Stalybridge Buffet Bar in Tameside

Honestly the best ales around! Brilliant location. The ales are the best ones I have had, well worth a visit. Jaipur was so good !

Great space, interesting decor and good range of real ales. Worth a visit to look at all the history. Would have got 5 stars except for the attitude of the bar tender when we queried a beer that was supposed to be hazy but frankly looked opaque. Expected it to be replaced, not to be argued with.

I made my first [ and last] visit to this establishment last Thursday 10-12 pm.having got off a train.Plenty of people in, door open. Looked like they had a range of beers but didn't get to try any as not serving despite advertising " being open to 11 pm" I've heard of a pub with no beer but a pub with beer it doesn't serve is something new.

Lovely traditional and quirky bar! Good range of beers and cider! Only had pies on when we went so we decided not to eat but they looked good.

The buffet bar is easily the best bar for miles and miles. Great atmosphere, no trouble, great quiz night on Sunday. Hayley and Lindsey are amazing staff, they run the pub really well, and the selection of alcohol is amazing.

This place is located on the side of the railway and is great for a pint. It gets busy with the ale trail tourists on a Saturday - so advisable to go during the week or on a Friday.

Loved the choice of beers, always something new that you’ve never tasted before. The staff were excellent, lyndsey and Alix were very knowledgeable about the beers on, and even offered tasters.

Shocking service. Not up to the usual standard on the buffet bar. we arrive with one young woman serving at the bar and one person waiting. We waited our turn and were completely ignored and she served someone else first. At this point we were irritated but we waited until she served these gents. At that point a man came from the kitchen and asked who's next. Started to serve another customer before corrected by the woman server and came to us. We at this point started it was actually our go before these guys only for the woman to lie and said 'i asked who was next' which she never did. I thought we should try and support here since the railways shut but after this service and I'm not sure we will be returning again. It has left a real sour taste in are mouth.

Traditional boozer. Warm welcome, plenty of real ales to choose from. Interesting decor, dogs welcome. The pub is right on the platform so grab your anorak and enjoy the trains. Definitely the kind of pub we should be supporting. Immortalized in song by Fivepenny Piece

Arrived at lunchtime today as we were meeting with family hoping for drinks and lunch as advertised to be told no food ..you really need to revise your website…went to Wetherspoons with about 10 other customers that were hoping for food ..don’t think we will call again .

We visited here on our way out and on our way back on Saturday. It's take service only, so we weren't sure how it was going to be with the bar sometimes getting very busy, but we were served fairly quickly. The staff were lovely and polite as always and we were able to enjoy a few drinks sat outside.

Right on the platform at Stalybridge station. Been going here for years. Nice staff. Plenty of real ale and good pub food.

I have visited Stalybridge Buffet Bar many times over the years and it never ceases to inspire. Wonderful old railway station atmosphere, real ale and a coal fire.

Amazing food,beer, cider and ambience. Just what a pub should be. Warm welcome and helpful staff. Can't recommend it highly enough.

Been wanting to visit here for years. A quick lunch stop for a pie was all we wanted. Totally unclear menu board. Unhelpful slack staff. Pretty tasteless meat (meat? Just a bit of mince) and potato pie and totally tasteless peas. Despite the interesting interior, food was so disappointing and customer care was so poor we definitely won't be coming back.

Very good selection of beer always busy so popular everything you could hope for straight off the train

I stopped here mid-canal journey a couple of years ago and spotted a couple of pies that looked very tempting. I didn’t have one then as I was eating with friends later, however I vowed to return to sample one! I gathered 3 friends and we went and spent a very enjoyable 2 hours in the bar. I originally thought the great selection of beers would be the highlight, but when the pies arrived that all changed! We had meat and potato and cheese and onion and I can honestly say they were the best pies I’ve tasted - with decent pieces of potato and not the mushed up filling that many pies have. The staff are welcoming and friendly and take pride in their beers and pies! I can thoroughly recommend a visit here, and not just if you’re passing through or on the Ale Trail!

We visited this at the end of the Ale Trail and it was my favourite pub I visited on the day. The location is amazing, really liked the beer selection, the decor is great. My absolute favourite thing was the scotch egg (made in house!) which was the best I've ever had. I miss it so much already.

First time visited this platform bar. This venue is soo cool. Straight off the train, and into the bar, and what an atmosphere. The good this about this pub, was that it was only fifteen minutes from Manchester... The food was deep fat fried, which isn’t really my thing...it was ok, next time, I’ll stick to pie and mash.. loved it, and will return.

Great beer and plenty of choice of cask ales. Street food Friday, great food at a value price.Fantastic very tasty and recommended ,different theme every week. Today's was Spanish and was delicious.

Simply just awsome,awsome Beer,awesome food,awsome staff topped by awsome friendly locals, and its even Dog friendly. Awsomenes

Get off the train and there's the Railway bar. Real ale et al. Staying with my cousins in StalyVegas left the Railway bar to 2 with live music plus an 80s music club. Worth a visit. 20 minutes on the train from Manchester. John. Cov.

We called in for a nosey as we were passing, it was a very busy Saturday night. It was cider festival and there was live music on so maybe busier that usual? We were served quickly though, there is a selection of real ales and gins plus the usual beers wines and spirits you would expect and not overpriced like a lot of station bars!! Loads of memorabilia around the place which is very interesting. There is a second room off the bar but didn’t get to go in, couldn’t be bothered squeezing through . I will definitely be back hopefully when it’s a little quieter and I can have a proper look around and try the food!!

Excellent selection of beers and interesting location bang on the station platform and can get really busy with punters undertaking the trans pennine ale trail

Friendly place with good ale and relaxed ambience. Went by chance on a Tuesday afternoon when half a dozen welcoming veteran folkies strummed their guitars and sang songs from the 60s and before.

We go to the Buffet Bar for quiz night and for the occasional family meal. The food and choice of drinks are great, albeit at city centre prices! But the management aren't interested in putting on anything for regular customers. They are only interested in passing trade from the trains.

Website says they are open until 11pm. We detoured out of our way to get here while waiting for our train but at 10pm were told they had stopped serving. I know pubs sometimes close early if they have no customers but if they advertise set opening times they should stick to them. Not impressed.

7 of us came here on a birthday night and were greeted with a really poor service. We were not loud or out of order but the girl bar maid was extremely rude. She even said she hates her job and hates serving drunk people. Her bearded colleague looked embarrassed to serve next to her.

First time here for a meal friendly staff service good food exalent menu lovely prices resanable defanetly go back agin well done to you and your team x

Generally poor food and inconsistent with food provision. Very good choice of beer, on draught and bottled. Service is on the slow side so don't go in if your train is due any time soon.

Always worth a mid week visit for the super ales and good food, best to avoid the weekend when the "ale trail" lager swilling hoards pack the place out and spoil it for everyone else, thanks James May !

A wonderful sunny day for a pie and a pint,set in a blast from the past we stopped off for a quick bite of lunch and it’s like another world,great atmosphere and quick service.

+1 An excellent range of well-kept real ales. But it isn't compulsory to love traditional ales : the pub also carries other soft & alcoholic drinks.

Decided to go here for a change on Friday night, it was that packed like sardines we came away. The decor was great and staff seemed friendly otherwise!

Stopped here for a beer and a pie on route to Huddersfield for the Ale trail and the pie was absolutely gorgeous, the staff were very professional and it’s a great atmosphere inside and out all day.

Lovely welcome. Delicious food. Good choice of beers. A perfect visit on the ale trail. Very reasonable prices.

Arrive at 1830 Friday night to be greeted by the waitress trying to say 'no food available' on the blackboard. Gone downhill rapidly

We called in and had nice nibbles with a couple of pints. Excellent selection of ales and some nice nibbly bits on the side. Good times and staff were fantastic. Friendly regular set too!!!

Great food, atmosphere friendly staff ... even better beers. Absolute gem of a place...warm open fires..

Fabulous selection of cask ales, great atmosphere and service. Busy in the evenings as the commuter trains come and go but great fun

Booked a month ago for Christmas dinner - paid deposit, selected meals and gave phone number for contact. Turned up today - no booking. They said chef would have had to ring me to confirm booking (he didn’t). Chef said he had not received a piece of paper from the bar to ask him to ring.

Although on a station platform access is free. Real ales served and always a great selection of beers. Get on a train to Yorkshire and do the Ale Trail.

This was our first stop on the rail ale trail. We went on a Friday and it was not busy. Really enjoyed the food and the beer. Super pie with black peas!! Excellent

Staff rude and uninterested. Tables littered with empty pint glasses. Tried overcharging too which I can see from other reviews isn't the first time.Only interested in the mass groups on the beer trail on Saturdays that clearly make the venue a lot of money. Only 7 people in when I was in and the staff were too busy playing on their phones to clear the mess around them.

I've long wanted to visit this magnet for real ale drinkers and was not disappointed. Its overall impact is greater than the sum of its parts due to the fact that this is a rare relic of a bygone age of the railway. Beer choice is superb and the pie menu offers a most satisfying lunch. The railway ephemera which decorates the interlinked rooms provide interesting diversion to both the drinker and traveller.

This is an excellent bar, with lots of choice of beer as well as cider. The beer I sampled was real ale and in first-class condition.

Great little place to try some fantastic ales,well worth a visit !! Great atmosphere aswell and also handy finishing off after a trip to town

I've been drinking in here for some 45 years, the bar just gets better and better, great beer, grub, service and company.

Friendly staff, great atmosphere, fine selection of ales and other drinks along with quality pub food.

Magic pub. Been here for years but has in recent times become more popular with the increased interest in the real ale trail.

4 of us visited at lunchtime in the week. 2 ale drinkers who were not disappointed ,one cider drinker who enjoyed what was on offer. Food ,however,let us down . 2 steak and ale pies had star anise in them ! How strange was that ? Totally took over the flavour and spoilt the meal. Gravy was good. Another had chicken and chorizo pie which was very good . 4th meal was a cheese sandwich. Lots of tasty cheese with lambs lettuce and chutney . The bread was cheap looking oven bottom . This place is great. Full of memorabilia and plenty of character. Good old fashioned pub.

If you like a Pint then this is the place to go the finest selection you will find. Basic Food if the highest standard.

Been here a few times now and every time the beer is very good. Every single pint.

A comfy typical railway bar serving good real ale ant thod pie as well Folk music on Tuesday afternoon with Alan sellers and satdy neet with Jim Schofield

we were on our own ale train as a present and this was our first stop huge homemade pie and peas and great choice of real ales very good service we sat outside on benches its part of the car park but with the sun shining it was great

Took me 10 minutes to get served while nobody else was waiting at the bar. One member of staff spent 10 minutes explaining train times to people, the other spent 10 minutes trying to work out how to issue a refund on someones card. I felt totally ignored. Tip - make service a priority, train your staff, and actually serve people that are waiting at the bar.

Broke rail journey from Huddersfield to Manchester to call in here. Excellent restoration of classic railway buffet. Good range of beers - many local - in excellent condition. Cosy and comfy this is place where you can really relax. The seating encourages different groups to sit together and conversation flows readily.

This place is so special. It feels like going back to Victorian times. Just like pubs used to be. Loads of character. Plus they have one of the best collections of real ales, lagers etc. The food is great as well. Try the Pies with Black Eye Peas. Yummy. Brilliant place

Don't be fooled at this station with the modern front.

This is one of two Station Buffets listed in the CAMRA Heritage Pub book and well worth a visit. There is a great atmosphere and a roaring fire. It is on the Transpennine Rail Ale Trail and so has a good trade these days which means that there is always a good pint to be had and they also have fantastic Pork Pies.

I’ve not been here for some time but I decided to call in and it’s changed a lot but still it’s timeless.the service was friendly and food was good it was clean and you can get a drink from the bar.the food was hot just what you want when it’s cold

Always a plentiful choice of cracking ales, which rotate often, and some great pub snacks. The atmosphere is always pleasant as well whether it's for a quick drop before your train, as part of the ale trail, to warm by the fire or for some music in the back room.

This was our favourite of all the pubs and bars on the trail. Right on the station platform with a great range of beers. It was even a lovely sunny and mild day when we visited. Perfect!

We have been regulars here for longer than I care to remember. Real Ale that has a constantly changing bar. The pie & peas (black & green) are excellent. My only disappointment is that we can no longer sit on the platform with a pint...

Still one of the best pubs in the country and a must visit for an ale aficionado! Several beers, excellently kept, with the decor maintained to remind us of years gone by! Stop for a quick pint on your way to somewhere else or settle in near the real fire for a lengthy session, whatever your reason for popping in you shouldn't be disappointed!

Step back in time and sample great beer and atmosphere. Coal fire in winter and Monday night quiz. Best sessions are early Friday and Sunday evening. Staff great and beer well looked after. Avoid Saturday rail ale trail if you want a more relaxed experience.

We missed our train from Manchester to Newcastle and The todoli us to go to stalybridge, but before we were able to get in The train, we visited this pub. It was really nice, we enjoyed all of our time there, we ate some scotch eggs and meat pies. We also had different beers from their selection! I would go back there for sure!

Drank in here with friends on Friday night! Great atmosphere with a series of little rooms. Good for craft beers and good selection of wines too. The artisan pies have to be tried if you visit too! Will be back!

I visited here with family as part of my dad's birthday. We enjoyed an excellent pint of real ale each. Lovely cosy pub too and well worth a visit.

Great place for lovely pies and sandwiches.

Started here on the famous Yorkshire Ale Trail. A wonderfully quirky bar set right on the platform of Stalybridge Station. A warm & welcoming atmosphere, helped immeasurably by the Landlady, a typical no nonsense Yorkshire Lass. The choice of beers was excellent, as were the alternatives for us non real ale buffs. A read another review that lamented the lack of food. Strange, as I’ve never before seen a bar so full of glass domes, full of all manner of magnificent pies & pasties. All served with a generous portion of black peas. This place is a ‘must visit’.

relaxed atmosphere , genuine friendly and fun staff , was a cold night greeted with a roaring open fire , vegan pie (array of other non vegan pies and snacks ) and a pint , quite a few vegan options on certain nights ,highly recommended , chef ash your a star , thank you for being vegan friendly!!

Have visited this super railway station buffet on many occasions and it never fails to impress. A good selection of quality real ales were available to help wash down homemade snacks which included breakfast scotch eggs,ploughman’s pasties,ratatouille pie and for the sweet tooth,the most delicious egg custard. Not for the faint heated but top quality comfort food.

We started here as part of the famous ale train working our way backwards to Yorkshire. Really quirky bar with loads of memorabilia but more importantly a good selection of ale. We stopped for a couple before moving on. Good craic too as most people simply there for a good pint.

I have passed through Stalybridge station on the train many times, but this time I made a special effort to visit the station and its buffet bar. Great range of beers and their pies are well worth having, very tasty. I was lucky enough to have their black peas and gravy with my pie too, totally scrummy

Excellent beers. Great food. Friendly staff. Good atmosphere. Convenient for trains to Manchester and Leeds.

Just love this bar... unpretentious and original, serving several real ales all in prime condition. The Jaipur in particular was fantastic. Between the 4 of us we had a selection of their homemade pies... beautiful crisp pastry ( that does NOT give you indigestion!! ) What more could a hungry, thirsty traveler want. The French member of our party was bowled over by the quality and flavours.

Great station buffet, ouzing memorabilia of past times. Excellent real ales. The food is of a high standard considering it is basic but wholesome.

A real place full of real ales - small but very busy and great atmosphere- if you like a wide choice of unusual beers and ciders you can't miss this place

After a long walk we ended up at the Station Buffet Bar. We sat outside in the late afternoon sunshine. It's a pity you are not allowed to sit on the platform anymore (trouble with a few idiots) but hey ho there are plenty of seats just outside the conservatory. We enjoyed our drinks. Service is always good even at busy times. I have not eaten here but people say it is good and there were people eating pies etc when we were there.

I had no idea that this pub existed, but it's a good reason to go back to Stalybridge. Friendly service, reasonable prices, great beers, great bar snacks including scotch eggs and pies.

This place hasn't changed for years. It still serves a good choice of beers at a reasonable price. It makes waiting for a train a pleasure. It used to be famous for its 'back eyed peas' but I think it's been taken over by a large company, so unsure about the food. If it's on route it's worth a visit.

A perfect place to end the working day. Always a warm welcome with top quality ale. The tall guy (Alex?) knows how to pull a good pint as well!

An old fashioned railway station buffet bar. Great staff and a friendly atmosphere. Great selection of real ales changed on a regular basis. Well worth a stop off whilst catching the train. Also part of the ale train route

Genuine Victorian buffet bar with many original features bar room, conservatory (which used to be female only with its own entrance back in the day). Joined by side room and back room, which use to be the former Licensees bedroom and living areas. Two banks of 5 ever changing real ales on handpump from near and far. Here is a pub with a long established reputation. Also noted are handpumped cider. Foreign and Craft keg beers on draught, can and bottle. Good selection of spirits.

I always enjoy a visit to the Stalybridgebrige Buffett Bay, and long may it continue. I must say that Carnforth cannot live with our gem at Stalybridge.

Visited this pub recently, its not what it use to be, now owned by a company with other pubs, I am in Camra, the beer was shocking, when I took it back the tramp behind the bar challenged me and said it is suppose to taste and look like that, no it isn't. Got a different pint , same totally undrinkable, so left, will be advising my local Camra branch.Prices are top end too and the place is dirty ans strewn with empty beer glasses

Great pub brilliant atmosphere great selection of beer and fantastic home cooked food would recommend this place to any one

Great little place to enjoy a quick tipple and a scotch egg before catching your train. A good range of real ales and tasty bar snacks

Very friendly place and well worth interrupting your train journey for. Well worth a visit even if not travelling by train.

Great start to the Ale Trail. Brilliant selection of beers, and a great range of snacks. Sausage and black pudding rolls are smashing!Friendly staff, nice layout with seating inside and out. We'll be back!

I love this place. Great Ale, fab atmosphere and good grub. Part of the Ale Trail but much more to it than this.

This is one of my locals so I'm already slightly biased, after living here for 8 years, but after being taken over by the Beerhouses group, things have really notched up a gear when it comes to the food offering!The chef is an absolute Jewel in the crown, coming up with outstanding pies, pastries, snacks and even themed evenings, but the Fathers Day fayre was no less than superb.3 'Manwiches' (The Fish Finger one being my fave), a fully loaded chicken & ham hock pie, pork with marmite sausage roll PLUS stout & chocolate sticky toffee pudding and a luscious whisky & ginger cheesecake. All accompanied with tea (or beer) and served by a fantastic hostess who couldn't do enough for us.Honestly, the flavours were wonderful, the portion sizes generous (they even had doggie bags on hand if you couldn't finish it) and the price....ABSOLUTE BARGAIN!I could not fault it, my dad was stuffed but incredibly happy and I left proud to have this place pretty much on my doorstep.Keep up the great work, food & drink offerings are fab (wouldn't mind seeing Stalybridge's own Ticketybrew on the wickets and in bottles a bit more too if possible!), but thank you for a great experience!

We first came her in November last year while up for the Manchester xmas market Up again and staying in mars da West Yorkshire brought family over to sample the delights of this wonderfully historic bar and buffet Recommend to all

We did the Transpennine Real Ale Trail and one of the stops was at the Stalybridge Station Buffet Bar.WHAT A TREAT! When we first stepped in I wasn't particularly hungry but I saw all the home pies and pasties on the bar and they just looked mouth watering. So I ended up ordering ham hock pie which was so delicious. Some one else ordered the carling peas and so I had to try those also! Given the quality of the food here it was ridiculously cheap. Can't recommend this place enough.

Great pub, with a very good selection of ales and excellent food. Nicely decorated. Could be too busy sometimes but it's always worth the wait.

totally smitten .. steeped in history and displays all its character on its sleeve .. drink it,breath it, live it, total time travel for your travels ..and after a few of the local brews you may lose time ..

Had the great ploughman's lunch and really recommend this for a "bit of a difference with a twist". The egg is very good, the cheese and meat selection is awesome! Well worth a visit on your travels!

The buffet bar is unique, it is like a railway museum inside, full of railway memorabilia. There is a fine selection of real ales and cider, plus many bottled beers.They also serve very good food. Michael Portillo popped in there on his railway journey travels and sampled their famous black peas. lf anyone is passing through Stalybridge railway station the buffet bar is well worth a visit. A brilliant pub with a small beer garden.Quiz night is monday at 9pm.

we did our own beer train we got a day ticket that goes past leyland to huddersfield and they run every hour so you have time to jump off have a drink and catch the next one the station buffet bar was our first and wasn't a disappointment it was full of original character old tables and pictures ect we had lamb and harrissa pie with mushy peas a a pint of real ale great start the staff were quick and friendly would recommend calling