Independent businesses on stations?

[MisterSheeps]

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

ah, damn, fuelled me on many a 'hill', and nipping in from the train was a ritual

 

[leedslad82]

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.

It's for sale at mo

https://www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/commercial/details/67571415/

 

[yorksrob]

That's bad news. Their coffee was excellent.

It is indeed. They did a nice selection of food as well. It has to be said, there's also not a great deal in the surrounding area cafe wise, so it was ideal to wait in for the Whitby train.

 

[Elecman]

Coffee cart at Warrington Central and a new coffee van outside St Helens Central

 

[Woolos 22]

There is a take way cafe on cwmbran station

 

[flyer]

Ilkley has ‘La Stazione’ coffee shop owned by a charismatic Italian with great staff.
The station also has a nice pub called ‘The Ticket Office’.

 

[jamiearmley]

Ilkley has ‘La Stazione’ coffee shop owned by a charismatic Italian with great staff.
The station also has a nice pub called ‘The Ticket Office’.

La Stazione is excellent. Their coffee is exceptional!

 

[rocrat]

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).

I came here to mention Ely!

The station pub is always an extremely refreshing site.

Forever my favourite station!

 

[Cheshire Rover]

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.

It closed down and re-opened as The Helsby Tap just at the tope of Station Avenue. That slightly dubious pub would have been the Railway Inn and although it looks a bit dated it is actually perfectly fine. The Helsby Tap is sat just behind the row of shops on the right at the top of station Avenue and has an excellent selection of beverages.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/The+Helsby+Tap/@53.2747301,-2.7690348,17z/data=!4m16!1m9!3m8!1s0x487ae3fe346d772d:0xd63e6bfdb3f68aac!2sThe+Helsby+Tap!8m2!3d53.2747301!4d-2.7690348!9m1!1b1!16s/g/11cs6k868d!3m5!1s0x487ae3fe346d772d:0xd63e6bfdb3f68aac!8m2!3d53.2747301!4d-2.7690348!16s/g/11cs6k868d?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDEyNi4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw==

 

[Phil from Mon]

Terrific cafe at Bangor with a real nostalgic atmosphere. There used to be one at Llandudno Junction but it closed, although there was talk of re-opening.

 

[lewismachyach]

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

Perhaps not the same, but there are a number of independent stores on Arygle Street "underneath" (and just by the entrance to) Glasgow Central station, including the rather enjoyable "Cafe Sono" I ate in a few days ago.

 

[Class15]

Gospel Oak is a very good example.

 

[Bletchleyite]

A small chain rather than a one off, but "Giardino 14" have takeaway coffee places at Milton Keynes Central (x3, one on each island), Bletchley, Leighton Buzzard, Watford Junction, Nuneaton, Mortlake and Upminster. They aren't SSP owned nor by any of the big chains. I think they may previously have operated as franchises of Puccino's.

 

[Haywain]

Gospel Oak is a very good example.

Of what?

 

[Class15]

Of what?

An independent business at the station!

 

[Tetragon213]

I know Andover used to have a little coffee shop just to the left of the ticket office, run by a lady called Vicky iirc. Used to use them regularly.

Anyone know if it's still there?

 

[sheff1]

I offer Hazel Grove (Stockport bound platform has a hole-in-wall),

Has that reopened ? The previous version closed some years ago.

There are two independent cafes at Birmingham Moor Street.

A stand selling cakes and pastries is often on the concourse at Sheffield, but I’m not sure which are its’ regular days.

Not sure if it counts, but there seems to be a regular food market with multiple vendors on the forecourt at Kings Cross.

 

[Poolie]

Hartlepool has the Station Cafe which is does lovely grub and well patronised. Only gripe for me is it doesn't open until 07.15 just after the first up Grand. Central has left. Must be losing out on a fair bit of custom.
The good old Rat Race is still there serving a great variety of ale........NO LAGER!!!!

 

[AlanL]

There is an independent cafe at Wellington station called 'the Early Bird' cafe selling teas/coffees/breakfast/somosas/pizza and it is open very late.

 

[Dr Hoo]

A stand selling cakes and pastries is often on the concourse at Sheffield, but I’m not sure which are its’ regular days.

At Sheffield the Forge Bakery have recently moved into the vacant kiosk that used to be a pasty stall (by the steps up from the concourse to the footbridge).

There is a separate wheel-out stall on the concourse that sells cookies and cupcakes, a bit too sickly for my taste.

 

[fandroid]

There's small local coffee shop/stall chain, Destino, based around Basingstoke on SWR stations. The ones I am aware of are at Farnborough, Fleet, Basingstoke (2) and Winchester. Possibly at Farnham too. Good coffee, but sadly they have stopped making sandwiches themselves. Those were really fresh and tasty. I got to know the proprietors when they started with just a trolley at Basingstoke's back entrance

 

[geoffk]

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

The cafe at Axminster station is still open (but I only visited the Ale Way!)

 

[Lemmy99uk]

It you’re heading to Arran via Ardrossan it’s well worth breaking your journey at Saltcoats. The station building is now an independently run cafe and does a great breakfast.