Independent businesses on stations?

[D6130]

Unfortunately the Jubilee Refreshment Rooms at Sowerby Bridge station didn't reopen after lockdown....except for a short period selling tea, coffee and bacon butties to commuters in the morning peak. However the licensed section with its real ales and railway memorabilia doesn't seem likely to ever reopen.

 

[Simon75]

Stoke-on-Trent railway station has in former Virgin First class , one of the local Titanic brewery 'Bod' cafe bars

 

[MisterSheeps]

Not sure if the station cafe at Grindleford is actually on railway land

is the former booking office, sold off by BR, still has the old gas lights, now electric though.

has now permanently closed at the station, hasn't it

closed about 5 years ago, recently reopened as a locally funded (morecambe bay partnership) store of rentable electric assist cycles, and free but reserve it first mobility scooters ("tramper"), but you cannot take them on the train.

I offer Hazel Grove (Stockport bound platform has a hole-in-wall), Crianlarich (still exists, great bacon rolls & cakes), Marple (coffee stall in car park), Edale (café in old booking office by subway)

 

[D6130]

Crianlarich (still exists, great bacon rolls & cakes),

Last time I was at Crianlarich (mid-September), the station refreshment room was closed and empty with a 'To Let' sign in the window.

 

[yorksrob]

Used to like the little cafe on the island platform at Huddersfield - did a nice fry up.

The building is dismantled awaiting re-assembly, but I think the pandemic and industrial strife on the railway finished off the cafe, sadly.

 

[JB_B]

Steamworks bar on the platform at Seaford. (Plus the new one at Glynde.)

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Used to like the little cafe on the island platform at Huddersfield - did a nice fry up.

The building is dismantled awaiting re-assembly, but I think the pandemic and industrial strife on the railway finished off the cafe, sadly.

AIUI the proprietors took the temporary closure, coupled with losses during the pandemic, as a cue to retire.

TPE had tried and failed to get rid a few years previously, no doubt to replace it with an identikit SSP outlet. I'm sure that's what we'll end up getting in their place once the rebuild is done.

 

[Brooke]

I don’t think anyone has mentioned the cafe at Wemyss Bay yet?

Nearer to home for me:
- Knot Pretzels and Coffee started as one shop, now three I think in Richmond, Vauxhall and Canary Wharf
- Yellow Ladder at Canada Water, now with a second branch at Whitechapel
- Gramos at Kings Cross

 

[Timmyd]

as well as two coffee shops, one on the platform and one in the booking hall (plus another in the non-station subway), Herne Hill also boasts an upmarket (and expensive, but very good) ice cream shop in the ticket hall!

 

[alistairlees]

Delamere has both a nice cafe which is very popular with walkers, and an ice cream outlet. Barry has a good cafe. High Brooms and Hildenborough both have hole in the wall type coffee, drinks and snacks outlets. Etchingham used to have a restaurant but not sure if it’s still there. Garforth has an Italian restaurant. Saltburn has art shops and cafes in the old station buildings. There are no doubt hundreds more.

 

[jamiearmley]

Delamere has both a nice cafe which is very popular with walkers, and an ice cream outlet. Barry has a good cafe. High Brooms and Hildenborough both have hole in the wall type coffee, drinks and snacks outlets. Etchingham used to have a restaurant but not sure if it’s still there. Garforth has an Italian restaurant. Saltburn has art shops and cafes in the old station buildings. There are no doubt hundreds more.

The Italian restaurant at Garforth also does excellent coffee/ light snacks for travellers (and deliveries to train for traincrew who ring up in advance!) from a window in their kitchen which opens on to the platform. Most recommended.

 

[yorksrob]

AIUI the proprietors took the temporary closure, coupled with losses during the pandemic, as a cue to retire.

TPE had tried and failed to get rid a few years previously, no doubt to replace it with an identikit SSP outlet. I'm sure that's what we'll end up getting in their place once the rebuild is done.

Yes, most probably.

I shall have to look back wistfully over the many fine breakfasts of years gone by.

 

[John Luxton]

There is also an independent cafe at Barnstaple also on the Tarka / Dartmoor line at Crediton is Crediton Station Tearooms. Isn't there also a pub in the station building at Porthmadog (Cambrian)? There are also retail outlets at Welshpool in the old station building opposite the current platform.

 

[Ladder23]

Wobbly Aleways at Newcastle Central: beer shop, run by a lovely guy, selling quality booze.

Sounds brilliant that! Love to see more of this down where I am

 

[johntea]

That Cafe La Sera is on P3 at Harrogate, Secret Bakery also took over the cafe in the station building itself but certainly has mixed reviews

The former newsagent outlet in Harrogate station in a surprising twist also looks to finally have a new tenant after about 5 years!

"Superstop Convenience Store will sell sweets, drinks, food, tobacco and mobile accessories."

 

[Ant158]

There is the Gourmet Coffee Co. Horse box selling hot and cold drinks etc at Manchester Victoria. This is the only outlet on the platform side of the ticket barriers. (A quick google surprised me they are a bigger organisation than first thought). They do seem to do ok, despite the station also having Costa and Starbucks.

 

[xotGD]

There is the Gourmet Coffee Co. Horse box selling hot and cold drinks etc at Manchester Victoria. This is the only outlet on the platform side of the ticket barriers. (A quick google surprised me they are a bigger organisation than first thought). They do seem to do ok, despite the station also having Costa and Starbucks.

There is an identical coffee outlet at Bradford FS. I thought it was an independent until I saw a carbon copy at Man Vic. And the coffee ain't cheap!

 

[bleeder4]

No mention of the Shed 24H cafe at Hellifield? Gets a lot of business on the days when steam charters pass through going to or from the S&C and in fact has A4 sheets pinned to the door with times of upcoming tours for the next few months.

 

[Howardh]

There is the Gourmet Coffee Co. Horse box selling hot and cold drinks etc at Manchester Victoria. This is the only outlet on the platform side of the ticket barriers. (A quick google surprised me they are a bigger organisation than first thought). They do seem to do ok, despite the station also having Costa and Starbucks.

There is an identical coffee outlet at Bradford FS. I thought it was an independent until I saw a carbon copy at Man Vic. And the coffee ain't cheap!

Yes, it's far from cheap, the only benefit to the passengers is when changing they don't have to go through the barriers (those darned barriers refuse to accept my local bus pass with rail add-on). last week I wanted a coffee so did just that, through the barriers to Gregg's but the queue was far too long so returned to the platform thirsty!

Did Gourmet have an outlet at Oxford Road (converted bike shed) which is now the Tap? Looks like it looking at their website - the Tap is a definite improvement!!

 

[EbbwJunction1]

There's a small coffee shop inside the barriers on platform four of Newport (South Wales) station, although I can't remember what it's called. The National Rail Enquiries station plan still says that Upper Crust is on Platforms two and three, although it hasn't been open for many years.

I'm not sure whether newsagents are included in this, but there's a branch of W H Smiths on Platforms two and three, and they sell takeaway food (sandwiches etc.).

 

[Haywain]

I'm not sure whether newsagents are included in this, but there's a branch of W H Smiths on Platforms two and three, and they sell takeaway food (sandwiches etc.).

They're not exactly 'independent' are they?

 

[NorthWestRover]

Did Gourmet have an outlet at Oxford Road (converted bike shed) which is now the Tap? Looks like it looking at their website - the Tap is a definite improvement!!

Yes.

Isn't Gourmet now at the top of the slope (what was previously the pizza place)?

 

[EbbwJunction1]

They're not exactly 'independent' are they?

Ah, that's why I wasn't sure whether they were included, but I can see why they're not; thanks.

 

[newguy]

Has anybody heard what the three new retail units in Glasgow Central are going to be? The one that used to be an upper crust and the old first class lounge. It would be great if they were some independents

 

[D6130]

Has anybody heard what the three new retail units in Glasgow Central are going to be? The one that used to be an upper crust and the old first class lounge. It would be great if they were some independents

I very much doubt that any independents could afford the eye-watering rents at a Network Rail-managed station!

 

[Flange Squeal]

The station building at Farnham is home to an independent Indian takeaway called Spice Station.

 

[newguy]

I very much doubt that any independents could afford the eye-watering rents at a Network Rail-managed station!

Fair point but Gordon Street Coffee prove it can be done, although with expensive prices

 

[CaptainHaddock]

There's an Indian restaurant on the station at Church Fenton.

Likewise at Dore station there's the Radjhani Restaurant in the old station building; both have been visited many times on forum meets.

I believe there's also a curry house in the old Corbridge station buidling but have yet to visit it.

 

[D6130]

I believe there's also a curry house in the old Corbridge station buidling but have yet to visit it.

Yes....The Valley - and its sister establishment The Valley Junction 397 in the old signalbox and carriage body adjacent to Jesmond Metro station. Not sure whether it still happens but - prior to lockdown - customers travelling from Newcastle for dinner at the Corbridge restaurant could avail of an inclusive deal which included return rail travel and a fixed-price four course meal. They would be met at Newcastle Central by a member of the restaurant staff in flamboyant Indian costume, escorted to the appropriate train, served drinks on board and have their menu choices phoned through to the restaurant. On arrival at Corbridge they would just have to cross the footbridge and their tables and food would be ready and waiting.

EDIT: According to their website: www.new.valleyrestaurants.co.uk the Curry Train/Passage to India service is still available every evening except Sundays. The current price from Newcastle is £56.50 per person and the meal is five courses from the A la Carte menu. Drinks served on the train are not included. They have also opened a third restaurant in Hexham town centre.

FURTHER EDIT: The Corbridge restaurant and curry train featured in Michael Portillo's Great Coastal Rail Jouneys in February 2022. There's a link to the video of the programme excerpt in their website.

 

[aar0]

Barnham has two, a hole in the wall type coffee place on Platform 3 and the Interchange Cafe on Plat1/2 (surprisingly good and not too pricey - sausage bap and coffee for £4)

I’m glad to hear that’s still going, I used to change there weekly for 2 years 10 years ago and signed their petition to remain open against NR’s wishes. Changing at 5pm I rarely spent more than £2 on the end of the days cake/bun and a coffee.