We used to treat ourselves to an early starter breakfast at the LC at the Black Cat roundabout on the A1 on our way back from France. We used to have a quick bowl of cereal on the campsite before leaving, then it was nearly lunchtime when we got to the LC. If we were very early we sometimes went to the Sainsbury's cafe at Sandy, but they stopped serving breakfast at 11.30, and there was a gap before the cooked lunches arrived.
Since the closure of LC, we've struggled to find places to eat en route, most of the services south of there serve burgers or noodles and little else.
On the way down, we usually have fish and chips at Maidstone services, late pm, then we're not having to find food when we arrive in France.
I'm not recommending any of these places, except to say that at least Sainsbury's is cheap.....
OH used to use TL and LC on his hobby weekends, it was cheaper and easier than any alternatives.
These days my go to place for a full English would be Wetherspoon’s, some open at 08:00hrs, quality generally has been very good for what you pay, and a lot better than what Little Chef could ever produce, and even today Wetherspoon’s is around half the price of what Little Chef used to charge.
The only downside to Wetherspoon’s is the amount of folk supping pints of beer at 8am, and not even having breakfast, I try to convince myself that they are workers that have just come of the night shift, when in reality they are nothing of the sort.
The Wetherspoon’s in Newbury does an excellent breakfast, as do the ones at Altrincham and St Helens being the last ones that I have most recently whilst at work.
Yes I know quite a lot of people that use Wetherspoons for a few beers coming off the nightshift. Personally if it was me I'd be wetting the bed.
Quite partial to Wetherspoons brekkie also.
------------- XVI yes?
As well is two words!
How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.
As we're going all nostalgic. Very fond memories of the LC just outside Windermere (Ings, on A591) way back in the '80s.
We'd tow the boat from London to Windermere (well Bowness to be more accurate) for a week or so of water skiing (another fond memory!), travelling through the night after grabbing couple of hours sleep then leaving home in early hours to enjoy almost empty roads (yet another fond memory!) for the near 300 mile journey. Timed to arrive at LC for a Full English Breakfast (with Black Pudding, which was not always assured elsewhere!). Should have only been doing 50mph when towing in those days IIRC - good job there were no trip computers on cars to reveal the truth, and Police thankfully rarely bothered to monitor nearly empty roads!!!!
Always favoured that site as we could park the car and boat trailer with ease, then refuel at attached fuel station before motoring to holiday home.
We always felt that our holiday began at that point, we were officially in our beloved 'Lake District', the lumpy bits were clearly visible, London was both a distant memory and place, our tummies were nicely full, we were happy bunnies. Must have done that every year for a decade or more, it was almost a ritual to stop at that LC.
TBH, I miss them, I hate motorway services with a vengeance, Wetherspoons are pretty good for brecky, but rarely suitable for parking a car and trailer of any kind, or often even parking just a car.
The Ings site is still there, it's gone through a few different incarnations over the years, but always brings a smile as I pass it.
By the sound of things it's a good job everyone isn't like me, or nobody would make any money out of breakfasts.
It appears that to some people breakfast is a meal you have at a particular time, whereas to me breakfast is the meal you have before you leave home regardless of what time it is, unless you are setting out late in the day. Even if I was setting out at 3am I had to have something before I left home.
My usual time for visiting LCs back in the day was either lunchtime or late afternoon. Usually when I was on the road working. They didn't normally cater for coach parties, so unless the party had pre-booked it I wouldn't stop at one with a full coach. I did sometimes stop at one on the way back from a one-way trip with an empty coach, provided there was somewhere to park.
One in particular was the one just off the m40 on the a34 to Newbury.
On one ocassion I remember calling in for a breakfast and reading the free newspaper only to find an advert headed "Get your free early starter at Little Chef"
Neadless to say I removed the coupon from the paper and used it.
Bit of a mistake by the marketing department I think.
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Little Chef
via mobile 05/1/2021 at 12:48pm
