The Tardis-style pub in a Greater Manchester railway station that is steeped in history '“We’re proud to be one of the last standing Victorian-era buffet bars in the country' Staff member Sarah Dixon, bar manager Lyndsey Walker, and supervisor Hayley Crossley inside the Stalybridge Buffet Bar (Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News ) In the middle of the week, the sun is glaring down on Stalybridge Station as the air is filled with an oddly-comforting mix of freshly-laid tarmac and railway fumes. Literally situated amongst it all, on platform four where trains from Manchester stop on their way past Stalybridge and beyond, is a quaint little pub that is steeped in years of history. There's a couple sitting inside each enjoying a plate of pie, peas and gravy, and another man sat sipping on a third of a pint of Farmer Jim's cider next to a 'beware of the trains' sign. ‌ Going as far back as 1885, The Stalybridge Buffet Bar is now one of the few remaining Victorian-era railway station buffet bars, traditionally a name reserved for a café or place to grab a bite to eat whilst waiting for a train. Article continues below Nowadays, The Stalybridge pub focuses mainly on its drinks offering, besides a rotating menu of locally-made pies, peas and gravy and occasional crisp butty specials. Featured continuously in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide since 1999, it serves the likes of Thornbridge, Manchester Union and Sureshot, and proudly steps away from serving up some of the bigger names like Strongbow and Carling. Co-run by Phill Shaw and Lyndsey Walker alongside the local Beerhouses operator, the Tameside pub is a traditional favourite with the walls dotted with signs of place names and train stations, alongside certificates, awards, beer posters and cheeky slogans. Each wall of the pub is dotted with posters, signs and train memorabilia (Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News ) ‌ The quirky Tardis-esque venue, which proudly boasts of being part of the original Transpennine Real Ale Trail, in the sense that it looks smaller than it actually is, stems across most of the platform with its own outdoor area, conservatory and separate rooms inside. “It’s like a little Tardis - it just keeps on going,” Lyndsey, who started out as bar staff at the pub and worked her way up to the co-managerial role, tells the Manchester Evening News. “It’s not a very big pub, but it’s a very long one. “You usually have a lot of bewildered looks on people when they first walk on. We’re here everyday and we sort of take it for granted, but people are always amazed at how long it is and how many different things there are on the walls.” ‌ Supervisor Hayley Crossley, who has been at the pub for ten years now, says a lot of the items hung up on the wall have either been collected or donated over the years with some of the quirky mixture of memorabilia having funny anecdotes to them. The Stalybridge Buffet Bar is situated on platform four of Stalybridge Station (Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News ) “You know what, I have no clue where half of these things have come from,” she laughs. “A few months ago, we had an elderly woman come in and pointed to one of the lamps on the wall and said it was hers. ‌ “She was like ‘that’s mine, I’ve found somewhere in my house for it now, can I have it back?’. We all just looked at each other and didn’t really believe her. “There’s also a signal box, which came from a man who, for some reason, wanted to hang it up over the back of his bed and his wife wouldn’t let him. So, he donated it to the pub so he could see it here whenever he came in.” Despite being a spot for traditional folk, the Stalybridge has also, in recent years, begun to attract a younger crowd thanks to its lively rotation of folk bands, live music and quiz nights - which have earned themselves a big reputation. This May Bank Holiday weekend will also see the venue host a night of psych rock with local 'energetic' noise-makers Swim the Witch and Hannibal Rex. ‌ The original venue dates back to 1885 when it operated as a buffet bar (Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News ) “The quiz night has just really taken off for us,” Lyndsey says. “You’ve got people who come every week, lots of new faces and there’s just a really nice mix of young and older crowds. And the quizmasters are always customers who volunteer so it offers a nice change to things each week.” Asked why they think the Stalybridge has been able to bridge the gap between crowds, both Lyndsey and Hayley say its just down to its unique setting that doesn’t take itself too seriously. ‌ “It’s very different to any other pub,” Hayley says. “You won’t see Fosters or Carling here, we have local brewers and some that are a little further out. I would never have heard of some of them if I didn’t work here. “We had a gin phase, where there were three shelves of gin, and then we had a whisky phase. We’re in a bit of a wine era right now. That seems to be quite popular at the moment but real ale is our big thing here. We have nine different types on draft.” The long-winding pub has been described by its owners as a 'Tardis' (Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News ) ‌ “It’s just steeped in history, it’s well-known,” Lyndsey adds. “People know it for being around for so long. We’re tucked away at the top of the hill so people have to know we’re here - you don’t just stumble here unless you’re getting off the train.” Lyndsey says she has also seen a ‘buzz’ come back to Stalybridge in recent years - having managed to somewhat loosen its former reputation as Stalyvegas and bounce back. “We still have people who come in and call it that,” she explains. “It was good back in the day with the whole Stalyvegas thing, everywhere was just so busy. I think the scene moved from Ashton onto Stalybridge, and then it went back to Ashton for a while. ‌ “There does seem to be a bit more of a buzz here nowadays. There’s a lot of real ale bars and pop-up restaurants that are bringing people here. 20 years ago, you might not have even thought of that.” The pub has become known for its cask ales and selection of European beers (Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News ) “They’re making a lot of improvements to the era,” Hayley adds. “It is quite takeaway heavy still but there are attempts to add some nice restaurants to the community. ‌ “There’s talk of developments at certain buildings, whether it happens or not we don’t know, but we always hear that things are in the works.” The pair say that with the Stalybridge’s character becoming so embedded into what makes the venue so special, they would never contemplate changing things around or trying to cater too much to a modern crowd - they say it would never work. “It’s just steeped in history, it’s well-known,” co-manager Lyndsey says of the venue (Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News ) Article continues below “We won’t really ever be changing the inside of it,” Lyndsey says. “We’re proud to be one of the last standing Victorian-era buffet bars in the country. “We do have people ringing in asking when the all-you-can-eat buffet is on and we have to explain to them that we’re a railway station pub, but it’s something we are happy to be. We like to think that we offer people an experience here - we’re far from generic and we want to keep it that way.” The Stalybridge Buffet Bar is at Stalybridge Railway Station (platform four), Rassbottom Street, Stalybridge, SK15 1RF.