Should all major stations have a pub?

[telstarbox]

Do all these pubs on major stations also offer tea and coffee to those users of these railway stations who would prefer non-alcoholic drinks?

Yes, although stations such as Manchester Piccadilly and Leeds tend to have a separate coffee shop open fairly late as well. More and more pubs (not just station ones) have coffee machines behind the bar, a trend possibly started by Wetherspoon.
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I can't dispute the comments on the late trains from Waterloo, although it would be better if the toilets were working, but I disagree about the pub. It is open until midnight, so I have used it for a nightcap while waiting for a train; it is not cheap, and in my experience is never very busy and the customers are not the type who would cause the problems mentioned on the trains.
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Further to my previous note it might be less anti-social if the last Reading was 8 coaches rather than 4!

The late trains on SouthEastern can be the same, but the drunk folk aren't spending the evening in the concourse pubs on Charing Cross or Cannon Street but around the West End or the City.

Having said that I've no idea why anyone uses the Charing Cross bar when there are plenty of better pubs within two minute's walk of the station.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

On a somewhat related matter, all major railway stations should offer very good quality toilet facilities that are cleaned and maintained on a daily basis.

 

[HarleyDavidson]

On a somewhat related matter, all major railway stations should offer very good quality toilet facilities that are cleaned and maintained on a daily basis.

A Waterloo you have to pay 30p to have a pee, which is taking the pee literally. You can see why some of the smarter passengers get to Waterloo early and then use the toilets on a 444/450 before getting on a suburban service.

The only problem with that is they risk being taken to down Clapham yard for servicing.

 

[CaptainHaddock]

I like a good pub as much as anyone. Some of my local stations have great pubs on them (Dewsbury and Huddersfield).

But, I really don't feel every station needs or should have to have one. Maybe a cafe is a more appropriate shout.

Late last night I travelled on an EMT HST (full of drunks and littered with cans) from Wakefield Westgate (dry station) which was reasonably civilised for around 11pm on a Saturday night to Leeds (two pubs) which was absolute carnage, and had a very unpleasant atmosphere.

At the end of the day, railway staff are not employed to clear up the various fluids people deposit, nor are they there to act as security/bouncers, be abused, pick people off the floor, be assaulted, act as temporary social workers or put incapacitated people on their last train home.

I really don't get this perception that, just because there is a pub on a station, everyone will pile in, get ridiculously drunk and then spend their train journey home vomiting and abusing rail staff.

In my experience, most people using a station pub will, likely as not, be either changing trains or waiting for a lift home and, as such will spend no more than 30-40 minutes in the pub. Yes, the Taps pubs at Sheffield and York are exceptions but that's because they're great pubs with a good range of beers and would attract custom wherever in the city they were located. It just so happens that both York and Sheffield have fine old station buildings that had fallen into disuse and were entirely suitable for conversion into pubs.

If like me, your local station only has an hourly service, you will inevitably find yourself with a long connection time at the conclusion of a day out. I would much rather wait for my train in a warm, welcoming pub than on a cold draughty platform.

Now if only the Taps chain would do something similar at Wakefield Kirkgate....

 

[DarloRich]

should all major stations have some sort of pub attached to the station

Of course they should. Although the temperance league that is Rail UK will be against such an idea.

EDIT: As long as it is a good one and I get to choose the ale

 

[Iskra]

I really don't get this perception that, just because there is a pub on a station, everyone will pile in, get ridiculously drunk and then spend their train journey home vomiting and abusing rail staff.

In my experience, most people using a station pub will, likely as not, be either changing trains or waiting for a lift home and, as such will spend no more than 30-40 minutes in the pub. Yes, the Taps pubs at Sheffield and York are exceptions but that's because they're great pubs with a good range of beers and would attract custom wherever in the city they were located. It just so happens that both York and Sheffield have fine old station buildings that had fallen into disuse and were entirely suitable for conversion into pubs.

If like me, your local station only has an hourly service, you will inevitably find yourself with a long connection time at the conclusion of a day out. I would much rather wait for my train in a warm, welcoming pub than on a cold draughty platform.

Now if only the Taps chain would do something similar at Wakefield Kirkgate....

You've not heard of the real ale trail then?

Unfortunately not everyone is responsible.

 

[Clip]

You've not heard of the real ale trail then?

Unfortunately not everyone is responsible.

You cant simply pick one thing at random to suit your argument but yes you're right not everyone is responsible but thats a society issue not a railway issue that is brought on by having pubs on stations.

Mind you I wonder what theyll provide at London bridge when the new concourse opens as Jamies bar outside is a hell hole.

 

[DarloRich]

You cant simply pick one thing at random to suit your argument but yes you're right not everyone is responsible but thats a society issue not a railway issue that is brought on by having pubs on stations.

Mind you I wonder what theyll provide at London bridge when the new concourse opens as Jamies bar outside is a hell hole.

I often head to one of the pubs around Borough Market if stuck at the Bridge for a while

 

[Clip]

I often head to one of the pubs around Borough Market if stuck at the Bridge for a while

If I have a longish wait which to be honest isnt often I prefer to go to the Barrow Boy & Banker over the road but its been cold of late so jamies is handier( I will admit to the nicer looking women in there makes it a little bearable )

 

[DarloRich]

If I have a longish wait which to be honest isnt often I prefer to go to the Barrow Boy & Banker over the road but its been cold of late so jamies is handier( I will admit to the nicer looking women in there makes it a little bearable )

There will be an all bar one or something in the structure of the new station i should think. Jamies isn't for me although the views are nice

 

[Clip]

There will be an all bar one or something in the structure of the new station i should think. Jamies isn't for me although the views are nice

As long as its big enough that will be fine.

 

[Iskra]

You cant simply pick one thing at random to suit your argument but yes you're right not everyone is responsible but thats a society issue not a railway issue that is brought on by having pubs on stations.

Mind you I wonder what theyll provide at London bridge when the new concourse opens as Jamies bar outside is a hell hole.

I've hardly picked one thing at random. The poster I replied to mentioned Sheffield and York himself. Then there's Leeds and most stations Batley-Stalybridge (granted only 4 of the pubs are actually on the stations) that all come with their fair share of alcohol related trouble every Saturday. The local papers have had numerous complaints about disorder. That's quite a swathe of the local rail network and does go against the 'most people have one quiet pint and leave' argument. There's also a number of 'dry trains' on the network and others that you aren't allowed to board if you're drunk, so clearly there is a problem with alcohol and our railway.

I think I need to re-state that I'm not anti-pub, I do enjoy a drink and a good pub, I just think that careful thought needs to be put in, rather than just saying every major station should have a pub...

 

[oddiesjack]

I found myself at Ely on Sunday dinnertime with over an hour to kill (mainly thanks to the buggers-muddle that was the Cambridge-Ely RRB). There are no pubs within sighting distance of this station, nor even from the main road at the bottom of the station approach. I did find one a good 10 mins walk away but I felt that an interchange station like Ely would benefit from a handy pub or bar.

Also, several pages upthread, someone mentioned being able to get £2 off a pie in some chain by showing some sort of card. I pulll a face at having to pay more than £2 for a pie, so how flipping dear must these pies be if they can afford to knock £2 off!

 

[Paul180]

A Waterloo you have to pay 30p to have a pee, which is taking the pee literally. You can see why some of the smarter passengers get to Waterloo early and then use the toilets on a 444/450 before getting on a suburban service.

The only problem with that is they risk being taken to down Clapham yard for servicing.

I have have had that happen a few times on the train that I was on lucky for them Or perhaps not the first stop was Clapham and not further down the line.

 

[dk1]

I found myself at Ely on Sunday dinnertime with over an hour to kill (mainly thanks to the buggers-muddle that was the Cambridge-Ely RRB). There are no pubs within sighting distance of this station, nor even from the main road at the bottom of the station approach. I did find one a good 10 mins walk away but I felt that an interchange station like Ely would benefit from a handy pub or bar.

A mate of mine would love to open up a real ale bar in the old Rosie & Dolly shop on platform 1 at Ely. He's convinced it would be very popular. The usage & interchange at this station is well over 1m these days & growing.

One of the most frustrating stations has to beCambridge where unless you know the area there is practically no chance of getting a pint anywhere near this extremely busy station. Thankfully this will all be put right within the next year or so as a large development including bars, restaurants & a hotel are all under construction right outside.

 

[Class 170101]

A mate of mine would love to open up a real ale bar in the old Rosie & Dolly shop on platform 1 at Ely. He's convinced it would be very popular. The usage & interchange at this station is well over 1m these days & growing.

One of the most frustrating stations has to beCambridge where unless you know the area there is practically no chance of getting a pint anywhere near this extremely busy station. Thankfully this will all be put right within the next year or so as a large development including bars, restaurants & a hotel are all under construction right outside.

Salisbury Arms is 7 minutes walk away according to Google maps. As to whether its any good, I think I have been there once a long time ago.

 

[Spamcan81]

Salisbury Arms is 7 minutes walk away according to Google maps. As to whether its any good, I think I have been there once a long time ago.

Used to be an excellent free house but then became a Charles Wells establishment and haven't returned since.

 

[dk1]

Salisbury Arms is 7 minutes walk away according to Google maps. As to whether its any good, I think I have been there once a long time ago.

It's was alright last time I visited as had a jukebox The other way is The Earl of Derby. Again about the same distance but not really convenient.

 

[sheff1]

Hull Paragon would definitely benefit from a Wetherspoon/Head of Steam, as there's surprisingly little in the area in terms of decent pubs

As mentioned there is a Wetherspoons 3 mins walk from Paragon. Agree, though, that it is not a "decent pub"

 

[dk1]

As mentioned there is a Wetherspoons 3 mins walk from Paragon. Agree, though, that it is not a "decent pub"

I don't know. On recent visits to Hull I've twice enjoyed a meal there at a more than respectable price.

 

[LT3001]

Most main stations have a spoons not too far away. The weather spoons app is a great help to all.

 

[306024]

Hull Paragon would definitely benefit from a Wetherspoon/Head of Steam, as there's surprisingly little in the area in terms of decent pubs

Whether Wetherspoons meets your definition of a decent pub is a matter of opinion. When in Hull (rarely) we make the effort of going to the Minerva on the river, hardly near the station though.

In Ely the Cutter is closest to the station and pleasant to sit outside on a nice day, not cheap though and about 8 mins walk if the pedestrian lights change quickly for you. If Downham Market can have a bar on the station (that closes for lunch on some days!) then Ely station could be an earner providing the rent is reasonable. Not sure how that would work, would AGA be the landlord as they seem to have responsibility for station infrastructure?, in which case you have the uncertainty of a new landlord every franchise change.

The best major station for local pubs is Chelmsford (taking passenger usage to define major). I can think of five in about a hundred yard radius, all good to excellent.

 

[sprinterguy]

I personally think that a well managed and presented pub can be an asset at major stations as part of the services the stations provides to the passenger, especially those stations that witness a large number of interchange journeys. The excellent York and Sheffield Taps are surely the best examples of this in the UK.

I did notice Birmingham New Street doesn't seem to have a pub in the station which seemed quite surprising.

There's an All Bar One adjacent to the new Smallsbrook Queensway entrance. Talk continues that a Birmingham Tap will be opening somewhere in the vicinity, although not in all likelihood on the station itself, but it's all gone rather quiet on that front in recent months.
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There used to be one on the overbridge where one could buy a bottle of Newcastle Brown Ale, however it seems to have been swept away for all the modern tat.

And it won't be missed, it was dark, dingy and overpriced.

 

[telstarbox]

Is the (Manchester) Piccadilly Tap unconnected to the other Taps?

 

[sprinterguy]

Is the (Manchester) Piccadilly Tap unconnected to the other Taps?

They're all related as part of the Tapped Brew Co run by Jamie Hawksworth, although as I understand it the Euston and Manchester Taps are run as a joint venture with Bloomsbury Leisure.

 

[Mikey C]

As mentioned there is a Wetherspoons 3 mins walk from Paragon. Agree, though, that it is not a "decent pub"

The Wetherspoons in the old town isn't bad, but then the old town has several decent pubs.
For some reason I managed to miss the one nearer the station, though having seen the photos it's not the most attractive looking Wetherspoon I've seen!

 

[RichmondCommu]

Wetherspoons are a catalyst for pub closures - pubs tied to breweries or one of those dreadful pub owing companies cannot complete on prices.

In Ellesmere Port, the Wetherspoons' Thomas Telford is now the only pub we have left in the town centre proper (plus the keg-only Station hotel if you stretch it a little), which is a disgrace for a town of 60,000 people.

Milton Keynes is as bad I seem to recall.

I'm afraid I have to disagree with you. Whilst I refuse to pay over the odds for a pint of bitter a well run pub selling good beer and offering a warm welcome has nothing to fear from Wetherspoons.

In terms of Real Ale I would argue that Wetherspoons has boosted the industry no end. Find a Wetherspoons and you're guaranteed a decent pint of bitter and reasonably priced food.

 

[DarloRich]

I'm afraid I have to disagree with you. Whilst I refuse to pay over the odds for a pint of bitter a well run pub selling good beer and offering a warm welcome has nothing to fear from Wetherspoons.

In terms of Real Ale I would argue that Wetherspoons has boosted the industry no end. Find a Wetherspoons and you're guaranteed a decent pint of bitter and reasonably priced food.

you are guaranteed a pint, the quality is variable

 

[RichmondCommu]

you are guaranteed a pint, the quality is variable

Yes but you could say that for many other pubs that are charging a lot more for a pint! Not only that if you don't like it take it back and ask for something else!

 

[Mikey C]

An example of a useful station pub is The Victoria and Albert at Marylebone.

I wouldn't choose to go there for an evening, but if you have time to kill when waiting for a train a pint there beats having to wander away from the station.