Independent businesses on stations?

[sprunt]

Wemyss Bay has a second hand bookshop and what looks like - although I didn't go in to check - an independent bar.

 

[ac6000cw]

All three food & drink outlets on Ely station (a cafe, a hole-in-wall kiosk and a shop) are independents as far as I know. Ely being an important interchange station for East Anglia, they seem to get good business from both local and interchange passengers (and the nearest pub is a 7 minute walk away).

 

[Mcr Warrior]

There is the Gourmet Coffee Co. Horse box selling hot and cold drinks etc at Manchester Victoria.

How many outlets might a business such as 'Gourmet Coffee Bar and Kitchen' have whilst still being considered 'independent'? Think they're now well into double figures in terms of numbers of outlets (although I wasn't aware that they actually had anywhere in Bradford, West Yorks).

 

[geoffk]

Is the cafe on Axminster down platform still there ?

I'm due another visit to the Ale Way pub there so will look.

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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.

That's a shame. I used to go there a lot when I lived in the area (2003-21) and knew the brothers who ran it. It featured in the TV drama series Happy Valley. They used to stock timetable leaflets but of course they've gone as well.

 

[plymothian]

Centenary Lounge has just opened at Taunton platform 2.
Liskeard/Bodmin Parkway/Penzance have the Cornish Coffee Co, run by the Bodmin Railway
Redruth has The Station Buffet

 

[Howardh]

There's a paper shop/teabar/off licence/magazine seller inside Huddersfield which sells a cup of tea for under £1.50, it's tucked away under the scaffolding so many might miss it! Isn't one of the major chains that I know of so it might be totally independent.

 

[Seehof]

I have not been there for some time but is there not an independent cafe at the entrance to Harrogate station?

 

[route101]

Anything independent at Glasgow Queen St or Glasgow Central? Greggs seems to have muscled in.

 

[johntea]

How many outlets might a business such as 'Gourmet Coffee Bar and Kitchen' have whilst still being considered 'independent'? Think they're now well into double figures in terms of numbers of outlets (although I wasn't aware that they actually had anywhere in Bradford, West Yorks).

There is even one at Castleford station although I don't think I've actually seen anyone use it! (Presumably they must do some business though as it has been there a few years now)

Or you could just walk a couple of minutes to the bus station and visit Greggs...

 

[43066]

Anything independent at Glasgow Queen St or Glasgow Central? Greggs seems to have muscled in.

I suppose Greggs will be “independent” of the railway, in the same way as WHSmiths, M&S etc. are.

The thread is perhaps asking more about small owner-managed type businesses, such as the coffee shop I mentioned at Chislehurst. Said coffee shop (Cassandra’s) is owned/run by the daughter of a friend of a friend, so I can vouch for it.

 

[GuyGibsonVC]

Morpeth has an independent cafe in it and local business and community groups renting office space. The cafe does lovely coffee, breakfast deals and even had a loyalty card. They also offer 10% off for railway staff.

Haltwhistle has seen a new independent cafe open called The Water Tower on the Up side. It is filled with local and railway history, too. A welcome addition.

Finally, another shout for The Valley Junction at Corbridge. A fantastic Indian restaurant that you can access from the platform. When the last train is due, they bang a gong by the door.

 

[Howardh]

I suppose Greggs will be “independent” of the railway, in the same way as WHSmiths, M&S etc. are.

The thread is perhaps asking more about small owner-managed type businesses, such as the coffee shop I mentioned at Chislehurst. Said coffee shop (Cassandra’s) is owned/run by the daughter of a friend of a friend, so I can vouch for it.

Yes, I don't think WH Smith and the like can be described as "independent"!! If a business has three or four outlets on/around different stations then that's fine! In my younger days "Travellers' Fare" was - I think - owned and run by British Rail but I don't think that stopped other outlets (national or indepenent) operating on stations?

 

[GatwickDepress]

Rye has Café des Fleurs, a florist-cum-coffee shop, residing in part of the station building with a hatch onto the platform. Very nice tea and cake, but Rye prices as you'd expect.

 

[Gwr12345]

Bishop Auckland has a "Expressos" (sic) in the station building, selling "authentic italian coffee." Needless to say, the name irritates me. It also has an independent ticket office if that counts?

 

[eastwestdivide]

I'll put a word in for Motore Cafe outside Sheffield station, which I'll use if I have time between trains. Little trailer thing with proper coffee machine and a fair selection of pastries.
Their website says they have two other outlets in Sheffield.

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Bishop Auckland has a "Expressos" (sic) in the station building, selling "authentic italian coffee." Needless to say, the name irritates me. It also has an independent ticket office if that counts?

If we're being generous, they're making an express train pun on espresso!

 

[D6130]

Rye has Café des Fleurs, a florist-cum-coffee shop, residing in part of the station building with a hatch onto the platform. Very nice tea and cake, but Rye prices as you'd expect.

Do they by any chance sell sandwiches made with rye bread?....I'll get my coat!

 

[61653 HTAFC]

A few years ago now, but there was an attempt by a (presumably independent) coffee company to capture the morning rush at Batley selling coffees from a van in the car park. Their vehicle was an old 1950s Citroën van, or possibly a newer one dressed up to look like something older. Chatted to the man working it once, think he said they also covered Morley some mornings but it was several years ago so I could be mistaken. They didn't last all that long unfortunately, the coffees were pretty good.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Jan 2025 ==

If we're being generous, they're making an express train pun on espresso!

Whatever you do, don't tell David Mitchell!

 

[Winthorpe]

I can’t recommend highly enough the Goods Shed next to Canterbury West station. It’s a farmer’s market and restaurant, from where it is possible to watch the railway.

As the name suggests, it is in the old goods shed of the station site.

The Goods Shed | Restaurant and Farmers Market in Canterbury

thegoodsshed.co.uk

Here’s the Historic England grade II listing for the building:

GOODS SHED AT CANTERBURY WEST RAILWAY STATION, Non Civil Parish - 1258199 | Historic England

List entry 1258199. Grade II Listed Building: Goods Shed At Canterbury West Railway Station. May include summary, reasons for designation and history.

historicengland.org.uk

 

[yorksrob]

I can’t recommend highly enough the Goods Shed next to Canterbury West station. It’s a farmer’s market and restaurant, from where it is possible to watch the railway.

As the name suggests, it is in the old goods shed of the station site.



Here’s the Historic England grade II listing for the building:

Oh yes, I've had a coffee and cake from there in the past. Very nice stop off.

 

[xotGD]

Is the pub on Helsby station still going?

It was closed the day I wanted to use it some years ago, and we ended up in a slightly dubious boozer round the corner from the station.


There was a coffee van parked up underneath Newton-le-Willows when I was there in the summer that I was able to make use of between trains.

 

[NeilCr]

I can’t recommend highly enough the Goods Shed next to Canterbury West station. It’s a farmer’s market and restaurant, from where it is possible to watch the railway.

As the name suggests, it is in the old goods shed of the station site.



Here’s the Historic England grade II listing for the building

Very good call

I go through Canterbury West station regularly and nip in here from time to time for a coffee

There's also a pretty decent cafe at Herne Bay station with a pub no more than a couple of minutes away

And I like the cafe at Denmark Hill which has an entrance both inside and outside the station and a nice seating area. Not sure it could be described as an independent though as they have cafes at a few other London stations.

 

[kkong]

Anything independent at Glasgow Queen St or Glasgow Central? Greggs seems to have muscled in.

There are two coffee stalls on the concourse at Queen Street.

Nothing independent at Central to my knowledge.

 

[Capybara]

Surprised Knaresborough hasn't had a mention. There's a coffee/tea bar, an antiques/secondhand shop, a pub and a place to get pictures framed.

 

[Cymroglan]

Does Yeovil Junction still have its splendid refreshment room? It was something of a lifesaver for me several times over the years when I travelled regularly on that route! Some happy and grateful memories of much needed food and drink!

 

[Woolos 22]

Beccles have a cafe in the station building

 

[Mojo]

I’m not sure if it’s a deliberate policy of TfL or just by happenstance, but it seems to me that most retailers at LUL and Overground stations, whether simply just newsagents or coffee shops, are independent businesses as opposed to chains from the likes of SSP that you see at Mainline stations.

 

[DaventryRabbit]

Quite a good Coffee Shop (doubling as a Arts and Crafts style of Shop* as well) on Frodsham Station (Manchester Platform)
* Happy to be corrected if anyone can elaborate, it was more than a Year ago!

 

[bearhugger]

Carlisle - Caffeine Rush - coffee and tea (& hot chocolate) outlet beside the current main entrance. Pie Demand - tent by the footbridge on platform 4 sells pies etc (baked in their facility in the undercroft at the back of the station and are suppliers to TPE!).
Millom - tickets and snacks run by Millom Heritage Centre.
Barrow in Furness - cafe opposite ticket office.
Grange over Sands - book shop on down platform.

Also vendors in former station land adjacent to stations such as a Booths supermarket at Windermere and cakes and sandwich outlet at Oxenholme.

I always make a point of using Caffeine Rush. so much better coffee & hot chocolate.

Alton platform 1 has the independent 'hole in the wall' style Whistle Stop Newsagent (not to be confused with the Whistlestop brand used for shops at stations such as Waterloo which I suspect may be an SSP brand), selling papers, sandwiches, drinks, confectionary and some hot food (bacon baps, sausage rolls etc).

I believe the Earlsfield platform 2 coffee stand named Reach is an independent affair selling drinks, pastries and a few other bits. The same owners have/had a couple of mobile coffee vans parked outside Barnes and Hampton Wick stations.

Is it Alton where there's a cafe in a portacabin on the other side of the car park? great breakfast from there!

The cafe on Middlesbrough station serves some of the best coffee I've ever tasted.

If you mean The Stottie Company cafe, unfortunately it's now closed & there is only the WH Smiths at the moment for coffee on the station. But it looks like they have finally finished refurbing the under croft part on platform 1 side so maybe a new cafe will open soon.

 

[Flange Squeal]

Is it Alton where there's a cafe in a portacabin on the other side of the car park? great breakfast from there!

It is indeed, the Station Cafe. Another independent business with a very friendly proprietor, although I wasn’t sure if it counted for this thread being in the car park rather than on the station itself.

 

[xotGD]

If you mean The Stottie Company cafe, unfortunately it's now closed

That's bad news. Their coffee was excellent.