Best train crew eateries

[387star]

I was wondering aside from chains if there were any independent cafes food stalls and restaurants favoured by train crew? These could be around the station area

Who offers the best fry up? Some diagrams give more than enough time to visit a nearby eatery if you plan it right

My favourites include Romsey cafe and the pizza place outside brighton station

Any good anecdotes of places still open or well remembered by guards or drivers ?

 

[dk1]

I was wondering aside from chains if there were any independent cafes food stalls and restaurants favoured by train crew? These could be around the station area

Who offers the best fry up? Some diagrams give more than enough time to visit a nearby eatery if you plan it right

My favourites include Romsey cafe and the pizza place outside brighton station

Any good anecdotes of places still open or well remembered by guards or drivers ?

At lot of us tend to use Wetherspoons nowadays, especially for breakfast.

 

[Mojo]

At lot of us tend to use Wetherspoons nowadays, especially for breakfast.

Are you allowed there in Uniform, or does your company not mind? I don't bother going into pubs when on meal relief (for food I should add!) because of the hassle of needing to get changed, as per the company's drugs & alcohol policy.

 

[TheEdge]

There is one Norwich diagram (identical for drivers and guards) where we sit in Lowestoft for just over an hour just after 0900. Two choices, there is Wetherspoons for a couple of pints breakfast or an all you can eat breakfast place near the station. Not been to that one though, meant to be good, dk1?

Going into Wetherspoons is allowed as long as we make some attempt to hide our uniform. Practically that tends to mean take off the tie, name badges, lanyards etc so it just looks like a cheap suit!

Of course always note where traincrew buy coffee from. It'll be the best and or best value. There is a reason we don't go to Upper Crust! AMT thanks.

 

[timbo58]

Jesus! We were specifically told in no uncertain terms that our presence in uniform even outside of the working day (or not in uniform within the working day) was a sackable offence when I was on ICGW, so we never did it.

Best eateries Paddington end always used to be the great bagel/sandwich shop up past Paddington Green cop shop or some of the local delicatessens, but I'm sure everyone had their favourites.

 

[Minilad]

I yearn for the days we used to go to Preston. Micks hut was the place to go!

 

[ainsworth74]

Middlesbrough's station cafe appears to be quite popular with train crew as there is a regular stream of drivers/guards nipping in to get tea/coffee to take with them. I can also report that they do a very tasty (and reasonably priced) fry up.

 

[Tom B]

Can staff not pull on a coat or whatever to hide their uniform? OK I suppose if they are wearing a uniform waterproof fluorescent orange coat anyway...

Snax cafe in Edinburgh always seems to have plenty of Scotrail drivers around.

 

[12CSVT]

Many years ago there was an excellent B.R. staff canteen at Waterloo station. Can't remember how long it lasted, but I probably last used it about 1991 or 1992.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Anyone working to Aberdeen should try Sizzlers on Guild Street, excillent!

 

[Aictos]

Starbucks in St Pancras used to offer a discount but withdrew it, I'm sure however the coffee stall by the entrance to the suburban platforms at Kings Cross offer a discount though.

 

[83G/84D]

The cafe just over the road from the bus station at Penzance is very popular with traincrew and bus crews! They are open from early morning and close around 3pm and do a nice breakfast or a selection of breakfast baps/ sandwiches to take away.

The place does not look very inviting from the outside but always seems busy.

Is there still a traincrew cafe at Paddington? I think it used to be along platform one.

 

[causton]

Starbucks in St Pancras used to offer a discount but withdrew it, I'm sure however the coffee stall by the entrance to the suburban platforms at Kings Cross offer a discount though.

Yes, Caffe Nero did a discount when I worked in the same shopping centre as them so I suspect they would in the train station too!

Also the AMT in my station gives me discount too, and if I'm really desperate there is always the SSP outlets with a bite card...


I have been told not to go into any off licence or pub in any part of my uniform, even the trousers (as they could be recognisable due to the colouring of them)...

 

[Qwerty133]

Yes, Caffe Nero did a discount when I worked in the same shopping centre as them so I suspect they would in the train station too!

Also the AMT in my station gives me discount too, and if I'm really desperate there is always the SSP outlets with a bite card...


I have been told not to go into any off licence or pub in any part of my uniform, even the trousers (as they could be recognisable due to the colouring of them)...

I hope you don't serve any stations with joint Uppercrust/Pubs. (the example I'm thinking of is Derby, where train crew do use it.) or any smiths with a license...

 

[DelayRepay]

I have been told not to go into any off licence or pub in any part of my uniform, even the trousers (as they could be recognisable due to the colouring of them)...

Isn't this a bit OTT? It presumably means you cannot go into Sainsburys or M&S to buy a sandwich for lunch.

 

[tsr]

Quite a few good places noted by crew around the South London area and just a little outside it. Selhurst Station Cafe is always pretty popular - for a good proportion of their opening hours, it almost feels like it's staff only . The independent cafe on the platform at Epsom isn't bad at all, and Costa downstairs also give discounts to staff, so you'll see people in Southern uniforms at those from time to time. Streatham Hill has a pretty decent chippy just over the road (though crossing that can often be suicidal!) which folks at the training school take advantage of. East Grinstead shop/cafe is good and the service quick, so you again find crew using that from time to time, if turnarounds permit. Uckfield has a coffee stall - it isn't bad but you never seem to quite know what you'll get or if it'll be open. And, in general, Caffe Nero are usually quite popular, it seems, as are AMT (as above).

 

[trentside]

I've had a few good breakfasts at the Station Café on the platform at Worksop. It's not a place I go often, but when I've arrived at Worksop off a Robin Hood train and am waiting for a Lincoln service then there's enough time for a large breakfast and a big mug of tea.

 

[yorksrob]

I've seen quite a few train crew use the station buffet at Huddersfield.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

Speedy's quite near Euston .....great place , and like a staff mess room.

 

[timbo58]

To answer an earlier poster: Paddington used to have an excellent canteen right at the country end of Platform 1, this was sadly closed down when the offices at Paddington were closed/slimmed down (1998-9?)
I always used to think we were looked down upon for being in uniform by the office workers a bit -but ho hum we were entitled to use it and we did whenever shifts allowed us to be there -it was only open at Lunchtimes however 12-2.

I think the ruling on licensed premises only applied to those where you could 'consume' alcohol rather than a shop that might sell it as we were certainly advised against using the Platform 3 bar/restaurant at BRI (which a few had been caught out in) but there was never an issue using Sainsburys at Padd or the 7/11 at Cheltenham for example.

 

[deltabravo]

I've seen quite a few train crew use the station buffet at Huddersfield.

Can't beat a full English breakfast at Huddersfield station buffet!

 

[Scotrail84]

Any Stephens the bakers that you can get to. Steak bridies and/or lentil soup. Canny beat it.

 

[185143]

I've had a few good breakfasts at the Station Café on the platform at Worksop. It's not a place I go often, but when I've arrived at Worksop off a Robin Hood train and am waiting for a Lincoln service then there's enough time for a large breakfast and a big mug of tea.

I'll second that one definitely! Visited on Saturday on my way to Gainsborough (Central of course!)

 

[yorksrob]

Can't beat a full English breakfast at Huddersfield station buffet!

Indeed. Only managed the large version on one occasion though. The medium is usually filling enough for me!

 

[First class]

Llandudno Junction café on the platform does a great (& large!) full staff breakfast" for just £4. Always enjoyed a LJ diagram!

The café at Wrexham General also gives decent discounts for ATW staff, and will even bring the hot meals to the messroom.

There's a decent chippy/cafe/restauarant at Betws-y-Coed which also bring things to the platform for you if you give them a quick ring before you leave Blaenau or Junction!

 

[Drogba11CFC]

When I went up to Ally Pally for the 2013 Festival of Railway Modelling, I noticed quite a few SWT staff enjoying full Englishes in the Chunnel Bar near Waterloo.