Britain's Train Station Pubs Offer Unique Pre-Journey Drinks

Travelers looking for a pre-journey tipple in the United Kingdom have a variety of unique options, from historic pubs within train stations to remote establishments accessible only by rail. These venues offer a chance to enjoy local ales, traditional pub fare, and the ambiance of railway history.

Historic Pubs and Modern Brews

The Sheffield Tap, located in the former Edwardian refreshment and dining rooms of Sheffield Midland Station, underwent restoration and reopened in 2009. The award-winning venue offers beers from its on-site Tapped Brewery, alongside over 200 foreign beers and other draught options. It is dog-friendly and welcomes under-18s until 8 p.m.

In Doncaster, the Draughtsman Alehouse is situated on platform 3b of the railway station. Housed in a former Victorian buffet room, it retains many original features and reopened in 2017 after 18 years of vacancy. The pub serves a rotating selection of beers, ales, wines, spirits, and gins.

The Trackside, located on platform two of Bury Bolton Street Station, allows patrons to watch steam trains. It offers ten real ales, ciders, and other beverages, along with classic pub food. A beer garden is also available directly on the platform.

London's Cannon Street railway station is home to The Sir John Hawkshaw, which is noted as the smallest Wetherspoons in the country. With seating for only 41, it lacks its own restrooms, requiring customers to use the station's facilities. Opened in February 2015, the pub is named after engineer Sir John Hawkshaw, who co-designed the original 1866 station building.

The Railwayman's Arms in Bridgnorth, Shropshire, dates back to 1861 when it first opened as a refreshment room on platform one of Severn Valley Railway Station. The pub features train memorabilia on its walls and offers a range of draught beers.

In Durham, The Waiting Room is situated on the northbound platform in what was formerly the Ladies' Waiting Room. This Grade II-listed venue features wooden panels, Chesterfield-style seating, and a dark wood bar. It serves local ale and a selection of gins, with takeaway pints also available.

Steamworks Bars, located at Seaford and Glynde Railway Stations, feature exposed brick walls and a wooden fireplace, offering craft beers and wine. The establishment suggests a pairing of "train repairs with a great craft beer."

The Centurion in Newcastle's Neville Street Grand Central Station dates back to 1893. Originally a first-class waiting lounge, it was later used as prison cells by British Transport Police in the 1960s before its transformation into a pub. The venue showcases ornate ceilings and tiled walls.

Remote and Reopening Venues

Corrour, described as the 'UK's remotest restaurant,' is located at the highest railway station in the UK on the West Highland Line in Scotland. Access is limited to train or a 20-mile trek.

The Old Ticket Office at Cambridge Railway Station offers a range of craft beers, wines, ciders, soft drinks, and spirits, along with an outdoor seating area. The pub is temporarily closed for repairs and is scheduled to reopen by the end of the current month.