

Is the reason those that haven't had the email because at sign up the No Contact option was specified? According to my online account I did this, perhaps that's why I have not heard anything?

The other thing to note is that during registration you are asked what your usual departure and arrival station is. Perhaps those who have entered a station that doesn't have an SSP pub don't get the drinks offer?

This is a change to the contracted offer, they need to advise every cardholder, regardless of whether we asked for no marketing contact....

yes, 2nd para is possible.

I received the email but it was automatically placed in my spam folder. Apparently Google Mail objected to one of the links therein.

I guess that SSP feel that they now have sufficient marketing information from this promotion, and can afford to chip away at the benefits. The BITE card was very useful at that pub near platform 9 on the concourse at Paddington where the so-called craft beer was about ^5 a pint full price.

Was useful at Waterloo/Euston/Marylebone too when making journeys via London. A pint of real ale was reduced to ^3.60 ish from ^4.50 ish depending on the outlet.

Reduction by 10% could be enough to put me off, so given enough time, I'd go Hole in the Wall at Waterloo (easy to get through via the Tenison Way subway), Bree Louise/Euston Tap at Euston, not sure about MYB.

Anyone going through St Pancras can sign up to Geronimo Pubs newsletter for a free pint (one off) at The Betjemen Arms. It took a day for them to send the voucher through.

Kings Cross is just a case of paying full whack in The Parcel Yard, nothing that convenient in the vicinity that I know of.

Victoria I know has a Wetherspoons on the mezzanine and one a short walk away.

Neither are at typical Wetherspoons prices but still considerably cheaper than the other station outlets.

Liverpool Street also has a 'Spoons, tucked away on the upper concourse behind McDonald's.

Were you planning to be in Boney Parts next week Chris?

Could it be that one must be a regular user of the card to have received an email?

Not sure - but the staff at Exeter St David's Pumpkin outlet were also unaware of any changes earlier this week.

Not had any Emails from SSP. Then again when they did the buy 4 'Lower' Crust meals get a free cineworld ticket I never got that Email as well.

I also have a 30% "privilege card" for millies cookies which works at all branches not just the station ones. I wonder if that discount is going to be cut considering the back of the card has a get out clause on it.

Still no emails - and still getting 20% at SSP outlets - this time at Canterbury West this morning.

Staff there looked very surprised & have heard nothing when I told them some card holders had received notification of the discount dropping to 10%. They have been told nowt so far. So its not happening any time soon.

9th June.

Monday. Hmmmm

I did get the cineworld email, but have not received anything yet about the 10%. I ticked the box for "Extra Bite - News/Offers/Etc" on my application so would expect to get all messages.

Used my Bite card today for the first time in a few months. It was only to buy a bottle of water from Delice de France at Paddington. Was ^1.60, became ^1.28 after swiping my card. Still expensive I know but that's a 20% discount.

Could it be possible that different cardholders get different discounts? The card has to be swiped so perhaps there's a code on the stripe that determines the discount.

It appears that the discount is either 10% or 20%. No rhyme or reason as far as I can tell except that I was told in Bonapartes (Bristol TM) that they are still offering 20% as their till system is yet to be updated. As far as I can tell, every other SSP outlet at Bristol (Upper Crust, Pumpkin, Pasty Shop) is 10%.

Perhaps it's just a case that systems aren't yet updated in all SSP outlets. Or equally, some outlets will give 20% going forward, others 10%.

Incidentally, I was told this evening that Bonapartes on Platform 3 at Bristol TM is shortly to be re-branded as 'The Beer House'. Adding to the list of same named licensed premises across major UK stations.

http://www.foodtravelexperts.com/uk/brand-profile/1/0/16/the-beer-house/

Gonna miss calling it Boney Parts, Blownaparts...  :(

I'm with BNM, the discount seems random.

In a further blow to SSP customers, the new loyalty cards at Pumpkin  now require 9 stamps to get a free drink, as opposed to 5.

The V&A pub at Marylebone has stopped accepting the BITE card.

'Shortly' to introduce their own loyalty scheme, sayeth a bar tender.

From my e-mail, this morning:

Hmm. I got this, this morning too.

But I have only been able to get a 10% discount since the previous time they issued that email....not good.

I've only been getting 10% in almost every SSP outlet since June. The one exception being Bonaparte's at Bristol Temple Meads. Not been in there for over a week though so no idea if they've finally updated their tills and are no longer processing the 20% discount manually. I was told by a staff member that it was likely to remain at 20% there until they complete their re-branding to 'The Beer House'.

Notwithstanding that it was just a barman telling me that. Management may decide otherwise.

Yep, got this email. Strange how I never got any of the others earlier this year.

Incidentally, was SSP previously known as SAS Service Partner? That's SAS the airline not the elite army unit.

Me too

Yes, they were.

Yesterday I paid ^2.40 for a hamburger (just a plain burger) and ^8.50 for a Whopper Meal in a SSP operated Burger King outlet at Ibiza Airport.  I wonder if anyone has seen any UK-based SSP outlets that have this much of a mark-up compared to the high street?

Had me a pint of St Austell Tribute in Bonapartes, Bristol TM earlier today. Still 20% discount. Wahey!

Seems the card is alive and well.

Received a new one in the post over the weekend.

The blurb promises more offers "in the coming months".

We shall see.

Back in January 2014 I received my new BITE card with the promise of exciting rewards coming soon. Then in June, when the discount was reduced from 20% to 10%, there was similar blurb emailed out to some registered BITE card users. The only offer I've received was a voucher for a free pint, and that was, "Here Mr ***** is the first of many exciting rewards - more coming soon!"

Nothing exciting since, except in the post in the past couple of days, a new new BITE Card, exactly like the old BITE Card. Same 16 digit number as my existing one. Identical in every detail. I've dug out the covering letter from January 2014. It's the same also.

 ::) :o >:(

The new card does have a new issue date.  ;D

Clearly I forgot the earlier messages.  Short term memory loss is setting in obviously.

I haven't received anything from Bite Card for a long time now (neither email nor post).

After my ^8.50 Whopper meal in Ibiza Airport, I though it couldn't get any worse.  Clearly spoke too soon.  69kr (about ^5.71) for a sandwich/roll thing at Upper Crust in G^teborgs centralstation.

I've pretty much given up on SSP outlets now.  Unless you are captive (i.e. at an airport), you can generally get a better selection of food at more reasonable prices just outside the immediate vicinity of larger station.

Got my new Bite card on Saturday. It's almost identical to the previous one. It now has a QR code on the back as well as a mag stripe. Don't know if the QR code is unique to me, containing my card number or if it's just a generic one pointing to their web site. Will have to check at some point.

I, too, received a letter, from 'faye' the Cardholders Champion at Bite, on Saturday.  :)

It enclosed a card, identical in every respect to my previous card, except for the new issue date and the QR code on the reverse.

I got mine too, as previously described

I wonder when the 'other offers' will start spamming me?

The covering letter says,

(http://i.imgur.com/hWdOKfa.jpg?1)

Hmm. "This will become your passport to even MORE value over the coming months."

So, they're going to reverse their previous reduction in the rate of discount from 20% to 10%, then?  Somehow, I doubt it.  ::)

I was assuming that they were going to announce new brands that would participate.

Fair point.

However, the BITE card already seems to cover most of the Select Service Partner Ltd UK railway station catering outlets - Camden food co; Millie's Cookies; Upper Crust; nam-po! noodles & sushi; Pumpkin; Bars on stations; The Pasty Shop; Delice de France; Burger King and Caff^ Ritazza.

Are there any others?  :o

Outside the station perhaps? Who or what is Travelwise?

'Mouth watering 10% off'. Who are they trying to fool when the discount used to be 20%.

At Paddington, Yo Sushi and McDonalds?

The covering letter that I received doesn't have anything by way of an address, a registered office or company number details - I thought that you had to put these on nowadays?

SSP don't run them.

They operate some M&S Simply Food, WH Smith outlets and even a Harry Ramsdens presumable it is not as easy for them to accept Bite as the brand owner is also involved. 

Pumpkin are advertising a breakfast bitty for ^1.25 at Swindon "when you buy any hot drink".   No small print.

So I bought an Americano coffee on my Bite Card and asked for the butty at ^1.25 ... but apparently the offer only applies to drinks not bought on a Bite card.   "I can ring both up then discount, or not apply the discount".

Misleading advertising.  And how to p*ss your customers off.

You would need to buy both in one transaction (to get the offer), then use BITe to get 10% off he total.

Definitely misleading if that's not the case

Yep, I bought both in one transaction.  Offered either the coffee at full price and the bacon roll at an extra 1.25 - OR the coffee with a bite card discount and the roll at 10% off whatever its standard price would have been which "will work out more".   Had to feel sorry for the woman behind the counter who had been put into the position of having to explain / defend a misleading advert, and after making it clear I felt it was misleading in what it said - false advertising - I bought the coffee and the darned roll anyway.   But I'll take a packet of biscuits next Saturday!

... and checking even through their terms and conditions ...


There is no exclusion on "other special offers" or anything line that.    Naughty!

"These promotions already offer a significant saving over the retail prices of the individual items"

So said the response I received from SSP some three years ago when I complained that I wasn't getting the (then) 20% discount on two canned beers bought together when they had a "2 cans for ^5" promotion.

Thing was, at that time, cans were around ^2.75 each, so the promotion wasn't significantly better. I started asking to pay separately. Pumpkin Taunton once refused to do so, so I bought one then queued up and bought another!

I imagine if you were to complain to SSP they will say similar today. That is that the multibuy promotions already offer a saving and they can't be combined with BiTE.

Naughty indeed. But probably not illegal. Invitation to treat and all that.

I have asked very nicely ... and we'll see!


Yeah - maybe.

Yet if the Ts and Cs included "special multibuy promotions" or something like that in their list of exclusions, and they stated "10% off regular prices / multiple discounts don't apply" they really wouldn't look so naughty. They seem to needlessly raise the prospect of a discount on something like this - a very good own goal!

What are the T's and C's on Bite?  Do they exclude that with any other offer?

To me that seems to suggest it can't be used with any other offer.

Buying a butty for ^1.25 when bought with a hot drink sounds like an offer to me.

Just my personal opinion anyway, and agreed perhaps the ad should say 'not valid with bite card' in small print

You're probably right .. I'd missed that bit on the end of the small print.

Mind you ... what I had initially expected was 10% off the drink (which was NOT a special offer) and then ^1.25 for the bacon roll - as that was a special and I had fully anticipated no discount on it!

I have asked ... let's see what they say!

Bite card not working today - "till software updated and not accepting them at the moment".   Good on the chap serving - found a way to provide something agreeable and proportionate.

Solitary experience at one place, or a general problem?

It worked at Bonapartes at Bristol Temple Meads yesterday but to be honest it was about the only thing that did. No lemonade, no orange juice, no draught beers and no china cups.

(Actually it wasn’t yesterday it was Wednesday - this short week seems very long for some reason!)

I've just tried to update my details on the website and request a replacement card.

Both efforts resulted in redirection to a page saying "whoops, looks like something went wrong".

It's now not possible to apply for a card if you've never had one before according to their FAQs.

Mine worked in the Beer House in Victoria station Tuesday evening

Out of interest, I had a look at the website this afternoon and it told me that they were taking no more applications for now.

Anyone still using a BiTE card?

Apparently the discount for those few cardholders left is now down to 5%.

The heady days of 20% off, which actually made SSP outlets worth considering, is long gone. Now they are just overpriced and underwhelming.

Used mine the other day but I must admit I forgot to look to see the size of the discount.

I used mine yesterday but the same as bobm didn't check the discount I got

I used my Bite card within the station at Bristol Temple Meads twice, on Sunday 2 September 2018 - and despite their discount being applied, the prices were still eye-watering. I suspect you're lucky to get 5% off, so it's hardly worth bothering these days, frankly.  ::)

I’ve lost mine. After reading the above I won’t be wasting time trying to look for it.

Yes, I also thought when it was 20% it definitely brought prices down to a reasonable enough level.  Now I’ll almost always look somewhere else...

Paul

Yep the 20% off made them more like high street prices so was happy to use outlets that took BITE card. Now if i'm going to be ripped off at the station for food I'd rather it be at M&S or Waitrose, both of which don't accept BITE card.

I hadn't used mine for a while but was at Upper Crust, Euston yesterday. Remembering this thread I made a note of the original price and the new price for my baguette and coffee and calculated that it was indeed 10%.

I probably could have got my food cheaper elsewhere but I was pressed for time.