Best coffee shops on the network?

[markle]

Curious about others' reflections on "best" coffee shops on the network (i.e. on platforms, in station buildings). I'm sure each person would have their own criteria for what makes for "best", but for me it would include:

1. Independent business
2. High quality barista-made coffee that tastes great
3. Rapid service
4. Great pastries
5. Pleasant place to sit

What recommendations do people have?

 

[Islandexpress]

La Stazione - Ilkley.

 

[lxfe_mxtterz]

Chain 76 at Hampton Court is a pleasant little place which does good coffee and has rather nice food - independently run and they also offer a loyalty card scheme. Have used it quite a few times when on turnaround there.

 

[voyagerdude220]

Admittedly I haven't tried their Coffee before but I've always enjoyed the food and Hot Chocolate at the Le Feast Café at Poulton le Fylde.

Since I went there several years ago, they've expanded and opened new cafés at Blackpool North, Bolton and Rochdale.

 

[sh24]

Following this thread with interest. Good coffee is not that easy to find!

 

[Brush 4]

I've always liked the Pumpkin and Lemon Tree buffets, although I know many don't. Ritazza, Lavazza, Tchibo. Costa, all fine by me.....
One crucial bonus is availability. eg Cafe Destino on Basingstoke station is open either 5am-10pm or 6-10 each day. I hate places that close far too early. 2pm 3-4-5pm, not much point in opening really. Obviously the viability varies by location but Destino deserve credit for putting in the time and effort.
Even the Starbucks on the island platform closes at 7pm, so Destino gains from that....

 

[vic-rijrode]

Greggs anyone?








I'll get me coat...

 

[SuspectUsual]

Nice enough coffee at the little place in Northallerton station.

And not sure if any of these are still there, but station cafes where I’ve had good coffee in recent years include:

Great Malvern

St Erth

Bath

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Things may have changed since 2017, but the café at Birmingham Moor Street was nice when I went there en-route to Bordesley for a football game (back when services in both directions served Bordesley before and after games). Nice coffee, delicious tiffin slice, and very friendly staff (though maybe the lass behind the counter was a Villa fan and was extra nice to me because I was supporting the away team at BCFC!)

 

[S101]

Mornin' Duck on Moorthorpe Station. Good breakfast too. None of this corporate chain rubbish that the country is obsessed with, like Starbucks or Costa (yawn).

 

[Bristol LHS]

Nice enough coffee at the little place in Northallerton station.

+1 for Coffee With Altitude at Northallerton.

Best railway coffee used to be Filmore and Union at York (and briefly in Newcastle) but the pandemic did for them.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

And not sure if any of these are still there, but station cafes where I’ve had good coffee in recent years include:

Great Malvern

If you are referring to the one time 'Lady Foley's Tearoom' at Great Malvern, it's now permanently closed (this since October 2023).

 

[SuspectUsual]

If you are referring to the one time 'Lady Foley's Tearoom' at Great Malvern, it's now permanently closed (this since October 2023).

Ah, right. I think that’s the one i meant. If so it’s a shame it’s closed

 

[baz962]

Knot in Richmond Station is by far my favourite.

 

[James H]

There's a coffee kiosk in a horse box - the Little Green Coffee Box - immediately outside Bournemouth Station (under the station canopy) that does a very decent coffee and is infinitely preferable to the Starbucks inside the station.

 

[stadler]

The cafe at Lewes on Platform 2 (the London Victoria bound platform) deserves a mention. It is a good quality independent cafe with indoor seating and good quality drinks and food. It has been there for over thirty years. I have used it many times. There is also a newer second independent cafe at Lewes in the ticket hall (that was a Costa Coffee previously and a W H Smith before that) which i also find to be quite a nice good quality cafe.

 

[lawried123]

The tea and coffee shop at Twyford next door to the buffers for the Henley branch is excellent with very friendly staff, always started making my drink when she saw me walking up to the cafe. This is not the one in the portable kiosk by the main station building which is more expensive and not so good.
Sadly I have now moved and Borough Green don't have a facility.

 

[D6130]

Coffee Station on platform two at Hebden Bridge....ticks all five boxes, but currently only opens 06 30-14 00 Monday to Friday due to the long-term illness of one of the owning partners.

 

[stadler]

Etchingham is another one worth mentioning which has a really nice independent cafe on the platform with both indoor and oudoor seating and serving a very good selection of drinks and food.

 

[HBP]

+1 for Coffee With Altitude at Northallerton.

Best railway coffee used to be Filmore and Union at York (and briefly in Newcastle) but the pandemic did for them.

After Filmore it became Lebaneat and I always enjoyed their coffee. A great little place if you could get a seat outside to watch the trains come & go.

Sadly within the last few weeks locks have been changed and a window displays notices from a bailiff.

 

[eastwestdivide]

There's a coffee kiosk in a horse box - the Little Green Coffee Box - immediately outside Bournemouth Station (under the station canopy) that does a very decent coffee and is infinitely preferable to the Starbucks inside the station.

Similar one in a tiny trailer thing outside Sheffield station, Motore. Money off for using your own cup

 

[cactustwirly]

Pop out of the station and up to Black Sheep Coffee on Friar Street maybe if you want a nuclear coffee, if time allows? Or to go back to the OP's "independent" rule, there are coffee vans immediately outside both exits (town centre and Caversham).

This 100%

 

[baz962]

Similar one in a tiny trailer thing outside Sheffield station, Motore. Money off for using your own cup

I have used that one a couple of times. Nice coffee .

 

[Bletchleyite]

Best is very subjective. I personally favour a Pret as that gives me cheap and decent quality filter coffee, which is my favoured preparation (strong yet a smoother taste than espresso based coffee) but very rare elsewhere (Tim Horton's also do it but it's not cheap, Starbucks allegedly do but it's very rarely actually ready and an Americano is usually offered instead), and has the benefit of being served very quickly too.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

I am trying not to be biased but I think Preston is reasonably well blessed for available coffee buying.

 

[Shimbleshanks]

My thermos flask. Costs pennies and I can have a drink anytime I want.

 

[birchesgreen]

I just go to the most convenient for my journey, so usually the Upper Crust in New St. I find most coffee in shops average, nothing compares to what my Melitta machines can do at home.

If you get the right barista though, the flat whites at the Espresso place in Moor St are excellent.

 

[D1537]

+1 for Coffee With Altitude at Northallerton.

Best railway coffee used to be Filmore and Union at York (and briefly in Newcastle) but the pandemic did for them.

Also +1 for Northallerton although their opening hours appear to be a little random sometimes!

Best coffee at York now is the little AMT stand next to the information screens near P3.

The van outside Penrith station is excellent as well.

 

[thelongestroad]

For station coffee that wasn't a SSP franchise, I always thought AMT was good. The station location I used is long gone now though.

 

[Skiddaw]

The van outside Penrith station is excellent as well.

I agree. They use Carvetii coffee beans (a local supplier). Best coffee beans ever IMO.