The Great British Rail Breakfast

[Gorby]

I'm getting closer to coming over and spending a few days on a BritRail pass, but I have very fond memories of a great breakfast with my dad as we traveled from Cleethorpes to London in the 70s. Full silver service I recall but I was a kid then. Fast forward I had to travel from KGX to Leeds in the 90s and had a great breakfast then too.

Fast forward to early March this year, and I want to enjoy a traveling breakfast, the full as possible "English". Now, with all the Covid changes, are there any recommendations for to achieve this, whether to/from London (or elsewhere)? I do plan to be on a 1st Class Britrail.

Thanks in advance,

 

[diffident]

I can only state pre-covid, so I'm not sure of the situation right now, but the best breakfasts I've had in recent years were either on the West Coast mainline (from Birmingham to London) or GWR (from Bristol to London).

I'm not sure about heading out of London though!

 

[30907]

With the drastic decline in business travel, GW haven't reintroduced their Pullman breakfast. LNER have - though whether it meets your criteria I can't say, check on their website. Same applies to Avanti, but I suggest you read recent posts about both companies' offer.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Avanti West Coast would be your best bet for a complimentary "full" English in first class... LNER also do it but only on selected services now, and it excludes black pudding and grilled tomatoes - rather integral parts of a true full English, in my opinion

Transport for Wales serve up a larger, likely more filling portion, but you do have to pay and this is only served in First Class (formerly Business Class and, before that, Premier if you've travelled before) on locomotive-hauled trains. They're struggling to get these out at the moment so it's not a very safe bet.

Then, as others have said, GWR usually offer a Pullman Dining breakfast and that is the nicest option in my opinion - but it's not available at the moment anyway, and trust me, if you're going to spend the rather pricey Pullman bill, you're probably better off doing it on an evening meal train and enjoying the lovely three-course dining experience. A breakfast is rather samey wherever you have it, but the Pullman dinner really does stand out (it's also available despite the Pullman breakfast being suspended)

However, I appreciate it's breakfast you want, so with price, availability and reliability all taken into account I would say your best bet is Avanti West Coast. At least, if they do fail to produce it, you have a chance of getting compensation as the breakfast and lounge are only services that differentiate First from Standard Premium. LNER could very well just say that food is not included in the price and is a bonus.

 

[GrimsbyPacer]

Can't get a full English breakfast on any train in Cleethorpes nowadays I'm affraid. The food trolley doesn't even get on til Doncaster if you are lucky.

 

[Gorby]

Avanti West Coast would be your best bet for a complimentary "full" English in first class... LNER also do it but only on selected services now, and it excludes black pudding and grilled tomatoes - rather integral parts of a true full English, in my opinion

I do appreciate the full answer, and interesting about the Pullman Menu options on GWR, that is also a possibility. I'll dig more too. Thank you.

Can't get a full English breakfast on any train in Cleethorpes nowadays I'm affraid. The food trolley doesn't even get on til Doncaster if you are lucky.

I'll take my sausage in batter, Chips & mushy peas on a tray while walking along the seafront any day. Thanks.

 

[GrimsbyPacer]

I'll take my sausage in batter, Chips & mushy peas on a tray while walking along the seafront any day. Thanks.

The Kingsway Kiosk in Cleethorpes is good for that, after leaving the station, head to the pier, get on the Lollipop Express road train, and get off at the next stop.
Then you are only round the corner from the Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway too.

 

[Gorby]

The Kingsway Kiosk in Cleethorpes is good for that, after leaving the station, head to the pier, get on the Lollipop Express road train, and get off at the next stop.
Then you are only round the corner from the Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway too.

I will confess to being a Marklew's aficionado if I want to walk, Steels for a sitdown (or Papa's). As a kid growing up there I always enjoyed Brenda's Chippy near the old Dolphin (Is that still there now?)

 

[GrimsbyPacer]

I will confess to being a Marklew's aficionado if I want to walk, Steels for a sitdown (or Papa's). As a kid growing up there I always enjoyed Brenda's Chippy near the old Dolphin (Is that still there now?)

I think Brenda's is still there, however not been to Cleethorpes for a few months, and the adjacent toilet block (no free loos in Clee now), beach safety and the Hawaiian Eye cafe are going to make way for some more rubble sometime as council wants to build a concrete office block there, bus stops have been messed up there too. There's always Brown's Cafe as well.
If you mean Marklew's on Humberstone Road, bewarned that Durban Road closes on the 14th so the buses will head down Wellington Street like most of last year.

The council has added some king-sized-bed looking benches on North Prom, a giant chickenwire bin shaped like a fish on Central prom to tell people not to pollute the sea (but the rubbish often falls out into the sea), the Sea Road planters have been destroyed, and the council even went ahead and added lots of paving slabs saying "900 metres" etc leading towards a giant white palm tree which does not exist, as the council decided to keep the grant rather than spend it. Seaview Street has been repaved well, half the banks have gone, Wilko shuts down next month.
But otherwise, Cleethorpes is identical to 14 years ago.

 

[Gorby]

If you mean Marklew's on Humberstone Road, bewarned that Durban Road closes on the 14th so the buses will head down Wellington Street like most of last year.

I messed that up, when my dad was alive and I came back more often, we went to Marklews, but I meant Ernie Becketts in this case! Doh! Even though I come home every two years or so, I'm still fond of the place!

 

[ChiefPlanner]

Without doubt - the GW breakfast , particularly on the down Swansea was truly world class.

The decline in WC and EC breakfasts from privatisation (yes I know) - has been pretty solid I reckon - remember when you get used to get cereals and even porridge , lots of toast and croissants and so on. Choice of juices. Baked beans. Kippers ?

All dumbed down I regret to say

Breakfast used to be a serious element of train catering - in the days when business was often done on the train , or preparations for meetings in (usually London) , it was part of the day;s business or preparation for it.

It was always a problem to usefully use morning breakfast crews for the rest of the day - (or the shift) - lunch was always a lot quieter. Dinner was a different ball game.

The new world is very unlikely to see anything like the old offer (let alone the superlative BR Pullman breakfasts) - kudos to GW who seem to keep the on train proper catering going with lunch and return dinner train(s) from the West Country and Swansea.

The days of even a Cross-Country grill are gone ...or East Anglian dining - .and Brian Perren , author of "Service a Bord" in Modern Railways would not be impressed to say the very least.

 

[Cheshire Scot]

'The Great British Rail Breakfast' was a wonderful feast and after enjoying one I would feel no need to top up with anything at lunchtime.

In per covid times I sampled both the West Coast (then Virgin) and LNER offerings and whilst neither came to comparing with the BR offering, that provided on WCML was vastly superior to that offered by LNER. On West Coast seconds of e.g. orange juice and toast were always offered whereas on LNER when no toast appeared and I asked why I was told it was only provided if available (breakfast without toast!) although it did eventually and grudgingly appear.

GWR is to be showing up well in feedback, but I cannot comment on that as it is not one I have sampled.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

'The Great British Rail Breakfast' was a wonderful feast and after enjoying one I would feel no need to top up with anything at lunchtime.

In per covid times I sampled both the West Coast (then Virgin) and LNER offerings and whilst neither came to comparing with the BR offering, that provided on WCML was vastly superior to that offered by LNER. On West Coast seconds of e.g. orange juice and toast were always offered whereas on LNER when no toast appeared and I asked why I was told it was only provided if available (breakfast without toast!) although it did eventually and grudgingly appear.

GWR is to be showing up well in feedback, but I cannot comment on that as it is not one I have sampled.

The Great Western offering on the down Swansea , used to offer , apart from a huge range of choices , the most magnificent toast and bread offer , but enlivened by "proper" Welsh cakes for a breakfast dessert. Outstanding. All served on branded china with a superb (old school) catering and service crew. Huge regret this will not be seen again.

Mind you - even the non descript MK1's on the Bournemouth line in the 1980's could deliver a home made bacon sandwich of a superlative nature , grilled , your choice of bread with added options of fried egg ,mushrooms and tomato. Some of the extras might not have been part of the "formal" specifications , but it was seriously good.

All seemed better - even recently on the excellent GW options.

 

[Gorby]

Thanks for the feedback. I'm not sure if a GWR train is my breakfast timing, but LNER and WC are. We will see, currently scheduled to come over early March.

 

[westv]

Were all these magnificent breakfasts of yesteryear payable?

 

[ChiefPlanner]

Were all these magnificent breakfasts of yesteryear payable?

Yes - a receipt to be obtained from the Chief Steward.

 

[cambsy]

I can remember partaking of breakfast on all the main intercity routes, in the 90’s or so, on 1st class all line rovers, using the Pullmans on different stock, from Scottish Pullman, on Mk4 East Coast, to Lancashire Pullman or Manchester Pullman, hauled by 87 and MK3’s, with different seating Pullman Coaches, or the Golden Hind Pullman HST, Plymouth to London, was always great having the breakfast. I have done the Great Western Pullman dining, quite a few times, over the last 7 or so years, mainly the Lunch or evening runs, and though expensive, in my book, the best way to spend a couple of hours on a train, though only done the breakfast a couple of times, as the seating was shorter than lunch or dinner.

I haven’t done the Pullman dining, since covid, so dont know what it is like, but looking to do shortly, as have job again, so money to spend, will report on it.

 

[Trackman]

Avanti West Coast would be your best bet for a complimentary "full" English in first class...

It's just enough for me, I don't like to be overfaced with a huge breakfast.

 

[cambsy]

Another dining option, which might be good for you, is premier dining etc, on rail tours, as its a really nice way,, to see the UK, often visiting interesting destinations, and un like LNER etc, the breakfast, is a full cooked English breakfast, then depending on destination and time spent on train, there will be a light lunch or elevenses, then on way back, from destination of tour, there will normally be a 3-4 course, evening meal. The food is not fine dining, but good hearty British food, really well cooked, and always delicious.

If one wants, bit more luxury than premier dining, then theres, the midland Pullman, which uses a HST, and visits a number of destinations,in the UK. I haven’t tried the midland Pullman yet, but looking to in the future. I think dining on rail tour is a good potion, as one is guaranteed, proper cooked food, great scenery and a really cracking day out, where as on an ALR, One can dine on certain trains, or have complimentary meals, which are nice, the food can be unavailable, or changed, which rarely happens on a railtour, so i would recommend doing premier dining etc.

 

[berneyarms]

Thanks for the feedback. I'm not sure if a GWR train is my breakfast timing, but LNER and WC are. We will see, currently scheduled to come over early March.

GWR aren’t doing Pullman breakfasts anymore, only lunch/dinner on the trains listed here:

Pullman Dining train | Book the ultimate train dining experience online | Great Western Railway

Experience one of the finest train dining experiences with GWR Pullman Dining. Savor gourmet cuisine and luxury service as you travel in first-class comfort.

www.gwr.com

The only complimentary options are AWC and LNER.

TfW are hit and miss with the Mk 4 sets between Cardiff & Holyhead currently due to the need for staff to be fully trained up.

They charge £ 10 for the breakfast in 1st Class on the service when it runs.

Food and drink on our trains | Transport for Wales

Transport for Wales | Buy Cheap Train Tickets and Check Train Times

tfw.wales

 

[Tester]

Were all these magnificent breakfasts of yesteryear payable?

They were, but of note, also available to second class passengers at the same price subject to space availability (and I don't ever recall being turned away) - so a fun way of travelling in first class accommodation for part of the journey when that was a pretty big deal.

The price was pretty high - the papers used to go on about it when prices increased - but was clearly aimed at people not paying out of their own pockets.

A perk for salaried BR staff was full reimbursement of the breakfast cost in lieu of the 'away before 08:00' scale expenses (not much over £1 in the early 1980s so an easy choice!).

 

[greyman42]

It's just enough for me, I don't like to be overfaced with a huge breakfast.

You cannot really be served with too much. Just leave what you don't want.

 

[Cheshire Scot]

Yes - a receipt to be obtained from the Chief Steward.

The Chief Steward gave you a bill, he may well have given a receipt as well if one was claiming on expenses.

I don't think I travelled early in the morning that much whilst on a duty pass as a CO5 or MS1 but it would never have occurred to me to have breakfast on the train as I would have had breakfast before leaving at home.

The price was pretty high - the papers used to go on about it when prices increased - but was clearly aimed at people not paying out of their own pockets.

I always felt it was good value and I am inclined to think the press were comparing the price with the price for breakfast in a cafe rather than in a good hotel - and the meal provided was of the latter standard and probably better than many.

 

[Tester]

I always felt it was good value and I am inclined to think the press were comparing the price with the price for breakfast in a cafe rather than in a good hotel - and the meal provided was of the latter standard and probably better than many.

This is absolutely correct, and of course not terribly unusual!

 

[ChiefPlanner]

The Chief Steward gave you a bill, he may well have given a receipt as well if one was claiming on expenses.

I don't think I travelled early in the morning that much whilst on a duty pass as a CO5 or MS1 but it would never have occurred to me to have breakfast on the train as I would have had breakfast before leaving at home.



I always felt it was good value and I am inclined to think the press were comparing the price with the price for breakfast in a cafe rather than in a good hotel - and the meal provided was of the latter standard and probably better than many.

BR marketing posters used to make the point about a very good breakfast , eaten in comfort (not in say a Motorway service station) - with the joy of the passing scenery.

Expensive - yes a bit - but even as an Afro-haired student (on a grant to be fair) , I used to have the odd HST breakfast .....set you up for the day all right.

 

[Cheshire Scot]

It's just enough for me, I don't like to be overfaced with a huge breakfast.

You cannot really be served with too much. Just leave what you don't want.

With BR it was of course Silver Service so you could have as much or as little as you wanted (another slice of bacon sir? (when there were already three on your plate)) so no need to leave anything (unless you over specified your requirements)

 

[Trackman]

You cannot really be served with too much. Just leave what you don't want.

That's not what I meant- I don't like being overfaced having too much food on a plate, plus I know any waste will go in the bin.
*laughs* You don't have that problem with Avanti's breakfasts these days!

With BR it was of course Silver Service so you could have as much or as little as you wanted (another slice of bacon sir? (when there were already three on your plate)) so no need to leave anything (unless you over specified your requirements)

Indeed, happy days. Things tasted better then.
When VT started with breakfasts they offered an extra sausage (as well as toast) and even plugged it a TV ad.