Huddersfield station buffet to close

[61653 HTAFC]

I think this has been quite a long time coming, and there are fundamental issues with the viability of the business - particularly in the current location (which isn't aimed as a criticism of the owners, just being realistic). Footfall is down, add in that things are going to get worse as TRU progresses. They want to refurbish the building that houses the buffet. I believe the grill packed up pre-Covid and the owners couldn't afford to replace it so was given support by a group of rail staff to fund a replacement. Opening hours are also pretty limited. Then you also need to consider how energy prices have rocketed.

The landlord cutting rent would likely only prolong the inevitable - and even then the owners might decide it's not worth their while carrying on if a rent cut makes the location viable.

The owners would probably be better off shutting up shop and agreeing with TPE to put a food van/trailer at the front of the station during the morning/lunch period. More traffic, lower fixed costs.

I’ve heard from a source "in the know" that the owners had repeatedly requested assistance (in the form of reduced rent) during Covid and during the strikes/blockades from the landlords (FirstGroup), and that those requests continually fell on deaf ears.

First wanted the buffet gone at the start of the latest franchise and it was only due to a combination of public objection and intervention by railway staff based at the station that the buffet was able to continue.

 

[yorksrob]

I’ve heard from a source "in the know" that the owners had repeatedly requested assistance (in the form of reduced rent) during Covid and during the strikes/blockades from the landlords (FirstGroup), and that those requests continually fell on deaf ears.

First wanted the buffet gone at the start of the latest franchise and it was only due to a combination of public objection and intervention by railway staff based at the station that the buffet was able to continue.

A fine illustration of the half-witted stupidity of the industry at times. Clueless corporate idiots who can't even run a train service, yet presume to pontificate on how to run a station buffet.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

The buffet/café/shop at Dewsbury Station has also closed now, today was their last day. Apparently they'd tried to get FirstGroup to lower the rent during all the Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade related disruption, First had offered a lower rate then withdrew it.

No doubt once the upgrade is finished it'll end up reopening as an identikit SSP outlet!

 

[yorksrob]

The buffet/café/shop at Dewsbury Station has also closed now, today was their last day. Apparently they'd tried to get FirstGroup to lower the rent during all the Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade related disruption, First had offered a lower rate then withdrew it.

No doubt once the upgrade is finished it'll end up reopening as an identikit SSP outlet!

Is the pub still going ?

I wonder what made them withdraw the offer. DfT perhaps ?

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Is the pub still going ?

I wonder what made them withdraw the offer. DfT perhaps ?

The pub is fine as far as I am aware. It's just the little café next to the entrance to platform 2 that's closing.

The employee I spoke to described the negotiations as "giving with one hand, taking away with the other".

 

[Spartacus]

The pub is fine as far as I am aware. It's just the little café next to the entrance to platform 2 that's closing.

The employee I spoke to described the negotiations as "giving with one hand, taking away with the other".

I'm amazed anyone took the lease really, what with the barriers being built the 'wrong side' of the shop. As well as being off putting to anyone just using platform 1 there used to be a reasonable amount of business (small but probably important to a shop that size) from pedestrians going through and past the station, which was lost when the barriers went in.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

I'm amazed anyone took the lease really, what with the barriers being built the 'wrong side' of the shop. As well as being off putting to anyone just using platform 1 there used to be a reasonable amount of business (small but probably important to a shop that size) from pedestrians going through and past the station, which was lost when the barriers went in.

To be fair the barriers seem to be open 90% of the time. The train service (or lack thereof) much of the time probably has a bigger impact.

 

[yorksrob]

The pub is fine as far as I am aware. It's just the little café next to the entrance to platform 2 that's closing.

The employee I spoke to described the negotiations as "giving with one hand, taking away with the other".

I'm glad the pub's still there. I expect they have a better base of non-railway customers.

 

[Andy Pacer]

Shame this, I used to find the station buffet very handy - and reasonable.

 

[GardenRail]

Trans-pennine Exepress really are a load of balls aren't they. From train service to catering. An absolute disgrace. (and the public obsession with brands, costa and the like)

 

[DarloRich]

Trans-pennine Exepress really are a load of balls aren't they. From train service to catering. An absolute disgrace. (and the public obsession with brands, costa and the like)

A counter point: tpe need to maximise the return on any commercial property they manage. That is the commericial reality of the world we live in.

 

[yorksrob]

A counter point: tpe need to maximise the return on any commercial property they manage. That is the commericial reality of the world we live in.

Which won't be done with a load of empty space.

Reality - the operational side of the railway has degraded the commercial viability of platform businesses to the extent that rents need to be dropped.

 

[DarloRich]

Which won't be done with a load of empty space.

Reality - the operational side of the railway has degraded the commercial viability of platform businesses to the extent that rents need to be dropped.

Absolutley - but i bet you could get a national chain in the space and drop your rent less.

You also dont know how much less the current occupier wanted off thier payments. Thier proposed terms might have also been unrealistic.

It isnt a free pass for Daves Local Coffee shop to trade just becuase they are nice and local

 

[yorksrob]

Absolutley - but i bet you could get a national chain in the space and drop your rent less.

You also dont know how much less the current occupier wanted of thier payments. Thier proposed terms might have also been unrealistic.

It isnt a free pass for Daves Local Coffee shop to trade just becuase they are nice and local

A local trader could be a good USP for the business. Try finding an independant cafe in the middle of Leeds for example.

The railway industry has done itself no favours whatsoever by failing to support its established businesses.

 

[DarloRich]

A local trader could be a good USP for the business. Try finding an independant cafe in the middle of Leeds for example.

The railway industry has done itself no favours whatsoever by failing to support its established businesses.

Unlike many here i am unsentimental. I want a warm drink for a reasonable price. I dont give a hoot if the company selling it is local or national!

This isnt a charity. It isnt for the railway industry to give people a hand up. It is thier job to make as much money as they can. Yes, try and do a deal but dont gove it away.

Edit: as long as the pub is open i will be fine.

 

[yorksrob]

Unlike many here i am unsentimental. I want a warm drink for a reasonable price. I dont give a hoot if the company selling it is local or national!

This isnt a charity. It isnt for the railway industry to give people a hand up. It is thier job to make as much money as they can. Yes, try and do a deal but dont gove it away.

Fair doos. We'll see if Greggs (or other chains) occupy the empty buffets !

(My suspicion is that the industry had a good thing going with their local incumbents, and they've mis-judged).

 

[DarloRich]

Fair doos. We'll see if Greggs (or other chains) occupy the empty buffets !

You never said there was a step up to Greggs on the cards!

 

[yorksrob]

You never said there was a step up to Greggs on the cards!

Compared to Huddersfield's lovely fry-up, Greggs couldn't be a step up

 

[greyman42]

Unlike many here i am unsentimental. I want a warm drink for a reasonable price. I dont give a hoot if the company selling it is local or national!

This isnt a charity. It isnt for the railway industry to give people a hand up. It is thier job to make as much money as they can. Yes, try and do a deal but dont gove it away.

Edit: as long as the pub is open i will be fine.

So if the pub shuts and is replaced by a national chain pub, will that be fine?

 

[GardenRail]

So if the pub shuts and is replaced by a national chain pub, will that be fine?

Probably doesn't give a damn, so long as it sells generic John Smiths and/or Carling. Like the warm drink theory, but beer. Cool and reasonable price.

 

[DarloRich]

So if the pub shuts and is replaced by a national chain pub, will that be fine?

That would be terrible, but then i care more about my beer than my mobile brew.

Probably doesn't give a damn, so long as it sells generic John Smiths and/or Carling. Like the warm drink theory, but beer. Cool and reasonable price.

Aye, sumthink like that. I am sure you know best.

 

[Pinus contorta]

Compared to Huddersfield's lovely fry-up, Greggs couldn't be a step up

I think that's the way it's going in a lot of places now. The food is made in industrial quantities else where and merely re heated or whatever. The concept of frying up and the stuff being cooked to order costs more, time/ electric /gas /whatever.

 

[GardenRail]

I am sure you know best.

No need to be so sensitive.

Railway Stations, are going the same way as motorway service stations, where now, a Greggs is seen as a meal. What ever happened to a good, plated meal, that had a little quality. Now we're lumbered with McDonnalds, Greggs, Subway. Its just poor, and this is what our stations are becoming. Soul-less, Expensive, Corporate and Clinical.

 

[Alanko]

I suspect that was part of the problem. It is such a small space that even when not cooking bacon, it smells of it. And that alone will put off quite a few prospective customers, whether because of religion or being vegetarian / vegan.

I'm neither vegan nor forbidden from consuming pork on religious grounds. I dislike any cafe that has a rolling fug of cookery smoke and smell inside. There is one local to me that does good food, but my clothing stinks afterwards. I wouldn't go there before work, for example.

 

[Pinza-C55]

Unlike many here i am unsentimental. I want a warm drink for a reasonable price. I dont give a hoot if the company selling it is local or national!

This isnt a charity. It isnt for the railway industry to give people a hand up. It is thier job to make as much money as they can. Yes, try and do a deal but dont gove it away.

Edit: as long as the pub is open i will be fine.

It is thier job to make as much money as they can.

Sadly that is the way the railways work nowadays. The principle of British Railways was that it delivered an essential service to the British public at a reasonable price but successive governments have thrown that away with the current miserable result.

 

[DarloRich]

Sadly that is the way the railways work nowadays. The principle of British Railways was that it delivered an essential service to the British public at a reasonable price but successive governments have thrown that away with the current miserable result.

Britsh Railways ended a generation ago. The world has changed.

No need to be so sensitive.

Railway Stations, are going the same way as motorway service stations, where now, a Greggs is seen as a meal. What ever happened to a good, plated meal, that had a little quality. Now we're lumbered with McDonnalds, Greggs, Subway. Its just poor, and this is what our stations are becoming. Soul-less, Expensive, Corporate and Clinical.

It isnt 1953 anymore. Most people want speed and convenience. They dont want a sit down 3 course meal on a plate!

If driving and using a service station i want a pee, a drink and maybe a butty. I dont want a sit down and a plate. I want to be home as quickly as possible.

Same as the station. Speed is what matters. Perhaps it was better in them olden days than now but we cant go back.

PS i am more animated by the thought you think i would drink john smiths than anyrhing else! I have walked out of pubs before for selling crap like that.

PPS neverspoons

 

[Class 170101]

The only observation I would make here is that a business open on an otherwise unstaffed station would seem to deter low-lifes, crime and anti-social behaviour. Perhaps in the future if they sold railway tickets too then perhaps thats a win all round.

 

[Brush 4]

Meals on plates don't have to be 3 courses, a full english wiil do just fine. It's the public service element that has disappeared. If profit is the only motivation which it is now, the concept of a train or catering service for the public becomes irrelevant to the operators, and that is a step backwards.

 

[fishwomp]

[..]
It isnt 1953 anymore. Most people want speed and convenience. They dont want a sit down 3 course meal on a plate!

If driving and using a service station i want a pee, a drink and maybe a butty. I dont want a sit down and a plate. I want to be home as quickly as possible.

If you have an electric car, you need to pass more than water in the services, you'll have to pass time too ..

Same as the station. Speed is what matters. Perhaps it was better in them olden days than now but we cant go back.

In the past, with one long-distance train per hour in each direction (which was the case in the mid-80s before 150/2s arrived to complement locos) - then there wasn't much to do in the time between arriving on the hourly service from one of the local services, so there was more reason to pass time. You could sit and have a cup of tea, a breakfast, or a chip butty.

A more frequent service kills that need to kill time. On the other hand, today's pre-booked tickets causes people to arrive with more time to spare by ensuring they have longer connections from a local train or bus.

 

[E27007]

We may no longer have Huddersfield, we still have the Coffee Station for a cooked breakfast or lunch at Hebden Bridge station, Coffee Station opens Monday to Friday from early to about 1pm, there used to be a regular congregation of enthusiasts sitting at the tables on the platform, tea, bacon rolls swapping "traction gen". There are often rasilway magaziunes in the waiting room and Coffee Station has S/H railway books for sale at bargain prices