Speaking of really old cafe, Lawsons at Londonderry, Now refered to as the Derry, I went in there on my first long distant run to Manchester in 1957, It was owned by the Lawson family open 24/7 a great old nosh place clean cheap & cheerful, Since it re-opened some time ago I was just wondering if it is still popular with the drivers ?, Regards Larry.
hi Lawrence Dunbar, ive been of the road 10\11 year, last i knew the"derry" was still going, stoped or fed there quite regular, it was clean and food was good then, mind that was few year back,hope this helps,
Muckaway:
Is the Centurian the one that has a van sales place next to it, near Hansons pit at Daglingworth?
That’s it. As Suedehead said probably not lorry friendly anymore.
Got to thinking the other day can anybody remember the cafe on the A13 london bound just down from purfleet they called him Sid i think looked ex army or con ? ruff as a bears arse but sound the food was limited but good vfm everything with chips but a good brew, i think they called it Noaks cafe but could be wrong , also ive got deputy dawgs buzzing round my head can see myself in there but cant seem to place were it was they used to show ■■■■ all day if i remember anybody put my mind at rest■■? 
BIG AW:
Got to thinking the other day can anybody remember the cafe on the A13 london bound just down from purfleet they called him Sid i think looked ex army or con ? ruff as a bears arse but sound the food was limited but good vfm everything with chips but a good brew, i think they called it Noaks cafe but could be wrong , also ive got deputy dawgs buzzing round my head can see myself in there but cant seem to place were it was they used to show ■■■■ all day if i remember anybody put my mind at rest■■?
Deputy Dogs was on the old A14 ( on a stretch now bypassed ). I think it had changed it’s name last
time I went in. I’ve been trying to find it again but only get as far as Bury St. Edmunds these days, perhaps
it’s a bit further down? You could see it from the new carriageway. HTH.
Yes that was the Noaks, by some traffic lights i think?? flippin eck thats going back to th 60’s!!! and depity dawg’s cant just place, poss on the A14 nr?? come on you Suffolk lads help us out?
According to a Google search, the Highwayman cafe near Aston Down airfield is quite good.
trunker08:
Yes that was the Noaks, by some traffic lights i think?? flippin eck thats going back to th 60’s!!! and depity dawg’s cant just place, poss on the A14 nr?? come on you Suffolk lads help us out?
Well mate i started going there in the late 80s it was better value than Truck World at Thurrock plus are yard was at Purfleet so we just piled into one unit and ran down there and then parked back at the yard i think there was a yard next door to the caf.
Good snap tho if remember it was £1.80 for a dinner with a bottomles tea pot.
BIG AW
Wasn’t Deputy Dog’s on the other side of the road from Alconbury Truckstop. Never went there myself though I think you could just about see it on the top of the bank heading southbound.
Noakes, next to the lights? Yes, I was in there many times.
Don’t mean to crow, well, perhaps a little, but once again I am having no difficulty living the old life in specialist eating places, here in France. Two last week in Brittany and Normandie and one last night in Burgundy. Lorry drivers eating well and talking, about lorries, what else? 
Spardo:
Wasn’t Deputy Dog’s on the other side of the road from Alconbury Truckstop. Never went there myself though I think you could just about see it on the top of the bank heading southbound.Noakes, next to the lights? Yes, I was in there many times.
Don’t mean to crow, well, perhaps a little, but once again I am having no difficulty living the old life in specialist eating places, here in France. Two last week in Brittany and Normandie and one last night in Burgundy. Lorry drivers eating well and talking, about lorries, what else?
Alconbury Truck Stop I used to stay there quite often in the 80/90s Bunker & Dine, they had good shower faciliteys, But I allways thought the nosh was just average, But I allways met up with a lot of fellow drivers & the patter was top notch, Is the place still open to-day, Regards Larry.
BP got shut years ago its still open. i remember going in there when it first opened it was nice and clean the snap was good tryd the mix grill top marks went a few weeks later and theyd replaced the steak with a beefburger so that was the last time i eat there. It was good for the showers and toilets because you got a chiitty for the washroom with your parking ticket or a pound off the meal stopped somewhere else for snap then got showerd there it got noisey on a night with the night men shouting and bawling had to get parked down out off the way. Idont think BP do the truckstops anymore could be wrong dont get about now.
BIG AW
deputy dog’s was off the a14 , going westbound you came off by the combine sales place and over the flyover turn left to the cafe . at one time they played ■■■■ on the tv all day , could put you off your breakfast .
hiya,
Stopped at the Blue Boar at the junction of the M1 and the A5 on
several occasions does anyone remember the tomato plants that
used to spring up between the huts in the Summer the seeds were
planted by drivers emptying their ■■■■-pots out of the window in
the morning they used to “collect” a caterers size tomato can out
of the bin when going to bed and returning it en-route to brekkie
fully “rinsed out” with re-cycled beer, it was a rough old place but
always warm in the Winter a must in the old days Eh’. PS the toilet
was ten days camel ride away from the sleeping quarters.
thanks harry, long retired.
Hiya…i,ve just had savory mince boiled potato’s and peas with a piece of b&b for dinner…now you old hands will
remember the Moss southbound on the A74…that was the special off the board. week in week out.better quality food
at home though…when ever mar lady (stokey saying) dose mince and spuds/chip it always reminds me of the Moss.
only 3 hours and i’am home. good old days…the old grey cells must be ok it must be 20 years since they knocked down
the old cafe.
John
Aye, THE MOSS, Im sure it was about 15 years ago when it closed there was myself & two of my pals had our breakfast there just before it closed, It belonged to the Lawsons who also owned the Lawsons Cafe at Londonderry, Whic I heard is now closed for the second time, The Moss is a L/Chef now, Its sad that there is very few good transport cafes left, But they were the good olds days Eh, Regards Larry. Their slogon in those days Was Cafes Come & Cafes Go But you can allways rely on Lawsons.
Does anyone remember this one at Temple Sowerby on the A66? The building was recently converted but stood empty for years with ‘‘cafe’’ on the side.
Sure it was active till the late 80’s?
ajt:
Does anyone remember this one at Temple Sowerby on the A66? The building was recently converted but stood empty for years with ‘‘cafe’’ on the side.
Sure it was active till the late 80’s?
Aye it was Charlie Bailey’s,his wife ran the place,she was a funny one as any one who used the place will tell you,she like many more hated Thatcher and let everyone know who went in.I along with others got snowed in one night in the 70s,we stayed there for the night,ive never been so cold in all life,she gave us an electric fire in the bedroom it had a square plug with a round plug box on the wall,it worked with an adaptor,we went to the pub in the village on returning the adaptor was gone!!! 
P.S. I think it was called The Coach and Horses.
haha good story 
Had a search on google but can’t find any pictures 
I just remember all the trucks parked out the front when i was a kid going past up to Scotland
ajt:
haha good storyHad a search on google but can’t find any pictures
I just remember all the trucks parked out the front when i was a kid going past up to Scotland
Just one thing the cafe was at Kirkby Thore 
