Breakfast near (or in) New St

[Bletchleyite]

Any suggestions for a good and not too expensive (English) breakfast in or near New St of a weekday morning before 9?

(Other than Spoons)

Any nearby traditional greasy spoons particularly appreciated.

 

[Class172]

I can't say I'm familiar with the greasy spoons of the city centre, but there is a Beefeater close to the cathedral (about 5 mins walk from New St) - it's adjacent to the Premier Inn so I assume will be open quite early.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Cheers. The Premier Inn may itself be a reasonable bet if it has its own breakfast room, allegedly (though I've never done it) they are happy to take walk-ins as it's chargeable anyway.

 

[gray1404]

I recall once getting off at New Street one morning and walking to a Weatherspoons in about 5 minutes for breakfast. This would be the cheapest option too. The person I was meeting at New Street guided me but it certainly was only about 5 minutes away.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Spoons is an option but I don't really find the quality up there to be honest, even compared with a proper greasy spoon. They also often don't open early enough.

 

[najaB]

...allegedly (though I've never done it) they are happy to take walk-ins as it's chargeable anyway.

I've done it at other locations, so there's definitely form.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Ended up in a hurry so in McDs after all. But you can construct something not far off a full English by customising stuff at the order terminals!

Cheers all.

 

[Mag_seven]

I've done it at other locations, so there's definitely form.

Most hotel restaurants will cater for non residents.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Most hotel restaurants will cater for non residents.

Bars too. In the end it’s all income.

 

[Howardh]

Most hotel restaurants will cater for non residents.

On a separate issue, when abroad I've often popped into a hotel and bought a drink, and asked if I could use their outdoor pool, and have never been refused. Presumably it costs them nothing to let me use a pool - it would be there anyway - and they get a couple of beers and a small snack sold. But frankly I wouldn't mind paying a few euros at reception to use their pool anyway.
Might be different for specialist areas such as spa zones, they tend to be residents only or pay at reception.
But yes, hotels are more than happy for n/r's to use their bars, restaurants and so on - and toilets for a nice wash!!

 

[OwlMan]

Cherry Reds in John Bright Street (out of back entrance of New Street) is usually good

 

[Minilad]

Grand Central kitchen on Stephenson Street is good. Lots of train crew use it which is always a good sign! Can eat in or take away. It's right in front of the Stephenson St exit behind the tram stop

 

[Bletchleyite]

Cheers for the other suggestions, shall bear them in mind for next time!

 

[Mojo]

I recall once getting off at New Street one morning and walking to a Weatherspoons in about 5 minutes for breakfast. This would be the cheapest option too. The person I was meeting at New Street guided me but it certainly was only about 5 minutes away.

Spoons is an option but I don't really find the quality up there to be honest, even compared with a proper greasy spoon. They also often don't open early enough.

I agree; a Wetherspoon breakfast doesn't quite taste the same as a proper cafe. I also don't think it's particularly cheap either; £3.09 for a "Traditional" or £4.99 for a large, plus £1.05 for a tea (total £6.04) doesn't compare particularly favourably with a greasy spoon. Obviously those prices are variable dependent on the location; some locations are a bit less, some more (eg. at least one central London branch charges £4.99 small/£5.99 large and £1.35 for tea) but those prices seem fairly average for most non-London branches.

 

[70014IronDuke]

I agree; a Wetherspoon breakfast doesn't quite taste the same as a proper cafe. I also don't think it's particularly cheap either; £3.09 for a "Traditional" or £4.99 for a large, plus £1.05 for a tea (total £6.04) doesn't compare particularly favourably with a greasy spoon. Obviously those prices are variable dependent on the location; some locations are a bit less, some more (eg. at least one central London branch charges £4.99 small/£5.99 large and £1.35 for tea) but those prices seem fairly average for most non-London branches.

A suggestion (seeing as you are an administrator) - would it be worth creating a new section entitled something like "Recommended eateries/pubs near stations"? Members could update it as appropriate. If it worked, a "Recommended accommodation near stations" could also be created. Each new thread should be given a clear, standard heading: eg Hartlepool eateries or whatever. Possibly including the official station code.

 

[Mojo]

A suggestion (seeing as you are an administrator) - would it be worth creating a new section entitled something like "Recommended eateries/pubs near stations"? Members could update it as appropriate. If it worked, a "Recommended accommodation near stations" could also be created. Each new thread should be given a clear, standard heading: eg Hartlepool eateries or whatever. Possibly including the official station code.

Various people have attempted to have threads on this subject; probably the most successful of which is this thread from 5 years ago which was stickied in this forum for a bit but died a lack of interest: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/good-food-near-stations.67492/. If you have a search for food near stations using the forum search engine you'll come across 4 threads. If you want to give it a go again however maybe post one in the Trip planning forum and we could sticky it for a trial period.

 

[70014IronDuke]

No, no no!

Not a single thread involving every darned station from Penzance to Altnebreach. Not at all.

Such threads are so daunting - you can never seem to find what you want.

A separate SECTION - with individual threads for individual stations.

 

[Mojo]

No, no no!

Not a single thread involving every darned station from Penzance to Altnebreach. Not at all.

Such threads are so daunting - you can never seem to find what you want.

A separate SECTION - with individual threads for individual stations.

Do you mean a new forum? I suggest that such a thing would get incredibly complex, and given the lack of interest last time would be very difficult to manage. Forums aren't really designed to convey information in such a manner; our Fares guide does this because it is a complex area which many people are interested in, however even now it requires a lot of work and much of it has already become out-of-date.

 

[70014IronDuke]

Ah, yes you actually call them 'forums' - apologies for wrong use of nomenclature.

Well, I wouldn't want to compare it to the fares forum. Obviously any posts in such a forum would be a) subjective and b) liable to go out of date. But that comes with the deal - a post from one month ago recommending "Joe's Caf, very good and affordable lunch menu, three minute walk from the station, turn left outside the east entrance" has a lot more chance of being up to date than one from five years ago. But members who need the latest could post under that thread and ask the specific question. I don't understand why it would need to be kept up to date by any moderator or such, TBH.

 

[Crossover]

Premier Inn's I am sure accept walk-ins. Even as a resident I have just walked in and paid in the morning (there is no discount for pre-booking as far as I can tell, other than if you do the dinner and breakfast deal) and I am sure I have seen non-residents do the same. I have found them a little mixed - the one I used in High Wycombe which had the restaurant within was OK, the one in Cheltenham which used the next TGI wasn't so great (maybe it was the ambience) whilst I have stayed in one a few times in Tewkesbury which had a Brewers Fayre which I rather enjoyed (sadly unlikely to go back there as it was work related and we no longer have an office nearby as we did)

As for the forum idea, I can see Mojo's point - would you do one thread per venue, or per location? How would it be ordered, as forums do them in date order. I suspect the Fares section was planned as such so that the order was correct for all the sections but that area isn't dynamic like a venue section would be. If anything, a Wiki style site may be best suited to such a venture, but then, doesn't it just become another (but smaller) Trip Advisor?

 

[telstarbox]

Google Maps reviews are good enough for a cafe - no need to reinvent the wheel on here.

 

[MG11]

Any suggestions for a good and not too expensive (English) breakfast in or near New St of a weekday morning before 9?

(Other than Spoons)

Any nearby traditional greasy spoons particularly appreciated.

Birmingham New Street has a The Pasty Shop branch. Delicious and great service.