BITE card - discount card for use at railway station outlets

[whole diary]

[Timmer]

From 9th June 2014 the BiTE Card discount is reducing from 20% to 10%. That, for me, is likely to tip the balance in favour of non-SSP outlets on stations, or see me look for alternatives outside the station.

Me too, thanks for the heads up BNM. Shame because the 20% discount made paying SSP's premium prices at stations acceptable, not anymore it doesn't.

[JayMac]

I forgot to mention, the 'heads up' came by way of an email from SSP. With them attempting to sugar the pill with the offer of a free drink. I'll take the freebie of course, but 'tis likely, when I have time to kill, you'll find me more often in the Knights Templar rather than Bonapartes at Bristol TM^▸ (Train Manager, or possibly Ticket Machine, depending on context) in future.

Hi Justin,

We want to let you know about a few changes to your BITE Card.

The regular BITE Card discount will now be 10% off your favourite rail station brands and bars, including Upper Crust, Burger King and Camden Food Co.

So, join us this week at your favourite station bar and the first drink's on us. Enjoy a pint of Fosters or Heineken, a gin and tonic or a glass of house wine absolutely free.

The BITE Card Team

[bobm]

Not had that email.

Being the lazy so and so I am, I used SSP outlets before the discount so I suspect I may still do. It is ok when you know where alternative outlets are outside a station - but if time is short sometimes you can use up drinking and eating time just trying to find somewhere.

[Ollie]

I had an email but it had no offer of a free drink:

Hi Oliver,

We want to let you know about a few changes to your BITE Card.

The regular BITE Card discount will now be 10% off your favourite rail station brands, including Bars, Burger King and Upper Crust.

You've still got one week to use your old discount at our partner brands in participating stations, so take a big BITE on your travels today!

The BITE Card Team

[Worcester_Passenger]

I've not had an e-mail either.

Perhaps the 'hotels-near-stations' list needs to have a parallel 'alternative-refreshments-near-stations' list?

[Chris from Nailsea]

I forgot to mention, the 'heads up' came by way of an email from SSP. With them attempting to sugar the pill with the offer of a free drink. I'll take the freebie of course, but 'tis likely, when I have time to kill, you'll find me more often in the Knights Templar rather than Bonapartes at Bristol TM^▸ (Train Manager, or possibly Ticket Machine, depending on context) in future.

I've not received an e-mail, either.  I'd have been rather peeved if I'd gone to use it in Blownapart's next week and only then found out about the reduction in the discount. 

The range and quality of the beer is generally better in Wetherspoons, anyway. 

Perhaps the 'hotels-near-stations' list needs to have a parallel 'alternative-refreshments-near-stations' list?

Good idea: I'll ask grahame how best we could set that up. 

[ChrisB]

I've not had an email yet either.

[Network SouthEast]

Is the reason those that haven't had the email because at sign up the No Contact option was specified? According to my online account I did this, perhaps that's why I have not heard anything?

The other thing to note is that during registration you are asked what your usual departure and arrival station is. Perhaps those who have entered a station that doesn't have an SSP pub don't get the drinks offer?

[ChrisB]

This is a change to the contracted offer, they need to advise every cardholder, regardless of whether we asked for no marketing contact....

yes, 2nd para is possible.

[BandHcommuter]

I received the email but it was automatically placed in my spam folder. Apparently Google Mail objected to one of the links therein.

I guess that SSP feel that they now have sufficient marketing information from this promotion, and can afford to chip away at the benefits. The BITE card was very useful at that pub near platform 9 on the concourse at Paddington where the so-called craft beer was about ^5 a pint full price.

[Fourbee]

I forgot to mention, the 'heads up' came by way of an email from SSP. With them attempting to sugar the pill with the offer of a free drink. I'll take the freebie of course, but 'tis likely, when I have time to kill, you'll find me more often in the Knights Templar rather than Bonapartes at Bristol TM^▸ (Train Manager, or possibly Ticket Machine, depending on context) in future.

Was useful at Waterloo/Euston/Marylebone too when making journeys via London. A pint of real ale was reduced to ^3.60 ish from ^4.50 ish depending on the outlet.

Reduction by 10% could be enough to put me off, so given enough time, I'd go Hole in the Wall at Waterloo (easy to get through via the Tenison Way subway), Bree Louise/Euston Tap at Euston, not sure about MYB^▸ (London (Marylebone)).

Anyone going through St Pancras can sign up to Geronimo Pubs newsletter for a free pint (one off) at The Betjemen Arms. It took a day for them to send the voucher through.

Kings Cross is just a case of paying full whack in The Parcel Yard, nothing that convenient in the vicinity that I know of.

Victoria I know has a Wetherspoons on the mezzanine and one a short walk away.

[Brucey]

Victoria I know has a Wetherspoons on the mezzanine and one a short walk away.

Neither are at typical Wetherspoons prices but still considerably cheaper than the other station outlets.

Liverpool Street also has a 'Spoons, tucked away on the upper concourse behind McDonald's.

[JayMac]

I've not received an e-mail, either.  I'd have been rather peeved if I'd gone to use it in Blownapart's next week and only then found out about the reduction in the discount. 

Were you planning to be in Boney Parts next week Chris?

[Brucey]

Could it be that one must be a regular user of the card to have received an email?

[bobm]

Could it be that one must be a regular user of the card to have received an email?

Not sure - but the staff at Exeter St David's Pumpkin outlet were also unaware of any changes earlier this week.