How a train carriage became a tourist attraction at the Brighton Belle pub

Prior to 1841, it was a farmhouse, and the building that can be seen attached to the main pub was the barn; like most pubs built or adapted to serve the railway, it was called The Railway Hotel.

It was opened as such in 1841 with John Moore as the first landlord.

The years passed, and the once quiet Middlewich Road became a busy route to the motorway.

Factory buildings replaced the farmland as Winsford Industrial Estate was built behind it.

Many years before this, as art nouveau gave way to art deco, the bright young things demanded luxury and access to the fragrant airs of the seaside.

The Brighton Belle arrives at Winsford in its last working paint scheme (Image: Paul Hurley)

This was catered for by providing an opulent electric train service from London to Brighton.

This train comprising of named Pullman coaches and was called The Brighton Belle.

The Southern Railway made more use of electrified lines than any other of the Big Four companies.

In 1932 they decided to invest in an electric luxury Pullman train; to this end, three five-car trains were ordered from Metro-Cammell.

They were specifically for use on the London to Brighton line and in sumptuous luxury for the passengers.

The former Railway Hotel (Image: Paul Hurley)

The new train was to be called The Southern Belle, but on June 29, 1934, it was renamed in a ceremony at Brighton, The Brighton Belle.

During the war, the carriages were locked away unless on war duties (we had the opportunity of travelling on the Orient Express. Our carriage during the war had been used as a brothel for German troops!).

The Brighton Belle trains were a favourite of Royalty; the Winsford carriage was named 'Mona'. 

On March 26, 1948, 'Mona' carried the Queen Mother, then the Queen Consort, from London to Brighton.

However, all things must end, and eventually, the coaches that once carried Royalty and the upper echelons of society to the seaside were surplus to requirements.

The one called 'Mona' was moved from Brighton to Slough on July 7, 1972, by the new owner Mr L Morgan MD of Pyramid Designs, a shopfitting company.

The Brighton Belle pub (Image: Paul Hurley)

He sold it to Wild Angus Motor Inns, who were responsible for bringing 'Mona' to Winsford in 1974.

A short length of railway line was laid abutting the gable end of the Railway Hotel and the carriage placed upon it, the coach becoming part of the restaurant.

The pub's name was changed to The Brighton Belle, and Winsford had an instant tourist attraction.

The dining carriage made an excellent restaurant where the good folk of Winsford and its surroundings could dine in the same luxury as the wealthy southerners.

This lasted until April 1998, when the old carriage was purchased by The Venice Simplon Orient Express (VSOE).

It was moved to Stewarts Lane Railway Maintenance Depot in London to be refurbished and returned to the railway for use on one of the prestigious classic trains.

The pub is now part of the Hungry Horse chain of popular child-friendly pubs open for food from 9am to 9pm, Monday to Sunday.