South Western Railway’s fee-free ticketing platform encourages organisations to move corporate journeys onto trains for multiple reasons
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Kingston’s failure to embrace the miracle of train travel in the early decades of the 19th century was ultimately Surbiton’s gain.
Councillors feared (perhaps rightly) that the new technology might severely impact the local coaching trade.
Their opposition meant a planned line was re-routed to the south, with Surbiton Station opened in 1838 as the curiously named Kingston-Upon-Railway.
Consequently, the neighbourhood benefits today from a direct, 17-minute connection straight into London Waterloo and frequent services, while Kingston station sits on a branch line to the north.
As a result, Surbiton has become a thriving suburban neighbourhood with a bustling high street that’s managed to resist – to some extent – an over-reliance on big name brands.
A talisman for the area, perhaps, the station looms large both physically and in the imagination.
Built in the art deco style in 1937 by architect James Robb Scott, the white modernist structure is Grade II listed and has appeared as a location in both the very first TV adaptation to feature David Suchet as Agatha Christie’s Poirot in 1989 and more recently Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince in 2007.
There’s history beyond the tracks too, some of it echoing into the present.
For a while, Surbiton was home to John Everett Millais and William Holman Hunt of the Pre-Raphealite Brotherhood, both taking inspiration from the Hogsmill River in nearby Six Acre Meadow.
The former used it as the basis for his painting Ophelia, which now hangs in the Tate Gallery and inspired Taylor Swift’s The Fate Of Ophelia, its accompanying music video and the cover of her blockbuster album The Life Of A Showgirl.
The town is, or has been, home to a slew of famous faces including football manager Roy Hodgson, comedian Julian Clary, children’s author Enid Blyton and composer of The Wombles’ songs, Mike Batt.
Perhaps part of its appeal is that there’s a real sense that you’ll find something of interest just a little way off the beaten path – the spirit of rebellion in suburbia once satirised in The Good Life, also set in Surbiton.
Not far from the station, for example, is The Lamb – a family run pub that traces its lineage back to a brewery that originally occupied the site on Brighton Road in 1855.
Today it’s operated by Adam and Liz Lewis under the philosophy that their establishment should truly be a public house – essentially their living room open to anyone passing.
There’s a strong flavour of silliness permeating everything within.
While the bar has a serious drinks offering with a focus on interesting beers, the decor embraces everything from the 1902 French sci-fi flick A Trip To The Moon, to Pan’s Labyrinth and giant hungry hippos.
There’s much live music on offer and a large garden complete with caravan, stage and a ramshackle collection of deep sofas sheltering under a series of gazebos.
Visitors can expect a carousel of foodie pop-ups from the likes of Emma’s Kitchen, Happy Hill Kitchen, Smash And Hash and Little Ginger.
There’s also a roster of musicians performing regular gigs such as singer songwriter Leonie Evans, indie band Baby Husband, pianist Joplin Parnell and jaz guitar duo Gypsy Dynamite.
You can find out more about the venue, including events and party listings via its website.
dine: The City Arms
>> Even further off the beaten track is this establishment.
Located overlooking Thames Ditton Marina, close to the River Thames on Portsmouth Road, this corner building is every inch a classic pub.
Visitors can expect plenty of whitewash, beams, dark tiles and hanging baskets and an interior that manages to be both bright and cosy at the same time.
For those who’d rather enjoy some fresh air, there’s also a large covered terrace overlooking the boats.
The menu reads very much as expected with a burger, chilli, scampi and the inevitable fish and chips.
But there are also a few less well-worn dishes including a full rack of ribs and a goats cheese pasta.
In the mood for tradition, however, we sample the Deep Fried Brie for £8.45 and the Sausage And Mash for £16.95.
The cheese arrives oozing from its crispy shells atop a bed of salad leaves, while a satisfyingly decent portion of potatoes and peas follows, swimming (as they should be) in onion gravy and topped off with three slender but tasty bangers.
on track with SWR’s Joe Thurgood
Q
I run a business and it’s important we’re able to track where our employees are going. How does SWR Business Direct help firms keep tabs on where staff are actually travelling to and from?
A
Think about your business’s biggest asset for a second. Is it your team?
Are they on the move? Does keeping track of them feel like a full-time job? Don’t worry.
You do not need to go full bloodhound or micro-manage every single step they take to stay in the loop.
Instead, just change how they get from A to B.
When it comes to business travel, hitting the tracks is a total game-changer. Rail travel keeps your team productive and safe. It’s also surprisingly easy to track.
Think about the classic road trip. It is a black box of stress. You have no idea if your employee is stuck in a jam or hunting for a parking space.
There are few things more annoying than staring at the back of a car when you’re trying to get somewhere and the minutes are ticking by.
This is also all time you’re paying them for.
With rail, you get a clear, predictable schedule. You know exactly where they are and precisely when they will pull into the platform.
Even better, your team will thank you for it. Instead of battling traffic, they can kick back in a comfortable seat, reply to emails, prep for the big meeting, or just take a power nap and recharge.
Plus, trains drop your people right into the heart of a town or city.
Ready to make your corporate travel completely stress-free? Manage it all in one place with SWR Business Direct.
This free-to-use platform lets you book any train across Great Britain with absolutely zero booking fees.
You will automatically get the cheapest ticket options, handy expense tracking, and detailed carbon footprint reports.
Switch your team to a smoother journey today.
Create your free account or email the team at businessdirect@swrailway.com to streamline your corporate bookings.
key details: SWR Business Direct
SWR Business Direct is free to use and allows companies to book, plan and manage business travel across the whole of Britain. Find out more here.
There are no hidden fees or charges and no booking fees on tickets purchased via the operator’s service.
Users are also eligible for SWR Rewards, with full details available on its website.
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