Station shop prices (in particular, beer)

[johnnychips]

I'm sure this topic must have been raised before, but I've done a few searches and can't find a thread. I'm not sure if this is the right area to post this in, but do move it if it isn't.

Ever since I've been able to buy alcohol, it's been accepted that prices of beers on train buffets, and later, trolleys, are quite expensive. This seems to be acceptable, and in some respects avoidable if you plan ahead and get beer in before you travel. So...

I was rather shocked tonight at Sheffield station, that a pint (568 ml) can of Stella cost £2.95 in the Whistle Stop shop. Now I might have expected it to be a bit more than normal, or perhaps half again on a supermarket price, but this did seem to be excessive.

I went to the beer shop at the top of the steel fountain and bought four cans (only 500ml though) for £6.20, which pleased me greatly, and I even had time for a pint in the Tap.

Is it a case of 'what the market will bear' and perhaps these shops have a great rent burden? Conversely, are there any good value shops in stations you know?

 

[SSp]

I think Sheffield Tap does take outs ...rather than put up with cooking lager.

 

[Robertj21a]

I'm sure this topic must have been raised before, but I've done a few searches and can't find a thread. I'm not sure if this is the right area to post this in, but do move it if it isn't.

Ever since I've been able to buy alcohol, it's been accepted that prices of beers on train buffets, and later, trolleys, are quite expensive. This seems to be acceptable, and in some respects avoidable if you plan ahead and get beer in before you travel. So...

I was rather shocked tonight at Sheffield station, that a pint (568 ml) can of Stella cost £2.95 in the Whistle Stop shop. Now I might have expected it to be a bit more than normal, or perhaps half again on a supermarket price, but this did seem to be excessive.

I went to the beer shop at the top of the steel fountain and bought four cans (only 500ml though) for £6.20, which pleased me greatly, and I even had time for a pint in the Tap.

Is it a case of 'what the market will bear' and perhaps these shops have a great rent burden? Conversely, are there any good value shops in stations you know?

Still cheaper than my local pub - only difference is a glass. You always pay for the convenience of it being available where you are, whether a station, motorway services, airport etc.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Any station with a branch of a supermarket on , next to or near it will be able to do better, not the same as their large super stor but never the less still quite good.

 

[dk1]

I seem to find that many station outlets charge £2.95 as you say but do two cans for say £4.50. I know many onboard operators do the same. Even if I'm only having one I tend to go for the deal as the other will keep

 

[reb0118]

"Cooking Lager" - I thought that was Tennants? Cheers.

 

[Howardh]

To be honest, £2.95 for a pint of Stella at a rail station, even out of a can, doesn't sound too bad. Especially compared to how much you pay per 100ml when you buy on on a plane!

But as alluded to, as opposed to airlines you are free to buy from a supermarket and drink on the train - and long may that continue.

 

[deltic1989]

Still cheaper than my local pub - only difference is a glass. You always pay for the convenience of it being available where you are, whether a station, motorway services, airport etc.

Not really a place I would be considering buying beer, but every man to his own

I do agree with your point though. In places like this there is the element of being a captive market. Thus the retailers can charge whatever they please.

Be thankful that your preferred tipple is Stella, which in comparison to my favoured drink (Guinness, or other stouts, bitters, or real ales), is dirt cheap. Last time I bought a Guinness on a train, I had to call up my bank manager for a second mortgage first.

 

[Bishopstone]

My beer buying is mainly, but infrequently, in London pubs. When I saw mention of £2.95 a pint, I assumed the thread was helpfully pointing readers to a cracking discount offer.

 

[BestWestern]

Not really a place I would be considering buying beer, but every man to his own

Well, there's famously one with a Wetherspoons now, I believe!

 

[Robertj21a]

Not really a place I would be considering buying beer, but every man to his own

I do agree with your point though. In places like this there is the element of being a captive market. Thus the retailers can charge whatever they please.

Be thankful that your preferred tipple is Stella, which in comparison to my favoured drink (Guinness, or other stouts, bitters, or real ales), is dirt cheap. Last time I bought a Guinness on a train, I had to call up my bank manager for a second mortgage first.

You don't need to be the driver to be in a motorway services.

 

[trivran]

You don't need to be the driver to be in a motorway services.

I think the allusion was as to the quality of the alcohol on offer.

 

[anti-pacer]

On one of my frequent routes, Burton/Derby-Wakefield, I always use shops nearby. There's an off-licence round the corner from Burton station, and one right opposite Derby station.

I have walked in Whistlestop at Sheffield station, seen the price and walked straight back out again. What's more, the aforementioned shops in Burton and Derby carry a better choice than the usual tasteless fizz. I like continental lagers as well as real ale but the latter in a can ain't great.

Some people have said £2.95 a can isn't bad and is cheaper than a pint. True, and if I was in a pub I would be well pleased paying that, but when you know you can get nearly 3 cans for £2.95 from most off-licences, £2.95 for one can is expensive. Don't forget also that in a pub you are not only getting a glass to drink your beer in, you're also paying for the surroundings (seat, toilet if you need it, music sometimes, decor).

 

[507021]

I have walked in Whistlestop at Sheffield station, seen the price and walked straight back out again.

The one time I went in there for a beer I was appalled by the ridiculous prices.

If I decide to go for a pint or two either on my way to or from a train, I go to The Globe or The Howard instead.

 

[physics34]

i get at annoyed with the le crossiant shop/delice de france and upper crust....

...the prices have gone up and the quality has gone down.

 

[RailAleFan]

M&S is my first choice for train beers - station/SSP franchised outlets sell their Belgian Lager (5%) in singles for £1.75 (500ml) and recently introduced an interesting range of "craft" lagers in 330ml cans.

Most Weatherspoons are now off-licensed so worth bearing in mind if you're using one as a waiting room...

 

[kdhurst380]

M&S is my first choice for train beers - station/SSP franchised outlets sell their Belgian Lager (5%) in singles for £1.75 (500ml) and recently introduced an interesting range of "craft" lagers in 330ml cans.

Most Weatherspoons are now off-licensed so worth bearing in mind if you're using one as a waiting room...

M&S have a standardised pricing policy, so station/airport outlets are no more expensive than high street, which actually makes them very reasonable along with the quality you expect from M&S.

The generically branded Cider is actually made by Westons, not sure what the beers are but it's all decent stuff.

They've been my first choice for years when the other options are very expensive station shops.

 

[anti-pacer]

i get at annoyed with the le crossiant shop/delice de france and upper crust....

...the prices have gone up and the quality has gone down.

From my few experiences, Upper Crust is overpriced and rubbish.

Pret a Manger is also quite expensive, but worth it.

 

[dk1]

M&S have a standardised pricing policy, so station/airport outlets are no more expensive than high street, which actually makes them very reasonable along with the quality you expect from M&S.

Many M&S railway station outlets are approx 5% more expensive. I regularly use the main store on Moorgate & this is cheaper than those at the Liverpool St shops.

 

[Doctor Fegg]

On one of my frequent routes, Burton/Derby-Wakefield, I always use shops nearby. There's an off-licence round the corner from Burton station

Better to go round the other corner and get a carry-out from the Coopers Tavern!

 

[F Great Eastern]

I haven't used any SSP outlets for a good while in stations now, like Upper Crust, Delice De France, Camden Food Co etc, since a year or two back they substantially downgraded their products.

Upper Crust was guilty of this more than most, in the space of a month they
- Reduced the size of their baguettes
- Increased the price
- Reduced the Bite Discount from 20% to 10%
- Removed their 3 hours promise and changed it to 6 hours.

Many similar things happened at other SSP outlets, I mean I appreciate that they may want to do one thing of the above, but the fact they did all four at once took the **** to me, so I just don't shop there at all unless I have no other choice. I went from a regular user to someone who simply doesn't bother at all.

In London there are far better options for fresh food such as Pret and Itsu, sure both of them may normally be a small walk from the station in many locations, however offer much better value and quality these days even if they are not cheap. If there is not one of those around I'll just pop in a Sainsburys/M&S/Waitrose in a station instead if there is one.

From a few people I spoke to when they reduced the Bite Card discount that actually reduced their takings not increased them, because the fact that the discount was only 10% meant that most people felt the convenience factor and 20% off their already high prices was a good deal, but for just 10% discount they may as well go somewhere else even if it took a bit longer.

 

[NSE]

Yeah maybe it's the Londoner in me but I saw £2.95 and thought bargain. That said, Virgin charge £3.50 for a large can of Magners onboard. When we did a Cheshire Ranger pub crawl, it was a pretty good way of sneaking in some extra rounds on the go

 

[johntea]

I like that 24 Hour Off License on West Street in Sheffield where pretty much the whole shop is protected by glass (or clear plastic anyway) apart from a small section for the customer to walk through and place their order

Do licensing laws still apply in terms of supermarkets and the like? I know in the past you could have 24 hour supermarkets but they wouldn't be able to sell alcohol after a certain time (11pm or so if I remember) which can be quite annoying if you happen to be staying in a hotel close by to one and just want a few beers!

 

[All Line Rover]

Many M&S railway station outlets are approx 5% more expensive. I regularly use the main store on Moorgate & this is cheaper than those at the Liverpool St shops.

Both M&S department stores on Oxford Street charge standard UK prices on produce in their food halls, and it is therefore unsurprising that the Moorgate branch, which is also a department store (although it is easy to forget this given the food hall is huge relative to the rest of the store) operates the same pricing policy.

However, the Chancery Lane Simply Food branch, although located on a high street and operated directly by M&S, is more expensive than M&S' usual prices. This "London premium" mark-up, which I think also applies at the Tottenham Court Road Simply Food branch, seems to be different from that applied to railway stations and airports. Some products are less expensive than SSP operated railway station Simply Food stores, while other products are more expensive.

That being said, the prices charged at Simply Food railway station stores are still very reasonable. Sandwiches cost as little as £2.10 (instead of £1.95 in the food hall of a department store), which compares favourably to e.g. £5.29 (yes, £5.29!) for a pasty from "West Cornwall Pasties".

 

[dk1]

Both M&S department stores on Oxford Street charge standard UK prices on produce in their food halls, and it is therefore unsurprising that the Moorgate branch, which is also a department store (although it is easy to forget this given the food hall is huge relative to the rest of the store) operates the same pricing policy.

However, the Chancery Lane Simply Food branch, although located on a high street and operated directly by M&S, is more expensive than M&S' usual prices. This "London premium" mark-up, which I think also applies at the Tottenham Court Road Simply Food branch, seems to be different from that applied to railway stations and airports. Some products are less expensive than SSP operated railway station Simply Food stores, while other products are more expensive.

That being said, the prices charged at Simply Food railway station stores are still very reasonable. Sandwiches cost as little as £2.10 (instead of £1.95 in the food hall of a department store), which compares favourably to e.g. £5.29 (yes, £5.29!) for a pasty from "West Cornwall Pasties".

I totally agree. Have been brought up with M&S & they are superb & I don't mind paying that bit extra for convenience anyway. The rent on a shop at a London terminal as busy as Liverpool St must be astronomical. Same with Wetherspoons. You very rarely see them advertise a price nationally as prices & deals quite rightly range by location.

 

[noddingdonkey]

The generically branded Cider is actually made by Westons, not sure what the beers are but it's all decent stuff

M&S actually have several different ciders under their own brand, made by a several different makers. The stuff made by Sheppy's is particularly acceptable, the Sandford Orchards less so.

 

[backontrack]

M&S actually have several different ciders under their own brand, made by a several different makers. The stuff made by Sheppy's is particularly acceptable, the Sandford Orchards less so.

I thought Nicholas Angel blew that place wide open!

Conveniently-placed supermarkets are often useful in these circumstances - Bangor, for example, has an ASDA close by. The Sainsbury's in Deal is another good one.

 

[Mulberry2016]

2.95 is reasonable, believe you me. When I could be paying a fiver for a pack of cheese butties at WH Smith at Stockport Station, 2.95 is a steal for a good pint

 

[Puffing Devil]

2.95 is reasonable, believe you me. When I could be paying a fiver for a pack of cheese butties at WH Smith at Stockport Station, 2.95 is a steal for a good pint

£2.95 may be a bargain for a good pint. I don't class a can of Stella as a good pint!

As with all these prices, it's supply and demand. Coupled with opportunity and inertia. There's a Tesco 5 minutes stroll from Crewe, though few people make that walk, though lack of knowledge, laziness or lack of time.

 

[Peacock X]

I was going for a train at Wigan in October last year and went to purchase a few cans in a off sales near the station. Prices were a total rip off. I cant remember the prices but I got the cans from a pub and it was cheaper.