First class breakfast on Virgin, short journey

[boyaloud]

I am thinking of booking a 1st ADV on the 09:35 MAN-SOT, assuming this will include the full English as Virgin site states all train departing before 0959. However, will I get it in time to eat it by Stoke? (~35-38mins?). If not, if I book the 1035 which is cheaper would I get breakfast roll in time? Thanks.

 

[bb21]

There is no guarantee. You will almost certainly not have time to have the full breakfast, but if they start serving before Stoke you might get the roll.

The problem is, Virgin crews don't tend to start serving food until after Stoke/Crewe, so chances are that you will get nothing, possibly tea/coffee, but even that is not guaranteed.

 

[bengolding]

I've had breakfast numerous times on the Milton Keynes to Coventry route without issue, a journey time of 25-30 mins. Mind you, the walk-on First fares for that journey are significantly higher than Manchester to Stoke. Northbound customers on your journey aren't entitled to complimentary breakfast so I assume the same restriction applies southbound too (same as Wolves to Coventry or Manchester/Liverpool to Crewe).

 

[All Line Rover]

I've had breakfast numerous times on the Milton Keynes to Coventry route without issue, a journey time of 25-30 mins. Mind you, the walk-on First fares for that journey are significantly higher than Manchester to Stoke. Northbound customers on your journey aren't entitled to complimentary breakfast so I assume the same restriction applies southbound too (same as Wolves to Coventry or Manchester/Liverpool to Crewe).

Well of course, because they don't want to serve customers between London and Milton Keynes and between Coventry and Birmingham/Wolverhampton!

Customers from Manchester to Stoke are unlikely to be served breakfast as there is plenty of time to serve the 'high value' customers during the non-stop run from Stoke to Milton Keynes/London.

Sandwiches are often served as early as Macclesfield or Wilmslow, though.

 

[FManc]

Unfortunately you're not entitled to a full breakfast between Man -Stoke, it's only the rolls. To be honest the 09.35 is an extremely busy service in 1st so I'd be really surprised if you were able to get it in time.

 

[aylesbury]

Shame if you miss out on the Virgin breakfast as it an excellent meal ,pluss all the extras that come later on.

 

[bb21]

Shame if you miss out on the Virgin breakfast as it an excellent meal ,pluss all the extras that come later on.

Better than nothing? Yes.

Excellent? Not in my experience.

 

[Techniquest]

Better than nothing? Yes.

Excellent? Not in my experience.

Agreed on both counts, my experience of the breakfast on an Euston to Holyhead journey was less than satisfying but could have been worse. The following day's service was worse still...

 

[ChiefPlanner]

Far from excellent - "adequate" for a light eater .......nothing like it used to be in the days of the "deeply inefficient BR" (to quote an ex PM)

 

[SS4]

Better than nothing? Yes.

Excellent? Not in my experience.

Agreed on both counts too. You're [OP] are better off spending your money at a greasy spoon if the full English is your thnig

 

[Butts]

Shame if you miss out on the Virgin breakfast as it an excellent meal ,pluss all the extras that come later on.

Excellent - has it changed ???

"Kids Meal" portions at best :cry:

However if you've only shelled out on a minimal fare to obtain it then that puts a different perspective on the situation. (not that I'd ever do that )

I one managed to blag a breakfast on a Virgin Service between SAD and Coventry!!

 

[185143]

I went from Manchester to Macclesfield in first (coach K). All I got was an Orange Juice plus the first class lounge at picc. That was the only reason I went first as I'd just missed my train.

 

[work-traveller]

About 6 years ago i used to regularly take the 13:35 (ish) service from Manchester Piccadilly to London Euston, getting off at Lichfield Trent Valley. I'd generally book the advanced 1st class ticket and get it at a bargain price. As it was a middle of the day service, you got a hot snack (slice of curried chicken pie with salad type of thing) along with hot drinks and alcohol. Most the time I managed to get the hot snack, but sometimes they didn't take a food order until after Crewe - at which point I knew I wouldn't get my order and have time to eat it before alighting at Lichfield.

Worked out most the time though. Alas Virgin stopped a number of those direct Lichfield/Tamworth to Manchester services and now you have but one south in the morning and one north in the evening. Oh well.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

pluss all the extras that come later on.

Not a Virgin fan , but slightly perplexed as to what these so called extras are - ? (back in the early days you used to get hot towels , lashings of tea and coffee - even alcohol - whereas a hot (minimal) breakfast with strict portion control is the order of the day - with limited toast etc. What is this Virgin myth?

Better food available at any greasy spoon , or even a station food court.

 

[aylesbury]

Plenty of tea coffee more toast and on the way back as many drinks as you want plus a sandwich and then a pile of after eight type chocs (mk to Glasgow and return) no complaints I enjoy traveling on Virgin they do a good job .Why are some people so anti Virgin ?

 

[bb21]

Why are some people so anti Virgin ?

I am not anti-Virgin, but in my experience their offerings are one of the worst amongst intercity operators. Even EMT do a much better breakfast than Virgin.

If I am on a Rover and need to do a London - Scotland journey, I will go East Coast every time. Better trains, better scenery and better food.

I do feel however on the whole Virgin staff tend to be more friendly than East Coast staff.