It did indeed appear on the 13:15 ex-Plymouth and is advertised as being on the 19:04.
GWR▸ very much wanted to launch this quietly to ensure the necessary new processes were in place before a more high profile unveiling. I also suspect this week was chosen to get staff up to speed before next week's planned lifting of further restrictions - which has of course now been delayed.
What is being delivered is a simpler menu with less interaction between staff and customers. Drinks are brought to the table but you pour themselves. There is no ice or lemon nor the traditional roll and butter. The food is brought already plated - there isn't silver service.
That does all feel a bit strange but the food once delivered is as good as ever.
The price structure has been changed with a flat rate of £25 for two courses and £30 for three. Steak is notable by its absence but I gather that is only temporary because of last minute supply problems. The pricing compares very well with the previous price structure. (shown here for comparison)
Time for the traditional photos of "what I ate".
Terrine of confit duck & chicken
Pan fried cod loin
Err.. cheese and biscuitsThe apple and celeriac remoulade was particularly tasty and the carrot and cumin barley risotto very filling.
So from that point of view a success.
However there are a number of issues GWR will be working on. The biggest one is the number of diners they can accommodate. It varies slightly depending on whether the service is formed of 2X five cars or a nine car and whether any tables are laid up in the neighbouring coach. However in essence you are looking at single figures per service unless you have a number of groups of two travelling together. For the moment it looks like three or four sitting together, even from the same household, is out due to the requirement to keep the aisle seats free.
There is then the added complication of the seat reservation system. Currently it is allocating non diners seats in the restaurant area. There were two today who couldn't really be moved because all the seats in the adjoining first class coach were also reserved. The service was formed of 2X5 and there were spaces in the first class section at the other end of the train but of course you can only reach them by walking along the platform. However with luggage and the fact the sets were correctly formed with first class at each end and not in the middle you cannot really expect people to make that sort of hike.
The reduced prices are a bonus and some compensation for the lack of silver service. I gather the price will be the same when steak is available. Although on the menu there also isn't any port yet either.
Today there were three members of staff from before the service was suspended, including the chef, with others being trained. I also gather London staff will be trained with a view to introducing the service on the 13:04 Paddington to Plymouth and the 18:15 return hopefully by the end of the month.
Given the low key launch it was perhaps not surprising that I was the only one dining but I suspect that suited them today as there were issues with the handheld units sales are recorded on. The whole meal had to be entered in one go at the end and not course by course so if there had been a number dining it would have taken a while to create all the bills.
Track & Trace is in operation if you are dining - although strangely not if you are just sitting in the coach and not eating (or eating your own food).
So overall a pleasant enough experience and full marks to GWR for getting it off the ground. I do feel they have been caught out slightly by today's decision to delay the further relaxing of restrictions, but if they can get through the next few weeks I can see it becoming more popular.
One big bonus - the ability to travel without wearing a mask for the first time in nearly a year!
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