1970s/80s Station Buffets - Travellers Fare etc photos

[Pete 75C]

Google is not my friend today.

Does anyone have any images (or links to images) of the exterior of railway station buffets? "Travellers Fare" era - 1970s and 1980s. I'm thinking along the lines of major stations, rather than kiosks.

Searching the 'net reveals photos of sandwiches, menus, posters and a few cafeteria-type interior shots but that's about it.

Thanks, Pete.

[Rivercider]

Searching on Flickr for 'station buffet 1980' found these

 

Norwich The Wherry Buffet and Bar

https://www.flickr.com/photos/18578675@N02/9416655203/in/photolist-dPab26-jXUPrj-6rAkS7-8j61Sz-fm7Pwc-bCAqbr-bCArja-dnqq4C-JwUbWK-7F3EWz-3GgP96-bkrwvj-fN7PK4-3Ggz2e-3GmiNh-3GgAC2-3Gmcm3-3GgKFa-3Gm4DU-3Gm3nC-cvUUNs-gG9jnu-Fy2Zot-bDjCaM-3GkTes-GgpEaR-7Qsiiu-B2wRo8-GgpFrt-yK34v8-uwVvb7-yGQXF6-vTiuMt-z9jZ6p-zhHupK-xUSHmy-vhPu4G-tgiaa6-uecjEB-yGKHuj-ucKCCW-Ghc2io-oPeh8L-tWSwyK-xvw8DZ-xvwaEn-xxCsnC-EoNs2k-fP49ts-dnYTHP

 

Carmarthen the Coracle Buffet and Bar

https://www.flickr.com/photos/18578675@N02/6985911719/in/photolist-dPab26-jXUPrj-6rAkS7-8j61Sz-fm7Pwc-bCAqbr-bCArja-dnqq4C-JwUbWK-7F3EWz-3GgP96-bkrwvj-fN7PK4-3Ggz2e-3GmiNh-3GgAC2-3Gmcm3-3GgKFa-3Gm4DU-3Gm3nC-cvUUNs-gG9jnu-Fy2Zot-bDjCaM-3GkTes-GgpEaR-7Qsiiu-B2wRo8-GgpFrt-yK34v8-uwVvb7-yGQXF6-vTiuMt-z9jZ6p-zhHupK-xUSHmy-vhPu4G-tgiaa6-uecjEB-yGKHuj-ucKCCW-Ghc2io-oPeh8L-tWSwyK-xvw8DZ-xvwaEn-xxCsnC-EoNs2k-fP49ts-dnYTHP

 

Exeter St Davids The Saxon buffet and bar

https://www.flickr.com/photos/18578675@N02/7558426278/in/photolist-jXUPrj-dnqq4C-7F3EWz-3GgP96-3Ggz2e-3GmiNh-3Gmcm3-Fy2Zot-orjTpa-6rAkS7-8j61Sz-bCAqbr-bCArja-JwUbWK-fm7Pwc-bkrwvj-fN7PK4-3GgAC2-3GgKFa-3Gm4DU-3Gm3nC-gG9jnu-bDjCaM-7Qsiiu-B2wRo8-yK34v8-uwVvb7-yGQXF6-vTiuMt-z9jZ6p-zhHupK-xUSHmy-vhPu4G-tgiaa6-uecjEB-yGKHuj-ucKCCW-Ghc2io-tWSwyK-3GkTes-cvUUNs-GgpEaR-GgpFrt-oPeh8L-xvw8DZ-xvwaEn-xxCsnC-EoNs2k-fP49ts-dnYTHP

 

And this at Carlisle

https://www.flickr.com/photos/18578675@N02/6977676685/in/photolist-dPab26-jXUPrj-6rAkS7-8j61Sz-fm7Pwc-bCAqbr-bCArja-dnqq4C-JwUbWK-7F3EWz-3GgP96-bkrwvj-fN7PK4-3Ggz2e-3GmiNh-3GgAC2-3Gmcm3-3GgKFa-3Gm4DU-3Gm3nC-cvUUNs-gG9jnu-Fy2Zot-bDjCaM-3GkTes-GgpEaR-7Qsiiu-B2wRo8-GgpFrt-yK34v8-uwVvb7-yGQXF6-vTiuMt-z9jZ6p-zhHupK-xUSHmy-vhPu4G-tgiaa6-uecjEB-yGKHuj-ucKCCW-Ghc2io-oPeh8L-tWSwyK-xvw8DZ-xvwaEn-xxCsnC-EoNs2k-fP49ts-dnYTHP

 

and Taunton Hillside Buffet and Bar

https://www.flickr.com/photos/18578675@N02/14974314938/in/photolist-dPab26-jXUPrj-6rAkS7-8j61Sz-fm7Pwc-bCAqbr-bCArja-dnqq4C-JwUbWK-7F3EWz-3GgP96-bkrwvj-fN7PK4-3Ggz2e-3GmiNh-3GgAC2-3Gmcm3-3GgKFa-3Gm4DU-3Gm3nC-cvUUNs-gG9jnu-Fy2Zot-bDjCaM-3GkTes-GgpEaR-7Qsiiu-B2wRo8-GgpFrt-yK34v8-uwVvb7-yGQXF6-vTiuMt-z9jZ6p-zhHupK-xUSHmy-vhPu4G-tgiaa6-uecjEB-yGKHuj-ucKCCW-Ghc2io-oPeh8L-tWSwyK-xvw8DZ-xvwaEn-xxCsnC-EoNs2k-fP49ts-dnYTHP/

 

cheers

Edited July 1, 2018 by Rivercider

[eastwestdivide]

There might also be a corporate image "Buffet and bar" sign on the platform, and potentially a Nestle chocolate vending machine, both seen in this crop from a photo of Warrington BQ, 1985

[Mark Saunders]

Is there anything in the BR corporate manual?

[woodenhead]

Google isn't playing today is it!

 

Tried to find images of the old buffet at Manchester Victoria, I thought it was called the Coastal, but I can't find anything on Google, it just wants to sell me furniture or timetables

[Rivercider]

Google isn't playing today is it!

 

Tried to find images of the old buffet at Manchester Victoria, I thought it was called the Coastal, but I can't find anything on Google, it just wants to sell me furniture or timetables

Is this part of it?

https://www.flickr.com/photos/grays-railways/3281778395/in/photolist-MstuJi-bmqqG-qsgRuR-e4vg8e-5ZZYo8-sX5aTz-XvyR4t-YqLJPQ-dsKcKe-SwLCjk-Xs1Gm8-VFijtH-egXm8z-efE6Fe-eh47KU-21xXwxJ-rEGLwP-EpEUKx-4Lk6QF-qMVA27-AcA6wt-6F1Hce-8E7MAp-HsXdjB-f9WFsT-tC1Auv-sESmVz-tBwsTW-tzzkqQ-sEwRoC-tkgCrA-KDuhiC-tzn77u-sX4srX-KsTs3-rMjpnk-z5re8v-z4qjH3-yMQ5Cq-KXy5Rf-r7N7Q1

 

edit - you are right about the name, here is more

https://www.flickr.com/photos/137844376@N04/38430337840/in/photolist-MstuJi-bmqqG-qsgRuR-e4vg8e-5ZZYo8-sX5aTz-XvyR4t-YqLJPQ-dsKcKe-SwLCjk-Xs1Gm8-VFijtH-egXm8z-efE6Fe-eh47KU-21xXwxJ-rEGLwP-EpEUKx-4Lk6QF-qMVA27-AcA6wt-6F1Hce-8E7MAp-HsXdjB-f9WFsT-tC1Auv-sESmVz-tBwsTW-tzzkqQ-sEwRoC-tkgCrA-KDuhiC-tzn77u-sX4srX-KsTs3-rMjpnk-z5re8v-z4qjH3-yMQ5Cq-KXy5Rf-r7N7Q1

 

cheers

Edited July 1, 2018 by Rivercider

[keefer]

Corporate manual: http://doublearrow.co.uk/manual.htm

 

Scroll through the whole thing as signage may be in different sections according to usage

[Guest]

Thanks guys. I should have searched within Flickr... Google just wasn't playing ball.

Was it normal for the bar/buffet to have a name eg: "Coastal", "Wherry" etc? If it was, does anyone know what the Kings Cross one was called?

Thanks, Pete.

[Davexoc]

Thanks guys. I should have searched within Flickr... Google just wasn't playing ball.

Was it normal for the bar/buffet to have a name eg: "Coastal", "Wherry" etc? If it was, does anyone know what the Kings Cross one was called?

Thanks, Pete.

Google sometimes needs more search terms to get what you want. I found this which leads to a CAMRA leaflet if you scroll down a bit.

 

https://boakandbailey.com/2015/08/the-age-of-rail-ale-1975-1980/

 

Kings Cross apparently was called Europa Lounge. Others seem more themed, Paddington -Castle, Waterloo - Victory, St Pancras - The Shires, Fenchurch St - The City, Euston - Buffer Stop.

I guess they were named because really they were seen as pubs.

 

Dave

[Guest]

Corporate manual: http://doublearrow.co.uk/manual.htm

 

Scroll through the whole thing as signage may be in different sections according to usage

 

Well worth a look.

These in particular are useful (to me at least)...

 

http://www.doublearrow.co.uk/manual/3_601.1968-01.gif

http://www.doublearrow.co.uk/manual/3_602.1968-01.gif

http://www.doublearrow.co.uk/manual/3_604.1968-01.gif

http://www.doublearrow.co.uk/manual/1_49.1974-07.gif

[Fenman]

Google sometimes needs more search terms to get what you want. I found this which leads to a CAMRA leaflet if you scroll down a bit.

 

https://boakandbailey.com/2015/08/the-age-of-rail-ale-1975-1980/

 

Kings Cross apparently was called Europa Lounge. Others seem more themed, Paddington -Castle, Waterloo - Victory, St Pancras - The Shires, Fenchurch St - The City, Euston - Buffer Stop.

I guess they were named because really they were seen as pubs.

 

Dave

Didn’t Liverpool Street have a Europa Bistro, in the old tea room on the 1st floor?

 

Paul

[caradoc]

Didn’t Liverpool Street have a Europa Bistro, in the old tea room on the 1st floor?

 

Paul

 

Yes, and I used it often in the 1978-80 period when I regularly travelled through Liverpool Street. It was a wonderful place, among other things they did a lovely smoked mackerel salad which could not have been further removed from the second-rate comedians' 'stale BR sandwich' staple.

[31A]

I found this surprising survivor in Bolton in 2015:

 

 

I don't think it's there any longer, though.

[Guest]

I found this surprising survivor in Bolton in 2015:

 

IMG_1354.jpg

 

 

That's useful, thanks.

After Dave (Post #9) saying the one at Kings Cross was called Europa Lounge, I knocked this up in Paint Shop Pro using the rail alphabet and the pictograms from the corporate identity manual. The idea is to reproduce this in 3D just like your photo for the Kings Cross suburban layout. I know the buffet/bar wasn't on the suburban side, but it may add a little atmosphere and help the overall look.

 

[russ p]

Such a shame the Buffet's went ,in back in the 80s when doing my MP12 drivers course we used to hang out a bit in the buffet on the then platform, 14 at York

We got to know the girls who worked in there they had the same pensions that we did and free passes.

Now the multitude of coffee and pasty outlets which crowd stations today employ folk on zero hours contracts with hardly any decent terms and conditions

[corneliuslundie]

Two BR publicity photos from the introduction of the corporate image. The West Bar is at Liverpool Street.

 

 

 

I had them for an article I was writing at the time as part of my job.

Jonathan

 

Edit: Not a clue why one is shown twice and the other under my name!

Edited July 3, 2018 by corneliuslundie

[SED Freightman]

'The Hussar Buffet & Bar' was located on platforms B & C at Waterloo East, but unfortunately I cannot locate a photo at present.

 

As an aside, was the Wellington Tavern at Waterloo the only BR owned pub not actually located within a station ? 

[Classsix T]

Dad and I spent a chunk of the early '80s in Peterborough station's cafés. The Up platform establishment I believe was called the Tudor Bar? Had images of Henry VIII wives on the wall?

The Down island affair was a rather less grand and more geared-up for rapid footfall. Great for spotters too as all lines were visible.

 

C6T.

[GordonC]

The Coastal at Manchester Victoria again

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/137553628@N02/37934666061/in/photolist-ZNa5Az-7B7dQC-dvuV3Z-dNdgS2-dUF9tJ-7iAo49-22q6Ych-dvvAkF-pV3yif-dvUY7Y-p1eDCd-qTwohE-ae9R35-dsKa3R-ZNcKLz-UmGtwC-dTCVrn-aExz5r-6QvPfk-5xV5hQ-VV6Djj-23rnBVM-W1ZYrm-KEyCzy-9VEn5h-7kXQHJ-pTxfPP-21NbZEm-D31iXw-dNdf1R-aXH4L2-rj3zxC-6VXZKM-UTCdzE-cXFcdd-48ahee-axKXyJ-A5zGBd-aE6tqw-4CfkjP-dTNA65-iSZMg7-3VZMym-fFAzkq-4vLpnW-64k6kR-dbixAd-qzC58K-qRhKvk-dvuUUk

[woodenhead]

The Coastal at Manchester Victoria again

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/137553628@N02/37934666061/in/photolist-ZNa5Az-7B7dQC-dvuV3Z-dNdgS2-dUF9tJ-7iAo49-22q6Ych-dvvAkF-pV3yif-dvUY7Y-p1eDCd-qTwohE-ae9R35-dsKa3R-ZNcKLz-UmGtwC-dTCVrn-aExz5r-6QvPfk-5xV5hQ-VV6Djj-23rnBVM-W1ZYrm-KEyCzy-9VEn5h-7kXQHJ-pTxfPP-21NbZEm-D31iXw-dNdf1R-aXH4L2-rj3zxC-6VXZKM-UTCdzE-cXFcdd-48ahee-axKXyJ-A5zGBd-aE6tqw-4CfkjP-dTNA65-iSZMg7-3VZMym-fFAzkq-4vLpnW-64k6kR-dbixAd-qzC58K-qRhKvk-dvuUUk

Ahh, back to Saturday mornings as a child, a ticking over 25 on the banker siding.

 

Slightly OT but could you imagine what Victoria would look like now if they hadn't rebuilt it - the centre through lines would be long gone so that area would be all weeds and probably the furthest platforms also unused

[RANGERS]

Not strictly a buffet/bar but the Lancastrian Grill was a well appointed restaurant with grand views over the main concourse at Euston. Often a favourite spot for lunch if we were well heeled on a spotting trip to London.

[Nearholmer]

Anyone have a photo of the Buffet at Shrewsbury, which made/sold exceptionally good bread pudding, one portion of which was enough to sustain a person for the entire trip to Portmadoc in a horrible Met Cam rattletrap, and possibly the rest of a fortnight's holiday?

 

I still have the indigestion from it now, forty years on.

[Andy W]

Ahh, back to Saturday mornings as a child, a ticking over 25 on the banker siding.

 

Slightly OT but could you imagine what Victoria would look like now if they hadn't rebuilt it - the centre through lines would be long gone so that area would be all weeds and probably the furthest platforms also unused

Apart from The Coastal on platforms 12/13, there was The Dome in the main station building. The Coastal was so called because 12/13 were the main platforms used by trains to/from Blackpool (and sometimes Southport), The Dome actually had a glazed dome in the roof and a very attractive tiled floor. One memory of the Coastal was a machine that sat on the buffet counter and dispensed hot Vimto. Every so often a large bubble would pass through the purple liquid - a bit like a 1970s lava lamp. But on a cold foggy winters night with everything running late, the Vimto was a lifesaver.

Even now Victoria has 4 through platforms, and could really do with more, so an unrebuilt Victoria might well have kept the famous 11 on the main building side, 12/13 as an island, and the second island 14/15. The far side through platform 16 and rarely used bay 17 would probably have gone.

[DIRTY DIESEL]

Chester had one at the bottom of the stairs on platform 3 & Jackie who worked there was great for gen on any 40s working down the coast in the early 80s....

[Oldddudders]

Such a shame the Buffet's went ,in back in the 80s when doing my MP12 drivers course we used to hang out a bit in the buffet on the then platform, 14 at York

We got to know the girls who worked in there they had the same pensions that we did and free passes.

Now the multitude of coffee and pasty outlets which crowd stations today employ folk on zero hours contracts with hardly any decent terms and conditions

Even before it was sold off (a few days after Clapham) Travellers Fare had been required to competitively tender all the buffets for public leasing. I think there were about 170 tendered, and TF won about 150 of them back. That must have been late 1987. It did rather suggest the state-owned operator knew what its business was, despite, as Russ says, having decent pay and conditions for staff.