Rail station outlets face clampdown on rip-off prices

[ralphrj]

Isn't it usual for leases at airports and I assume stations to specify a % of revenue on top of the basic rent?

Yes and at NR managed stations retailers pay 10% of revenue to NR.

At STP International it is 20%.

 

[Wolfie]

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

Oh yes they can and indeed do, as do Young's. You obviously have no clue about the overheads involved in operating in London, particularly Central London.

Price of average pint in a London pub hits £8.06 making it most expensive ever

If inflation continues at the current rate, a pint of beer in London could soar to £13.98 in just two and a half years

www.mylondon.news

Price of average London pint predicted to reach £9.99 by 2025

Pubs are struggling to make ends meet, which means higher prices for punters

www.ladbible.com

 

[yorksrob]

Oh yes they can and indeed do, as do Young's. You obviously have no clue about the overheads involved in operating in London, particularly Central London.

Price of average pint in a London pub hits £8.06 making it most expensive ever

If inflation continues at the current rate, a pint of beer in London could soar to £13.98 in just two and a half years

www.mylondon.news

Price of average London pint predicted to reach £9.99 by 2025

Pubs are struggling to make ends meet, which means higher prices for punters

www.ladbible.com

No, I'm more used to their station outlets !

It's shocking that the Establishment hobbles the ale industry by shocking alcohol taxes, yet it enables big business, such as the cable/telephone companies to include inflationary price rises in their contract terms.

 

[Bald Rick]

Yes and at NR managed stations retailers pay 10% of revenue to NR.

At STP International it is 20%.

The % varies by retailer and location.

It's shocking that the Establishment hobbles the ale industry by shocking alcohol taxes, yet it enables big business, such as the cable/telephone companies to include inflationary price rises in their contract terms.

To be fair, the duty on a pint of Ale is about 45-50p, (add VAT on that of course), which on a £7 pint is, of you’ll pardon the pun, small beer.

 

[yorksrob]

The % varies by retailer and location.



To be fair, the duty on a pint of Ale is about 45-50p, (add VAT on that of course), which on a £7 pint is, of you’ll pardon the pun, small beer.

40 - 50 p on a pint is a substantial proportion as far as I'm concerned. Although there are are other factors nowadays admittedly.

 

[Bald Rick]

40 - 50 p on a pint is a substantial proportion as far as I'm concerned. Although there are are other factors nowadays admittedly.

When it’s £3/ pint yes. Less so at £8!

 

[tomuk]

40 - 50 p on a pint is a substantial proportion as far as I'm concerned. Although there are are other factors nowadays admittedly.

Something has to pay for the heath and social effects of alcohol.

 

[Llandudno]

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)

Yes but the Wetherspoons in Piccadilly Gardens must be the worst in the country, admittedly mostly down to the clientele - although I suspect it’s one of Tim Martin’s most profitable!

 

[ricoblade]

Today’s example, Starbucks Donny station £4, Starbucks Frenchgate Centre (<5 mins walk) £3.35. Unfortunately the station one is the only one open when I’m there before 07:30.

 

[185143]

Yes but the Wetherspoons in Piccadilly Gardens must be the worst in the country, admittedly mostly down to the clientele - although I suspect it’s one of Tim Martin’s most profitable!

The only one I've been in that I thought was worse is the one in Rotherham that's now closed.

For context, I've been in 828 'Spoons pubs. So it's pretty bad!

It was €7 for a pint after security in Cork Airport last night, spent all afternoon paying €6.70-€6.90 in the city centre, so no complaints there. For comparison with the ferries, Stena Line will serve you a nice cold draught Birra Moretti onboard for £5.60. Obviously you aren't going to get a draught pint on a train, but there's no justification for charging the prices that are often charged for a can of warm Carlsberg. (Yes, GWR, you!)

Back on topic regarding The Signal Box at Euston, it was over £7 a pint when I was last in there, around a year ago. The Euston Tap is much better and much cheaper at something like £5.40 a pint for whatever I had. The station tap pubs are certainly more expensive than 'Spoons, but they don't sell the bog standard mainstream lagers so that's understandable.

I remember walking into a Pumpkin cafe at Wigan a couple of years back wanting a drink as it was before catering had been reintroduced on TPE, and I was going to Glasgow. They wanted £2.45 for a bottle of diet coke. I was going to walk out but noticed the meal deal for £4.99 so got that instead. A nice upsell for them there.

 

[Bald Rick]

For comparison with the ferries, Stena Line will serve you a nice cold draught Birra Moretti onboard for £5.60.

And being on the ferry, you‘ll get to see it twice!

 

[Jimini]

The only one I've been in that I thought was worse is the one in Rotherham that's now closed.

For context, I've been in 828 'Spoons pubs. So it's pretty bad!

It was €7 for a pint after security in Cork Airport last night, spent all afternoon paying €6.70-€6.90 in the city centre, so no complaints there. For comparison with the ferries, Stena Line will serve you a nice cold draught Birra Moretti onboard for £5.60. Obviously you aren't going to get a draught pint on a train, but there's no justification for charging the prices that are often charged for a can of warm Carlsberg. (Yes, GWR, you!)

Back on topic regarding The Signal Box at Euston, it was over £7 a pint when I was last in there, around a year ago. The Euston Tap is much better and much cheaper at something like £5.40 a pint for whatever I had. The station tap pubs are certainly more expensive than 'Spoons, but they don't sell the bog standard mainstream lagers so that's understandable.

I remember walking into a Pumpkin cafe at Wigan a couple of years back wanting a drink as it was before catering had been reintroduced on TPE, and I was going to Glasgow. They wanted £2.45 for a bottle of diet coke. I was going to walk out but noticed the meal deal for £4.99 so got that instead. A nice upsell for them there.

J J Moons opposite Tooting Broadway station must be pretty low on the list of ‘Spoons to revisit!

 

[185143]

J J Moons opposite Tooting Broadway station must be pretty low on the list of ‘Spoons to revisit!

Convenience would be the only reason to revisit that one I'd say. The one in Leicester Square comes quite low on my favourites list as well.

 

[greyman42]

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

You want to try The Red Lion on Whitehall!

 

[yorksrob]

You want to try The Red Lion on Whitehall!

Will have to !

 

[Wolfie]

You want to try The Red Lion on Whitehall!

.... or the recently reopened (after a fire) Admiralty on Trafalgar Square....

 

[yorkie]

Does anyone have anything to add on the topic regarding rail station outlets?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Paid £2.90 for an o.k. tasting, albeit rather small, cup of tea at Barrow-in-Furness station yesterday. (= Costa?) Is that a fairly typical price these days?

 

[yorkie]

Paid £2.90 for an o.k. tasting, albeit rather small, cup of tea at Barrow-in-Furness station yesterday. (= Costa?) Is that a fairly typical price these days?

In the UK, yes that sounds about right.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Paid £2.90 for an o.k. tasting, albeit rather small, cup of tea at Barrow-in-Furness station yesterday. (= Costa?) Is that a fairly typical price these days?

In the UK, yes that sounds about right.

Ta. Think that's actually slightly more expensive than what Avanti and TPE charge onboard for their teas, but, either way, there's not really much in it.

 

[LalRattyMember]

Today’s example, Starbucks Donny station £4, Starbucks Frenchgate Centre (<5 mins walk) £3.35. Unfortunately the station one is the only one open when I’m there before 07:30.

Maybe the early opening branch might have to charge a little more if their staff costs are 20% higher to provide "less sociable" hours opening times.

 

[htafc]

Bought a sandwich from a station WHSmith today - £3.49??!!!!

 

[island]

Maybe the early opening branch might have to charge a little more if their staff costs are 20% higher to provide "less sociable" hours opening times.

And almost certainly pays materially higher rent.

 

[londonbridge]

I actually can't think of any other railway stations with a McDonalds, obviously excluding the likes of King's Cross which has one virtually next door and London Victoria which has one in the weird 'shopping centre attached to transport hub' thing that London seems to like!

Aren’t there two McDonalds at London Victoria? One upstairs in Victoria Place shopping centre, as you say, but I thought I remembered seeing another on the concourse round by the south eastern gateline?

 

[Wolfie]

Aren’t there two McDonalds at London Victoria? One upstairs in Victoria Place shopping centre, as you say, but I thought I remembered seeing another on the concourse round by the south eastern gateline?

There certainly used to be a very busy branch there on the concourse as you say (alongside Platform 1 l believe). I'm unsure if it is still there though.

 

[jon0844]

Aren’t there two McDonalds at London Victoria? One upstairs in Victoria Place shopping centre, as you say, but I thought I remembered seeing another on the concourse round by the south eastern gateline?

Yes, there are two, with one on the eastern side. King's Cross has two also, but both outside the station and requiring the crossing of a road (but one has a subway option).

 

[Jimini]

Yes, there are two, with one on the eastern side. King's Cross has two also, but both outside the station and requiring the crossing of a road (but one has a subway option).

Kings X also has a Five Guys -- lovely stuff BK is also available on the south side of Euston Road, via said underpass.

 

[jon0844]

Kings X also has a Five Guys -- lovely stuff BK is also available on the south side of Euston Road, via said underpass.

This thread was about high prices. Five Guys is indeed nice, but hardly affordable (TBH, not even McDonald's is these days)!

 

[8A Rail]

Bought a sandwich from a station WHSmith today - £3.49??!!!!

That depends on the Sandwich you purchase. Prices are not much different from the Boots and M&S station outlets though. Better off purchasing a 'meal deal' were get a drink and a snack with the sandwich. Always have the drink and snack later on.

 

[33109]

Sadly it doesn't exist now I don't think but there used to be something called a bite card.

You got if I remember right 10% off however I don't remember many places accepting it.