Train GraphicClick on the map to explore geographics
 
I need help
FAQ
Emergency
About .
No recent travel & transport from BBC stories as at 02:55 27 Apr 2024
Read about the forum [here].
Register [here] - it's free.
What do I gain from registering? [here]
 02/06/24 - Summer Timetable starts
17/08/24 - Bus to Imber
27/09/25 - 200 years of passenger trains

No 'On This Day' events reported for 27th Apr

Train RunningCancelled
27/04/24 12:01 Severn Beach to Bristol Temple Meads
27/04/24 13:51 Worcester Foregate Street to Bristol Temple Meads
Short Run
27/04/24 06:34 Bristol Temple Meads to Worcester Shrub Hill
27/04/24 06:34 Great Malvern to Bristol Temple Meads
27/04/24 06:55 Cheltenham Spa to Weymouth
07:33 Exeter St Davids to London Paddington
27/04/24 10:10 Weston-Super-Mare to Severn Beach
27/04/24 11:38 Bristol Temple Meads to Worcester Foregate Street
12:02 Westbury to Gloucester
27/04/24 12:49 Worcester Foregate Street to Bristol Temple Meads
14:10 Gloucester to Frome
14:30 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour
27/04/24 14:38 Bristol Temple Meads to Worcester Foregate Street
27/04/24 15:38 Bristol Temple Meads to Worcester Foregate Street
17:43 Bristol Temple Meads to Salisbury
18:12 Salisbury to Cheltenham Spa
18:23 Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff Central
19:13 Salisbury to Worcester Shrub Hill
PollsThere are no open or recent polls
Abbreviation pageAcronymns and abbreviations
Stn ComparatorStation Comparator
Rail newsNews Now - live rail news feed
Site Style 1 2 3 4
Next departures • Bristol Temple MeadsBath SpaChippenhamSwindonDidcot ParkwayReadingLondon PaddingtonMelksham
Exeter St DavidsTauntonWestburyTrowbridgeBristol ParkwayCardiff CentralOxfordCheltenham SpaBirmingham New Street
April 27, 2024, 03:09:16 *
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
Forgotten your username or password? - get a reminder
Most recently liked subjects
[141] Labour to nationalise railways within five years of coming to ...
[73] access for all at Devon stations report
[47] Who we are - the people behind firstgreatwestern.info
[17] Bonaparte's at Bristol Temple Meads
[3] Lack of rolling stock due to attacks on shipping in the Red Se...
[2] Cornish delays
 
News: A forum for passengers ... with input from rail professionals welcomed too
 
   Home   Help Search Calendar Login Register  
Pages: [1] 2
  Print  
Author Topic: Alternatives to the station buffet  (Read 6206 times)
TonyK
Global Moderator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 6438


The artist formerly known as Four Track, Now!


View Profile
« on: December 08, 2017, 15:44:30 »

We have a thread for hotels near stations, but how about food and drink, close to stations? I mention this after almost accidentally taking refreshments with Mrs FT, N! when dropping her at Tiverton Parkway. We had intended to try out the farm shop and café on the left as you enter the approach road, but it was closed.  Coming out of the car park, we noticed that the café in the golf driving range is open to the general public.

It proved to serve a decent cup of coffee and very acceptable snacks and cake at a good price.
Logged

Now, please!
eightf48544
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 4574


View Profile Email
« Reply #1 on: December 08, 2017, 17:03:30 »

The Great Western by the closed Wolverhampton Low Level, short walk from back entrance to High Level famous for its grey peas and bacon.

Black Lion Consal Forge Churnet Valley only easily accessible by Churnet Valley Railway or Caldon Canal.
Logged
broadgage
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 5410



View Profile
« Reply #2 on: December 10, 2017, 00:37:27 »

As one or two members might have guessed, my preferred alternative to the station buffet is the one on the train, or better still a full restaurant service.
Logged

A proper intercity train has a minimum of 8 coaches, gangwayed throughout, with first at one end, and a full sized buffet car between first and standard.
It has space for cycles, surfboards,luggage etc.
A 5 car DMU (Diesel Multiple Unit) is not a proper inter-city train. The 5+5 and 9 car DMUs are almost as bad.
FremlinsMan
Full Member
***
Posts: 60


View Profile
« Reply #3 on: December 10, 2017, 17:44:30 »

There's a 24-hour cafe bar in the reception part of the Oxford YHA, behind platform 4. I've only tried the drink there, they had some craft beers at the time (2 years ago). They advertised their food https://www.yha.org.uk/sites/default/files/FULL-YHA-FULL-MENU.pdf, so I assume this is available to non-residents.

The One http://theoneoxford.co.uk/The_One/Welcome.html
 Restaurant and Bar is only slight further along Botley Road, I've never been there, though.
Logged
TaplowGreen
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 7800



View Profile
« Reply #4 on: December 10, 2017, 20:13:25 »

http://www.thegreyfriarreading.co.uk/

Well worth a visit - 2 mins from Reading station and vastly superior to the Three Guineas.
Logged
LiskeardRich
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 3462

richardwarwicker@hotmail.co.uk
View Profile
« Reply #5 on: December 10, 2017, 20:25:05 »

Sullivan’s at Penzance.
Logged

All posts are my own personal believes, opinions and understandings!
Chris from Nailsea
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 17895


I am not railway staff


View Profile Email
« Reply #6 on: December 10, 2017, 21:25:25 »

The Railway Inn at Yatton.  Patronised, and approved, by myself, bobm and bignosemac, on various occasions.  Grin

Also at Yatton - the Strawberry Line Cafe.

Both within just a few steps of the platform (one on each side).  Wink
Logged

William Huskisson MP (Member of Parliament) was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830.  Many more have died in the same way since then.  Don't take a chance: stop, look, listen.

"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner."  Discuss.
froome
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 913


View Profile Email
« Reply #7 on: December 11, 2017, 07:43:35 »

Has anyone used The Platform on the station approach road at Frome? It is very small and isolated away from virtually everything else in the town, and easily missed if you come out of the station, so I'm somewhat amazed it is surviving. I can't imagine that Frome has enough train users to keep it going.
Logged
grahame
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 40834



View Profile WWW Email
« Reply #8 on: December 11, 2017, 07:59:13 »

Has anyone used The Platform on the station approach road at Frome? It is very small and isolated away from virtually everything else in the town, and easily missed if you come out of the station, so I'm somewhat amazed it is surviving. I can't imagine that Frome has enough train users to keep it going.

Oh wow - I must make a point of taking a look at that;  so often, Frome compares to Melksham and we've got interest there in a cafe (and station assistance point) in the somewhat isolated area around the station.   I think you may be surprised how much "neighbour" rather than rail business such places generate, and the two elements together can make them viable.
Logged

Coffee Shop Admin, Acting Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, Option 24/7 Melksham Rep
rogerw
Global Moderator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1343



View Profile
« Reply #9 on: December 11, 2017, 08:45:21 »

I bought a coffee there whilst waiting for the Minehead special earlier this year.  It is very small and seems to have a regular patronage of locals.  Reasonable prices and friendly service with everything prepared to order.
Logged

I like to travel.  It lets me feel I'm getting somewhere.
froome
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 913


View Profile Email
« Reply #10 on: December 11, 2017, 09:20:37 »

Has anyone used The Platform on the station approach road at Frome? It is very small and isolated away from virtually everything else in the town, and easily missed if you come out of the station, so I'm somewhat amazed it is surviving. I can't imagine that Frome has enough train users to keep it going.

Oh wow - I must make a point of taking a look at that;  so often, Frome compares to Melksham and we've got interest there in a cafe (and station assistance point) in the somewhat isolated area around the station.   I think you may be surprised how much "neighbour" rather than rail business such places generate, and the two elements together can make them viable.

There is a small trading estate next to it, so I assume that generates a little business. The nearest housing is across the main road, which is very difficult to cross, so i would be surprised if many locals call in, though there are no other cafes in that small part of the town.
Logged
BandHcommuter
Sr. Member
****
Posts: 180


View Profile
« Reply #11 on: December 11, 2017, 09:32:41 »

Has anyone used The Platform on the station approach road at Frome? It is very small and isolated away from virtually everything else in the town, and easily missed if you come out of the station, so I'm somewhat amazed it is surviving. I can't imagine that Frome has enough train users to keep it going.
The cafe outside Frome Station gets plenty of trade from local trading units. Unfortunately it doesn't seem to open until after 8am, so they miss out on the trade from the 100+ rail passengers who use the departures between 0605 and 0802. They could probably get a bit of trade from those on the 1015, which often has 50+ passengers waiting on the platform (and more on Saturday for the 1007).
Logged
chuffed
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1502


View Profile
« Reply #12 on: December 11, 2017, 09:47:31 »

I must recommend the little cafe (used to only be open for taxi drivers) by the 8/9 bus stops at Temple Meads. I've known it open at 8pm even in the winter. The bacon sandwiches are heartily recommended. At the opposite extreme is Harts bakery in the arches underneath the incline. An artisanal bakery where you can watch the bakers at work. All their products are extremely tasty and of award winning standards. To get to it, come out of the station, turn left, go down the flight of steps, and walk in front of the Bristol and Exeter building. The smell of the goodies will waft you there !
« Last Edit: December 11, 2017, 17:44:22 by chuffed » Logged
JayMac
Data Manager
Hero Member
******
Posts: 18923



View Profile
« Reply #13 on: December 11, 2017, 11:00:21 »

A few years ago, during a Bristol Food Festival,  Hart's Bakery was used by FGW (First Great Western) as a pop up restaurant, to showcase their Pullman Dining. A team came up from Plymouth and took over the bakery kitchen for the evening.

Myself and bobm, with our lady friends, had a most enjoyable meal.
Logged

"Build a man a fire and he'll be warm for the rest of the day. Set a man on fire and he'll be warm for the rest of his life."

- Sir Terry Pratchett.
WSW Frome
Transport Scholar
Sr. Member
******
Posts: 180


View Profile
« Reply #14 on: December 11, 2017, 11:55:59 »

"The Platform" café outside Frome Station (and close to the ticket office) was originally opened (with new buildings etc) about 4-5? years ago with artisan and upper market credentials and I believe early opening. Unfortunately that model did not appear successful and the café closed for some period.

It has been under new management for perhaps 3 years with a more standard provision for travellers, taxi drivers and local businesses. It operates on fairly normal daytime opening hours. Clearly the business should be encouraged and there could be some potential for traveller information and support to the rail service. Frome ticket office is open Mo-Sa on the full morning shift to around 12.00.
Logged
Do you have something you would like to add to this thread, or would you like to raise a new question at the Coffee Shop? Please [register] (it is free) if you have not done so before, or login (at the top of this page) if you already have an account - we would love to read what you have to say!

You can find out more about how this forum works [here] - that will link you to a copy of the forum agreement that you can read before you join, and tell you very much more about how we operate. We are an independent forum, provided and run by customers of Great Western Railway, for customers of Great Western Railway and we welcome railway professionals as members too, in either a personal or official capacity. Views expressed in posts are not necessarily the views of the operators of the forum.

As well as posting messages onto existing threads, and starting new subjects, members can communicate with each other through personal messages if they wish. And once members have made a certain number of posts, they will automatically be admitted to the "frequent posters club", where subjects not-for-public-domain are discussed; anything from the occasional rant to meetups we may be having ...

 
Pages: [1] 2
  Print  
 
Jump to:  

Powered by MySQL Powered by PHP Powered by SMF 1.1.2 | SMF © 2006-2007, Simple Machines LLC Valid XHTML 1.0! Valid CSS!
This forum is provided by customers of Great Western Railway (formerly First Great Western), and the views expressed are those of the individual posters concerned. Visit www.gwr.com for the official Great Western Railway website. Please contact the administrators of this site if you feel that the content provided by one of our posters contravenes our posting rules (email link to report). Forum hosted by Well House Consultants

Jump to top of pageJump to Forum Home Page