Rail station outlets face clampdown on rip-off prices

[Doctor Fegg]

There’s a fantastic indy coffee shop just next to Worcester Foregate Street. And, coincidentally, a Tesco Express

Good micropub across the street too.

Though last time I had a 45-minute connection at Foregate, the inbound service actually ended up getting caped at Shrub Hill, so I walked briskly across town and had half an hour in the Imperial Tavern instead.

 

[Thebaz]

Beer, another beverage of great importance, is also outrageously priced (to a Northener at least) at SSP and other outlets on stations. Manchester's Victoria and Piccadilly are particularly bad - unfortunately many of the traditional boozers, as an alternative, in the immediate area have long since gone.

Met a pal of mine a couple of days ago and he'd just bought a beer and a burger at Waterloo Brewdog for the princely sum of £27!!

 

[8A Rail]

I still don’t get how WHSmiths is still in business. I’m partial to a Red Bull and I don’t mind paying an extra 10/20p here and there in a station scenario. But Smiths are over £3. Exactly the same with the water someone mentioned above me. Now I have a subscription to Total Guitar, I don’t even need to go there for that.

Easy, WH Smith is split into two. 1) The High Street business, 2) The Travel side of the business, this includes Airport, Stations and Hospital's. Guess which one is the profitable side of WH Smith.

I think some other members have suggested, there is a 'premium' for renting / leasing premises at an Airport, Station and Hospitals and those costs have got to be passed onto the customer whether you like it or not.

 

[richard_S]

If I go on long journey I make some sandwiches and take a drink or two.

 

[Bletchleyite]

If I go on long journey I make some sandwiches and take a drink or two.

And that's your choice. But many people like to purchase something instead.

 

[greyman42]

If I go on long journey I make some sandwiches and take a drink or two.

As do I. That way you get to eat and drink exactly what you want and don't get ripped off.

 

[vic-rijrode]

As do I. That way you get to eat and drink exactly what you want and don't get ripped off.

If I go on long journey I make some sandwiches and take a drink or two.

Don't forget the KitKats and Apple!

 

[185143]

But they are compelled to offer toilets, snacks and hot drinks 24/7x365, which costs money to provide and requires a significant element of cross-subsidy. Additionally, they are often in the middle of nowhere therefore need to pay more to attract staff.

Plus I suspect a significant amount of service station visitors simply park in the free* car park, have a free pee and drive off again. Obviously those toilets need cleaners who will not only need to be paid a premium compared to elsewhere, do not make money for the service station operator. Well, I suppose if a service station has a reputation for disgusting bogs, people will stop for coffee at the next one instead.

 

[Wolfie]

Plus I suspect a significant amount of service station visitors simply park in the free* car park, have a free pee and drive off again. Obviously those toilets need cleaners who will not only need to be paid a premium compared to elsewhere, do not make money for the service station operator. Well, I suppose if a service station has a reputation for disgusting bogs, people will stop for coffee at the next one instead.

Rather depends on the traffic flow and desperation level of the driver/passengers lol...

 

[185143]

Rather depends on the traffic flow and desperation level of the driver/passengers lol...

Those two might be linked!

On a serious note, yes of course.

Although at the start of a slowdown, I suspect plenty might be reluctant to stop in case the traffic gets much worse.

 

[Wolfie]

Those two might be linked!

On a serious note, yes of course.

Although at the start of a slowdown, I suspect plenty might be reluctant to stop in case the traffic gets much worse.

Having sat in a motorway traffic jam desperate for a pee with a screaming hungry baby in the car......

 

[yorksrob]

One good thing about SSP outlets is that if you're in a hurry and you just want to grab a coke (other soft drinks are available) they generally sell it.

If you've got something like a Starbucks it's usually fancy shmancy stuff or nothing.

 

[185143]

One good thing about SSP outlets is that if you're in a hurry and you just want to grab a coke (other soft drinks are available) they generally sell it.

If you've got something like a Starbucks it's usually fancy shmancy stuff or nothing.

That's true.

As an aside, I got a pint landside at Cork Airport yesterday as there wasn't a bus due for a while. €6.

Got off the bus at the railway station and went for another pint in the bar opposite. €6.

I think the airside bar is a bit more expensive, but not much. So is it just a British thing of stations and airports taking the mick price wise? I paid £5.95 per pint in 'Spoons at Birmingham Airport, the same pint in my local 'Spoons is £3.60.

 

[yorksrob]

That's true.

As an aside, I got a pint landside at Cork Airport yesterday as there wasn't a bus due for a while. €6.

Got off the bus at the railway station and went for another pint in the bar opposite. €6.

I think the airside bar is a bit more expensive, but not much. So is it just a British thing of stations and airports taking the mick price wise? I paid £5.95 per pint in 'Spoons at Birmingham Airport, the same pint in my local 'Spoons is £3.60.

Some of the better station Tap's can be quite expensive for a pint (York seems to be over a fiver sometimes) but others seem to be equivalent to modern city centre prices.

 

[Bald Rick]

Some of the better station Tap's can be quite expensive for a pint (York seems to be over a fiver sometimes)

Over a fiver expensive? Come to London!

 

[yorksrob]

Over a fiver expensive? Come to London!

Ha ha, that's why I live in Yorkshire

The Parcel Yard is a fine pub with fine beer, but the price of a pint is expensive to the point of vulgarity !

 

[D6975]

Thankfully, a lot of major stations have a Spoons nearby if not actually in the station area. Here in Bristol there's one about 50m beyond the car park. In Manchester I've used ones that are only a short walk from Pic, Vic and Oxford Rd.

ps a pint of my favourite tipple is just £2.26 in all 3 of my local Spoons. (Fishponds, Staple Hill and Kingswood)

 

[zwk500]

Ha ha, that's why I live in Yorkshire

The Parcel Yard is a fine pub with fine beer, but the price of a pint is expensive to the point of vulgarity !

Don't go in the Signal Box on the Euston Mezzanine then! I find the Parcel Yard to be pushing it's prices a little, but it is a nice pub and therefore I accept the higher prices if I'm catching a train from there (or with a friend who is). But I've only been in the Signal Box once (when it was quite new) and the flashing signalling display was irritating and the beer in no way justified anything like the prices they were charging.

 

[yorksrob]

Don't go in the Signal Box on the Euston Mezzanine then! I find the Parcel Yard to be pushing it's prices a little, but it is a nice pub and therefore I accept the higher prices if I'm catching a train from there (or with a friend who is). But I've only been in the Signal Box once (when it was quite new) and the flashing signalling display was irritating and the beer in no way justified anything like the prices they were charging.

I'd likely ensconce myself in the Euston Tap for a WCML departure

 

[zwk500]

I'd likely ensconce myself in the Euston Tap for a WCML departure

A far better choice.

 

[Bald Rick]

Ha ha, that's why I live in Yorkshire

The Parcel Yard is a fine pub with fine beer, but the price of a pint is expensive to the point of vulgarity !

Don't go in the Signal Box on the Euston Mezzanine then! I find the Parcel Yard to be pushing it's prices a little, but it is a nice pub and therefore I accept the higher prices if I'm catching a train from there (or with a friend who is). But I've only been in the Signal Box once (when it was quite new) and the flashing signalling display was irritating and the beer in no way justified anything like the prices they were charging.

The Parcel Yard and the Signal Box are sister pubs. I’d be surprised if their prices weren’t the same.

I recently had my first £8 pint in a bar in that part of the world…

 

[yorksrob]

The Parcel Yard and the Signal Box are sister pubs. I’d be surprised if their prices weren’t the same.

I recently had my first £8 pint in a bar in that part of the world…

Ooh, I've not tried the Signal Box. Whereabouts is it ?

 

[zwk500]

The Parcel Yard and the Signal Box are sister pubs. I’d be surprised if their prices weren’t the same.

They likely are - just the Parcel Yard has a far nice atmosphere (although I admit being on my own and the Signal Box being fairly new probably coloured my view of it a little).

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 24 Jun 2023 ==

Ooh, I've not tried the Signal Box. Whereabouts is it ?

Upstairs on the Mezzanine at Euston.

 

[Bald Rick]

They likely are - just the Parcel Yard has a far nice atmosphere (although I admit being on my own and the Signal Box being fairly new probably coloured my view of it a little).

yes the Parcel Yard has much more of a destination, and has a pubby feel, whereas the signal box feels like a place where you drop in for a swift couple whilst waiting for a train.

I have had meetings in the rooms that make up the Parcel Yard many years ago, but, oddly, I always feel more on railway property at the Signalbox - part of it occupies the space where the Euston Station Manager team used to be !

@yorksrob - both are Fullers Pubs. Usual range.

 

[yorksrob]

They likely are - just the Parcel Yard has a far nice atmosphere (although I admit being on my own and the Signal Box being fairly new probably coloured my view of it a little).

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 24 Jun 2023 ==


Upstairs on the Mezzanine at Euston.

I like 1960's Euston, but I expect upstairs in the Mezzanine has less character than the Parcel Yard.

If they restored it to the condition of the Manic Street Preachers video "The Everlasting", I would certainly visit.

 

[Bald Rick]

I like 1960's Euston, but I expect upstairs in the Mezzanine has less character than the Parcel Yard.

There’s lots of railway memorabilia, if it helps. Worth a visit.

 

[yorksrob]

There’s lots of railway memorabilia, if it helps. Worth a visit.

Will look in next time I'm there.

 

[Wolfie]

Don't go in the Signal Box on the Euston Mezzanine then! I find the Parcel Yard to be pushing it's prices a little, but it is a nice pub and therefore I accept the higher prices if I'm catching a train from there (or with a friend who is). But I've only been in the Signal Box once (when it was quite new) and the flashing signalling display was irritating and the beer in no way justified anything like the prices they were charging.

You do know that that Signal Box, like the Parcel Yard, is a Fullers pub l assume? If you like real ale the Doric Arch is much better, l agree.

 

[zwk500]

You do know that that Signal Box, like the Parcel Yard, is a Fullers pub l assume? If you like real ale the Doric Arch is much better, l agree.

It may be run by the same people but on my one and only visit I didn't feel anything like the same atmosphere. No different to how two pubs owned by the same brewery in a town can feel very different.

 

[yorksrob]

You do know that that Signal Box, like the Parcel Yard, is a Fullers pub l assume? If you like real ale the Doric Arch is much better, l agree.

I know. I very much like Fullers. They can't be charging six quid a pint + at their normal pubs surely !