Still a bit here as well. My old gran used to say that it was, “Hanging around, waiting for the rest”.
Anyone ever used the sandwich van on Shooters’ Hill/Blackheath? Always looks busy and seems to have a good reputation…
Muckaway:
Anyone ever used the sandwich van on Shooters’ Hill/Blackheath? Always looks busy and seems to have a good reputation…
I didn’t think you used the snack vans Nathan. 
Cheers Dave.
Dave the Renegade:
Muckaway:
Anyone ever used the sandwich van on Shooters’ Hill/Blackheath? Always looks busy and seems to have a good reputation…I didn’t think you used the snack vans Nathan.
Cheers Dave.
I don’t Dave, but it seems busy everytime I pass by. A couple of Matthews’ drivers have but I think parking restrictions have been stepped up.
Muckaway:
Anyone ever used the sandwich van on Shooters’ Hill/Blackheath? Always looks busy and seems to have a good reputation…
I used it odd occasions yrs ago,it was good but parking was the main problem.
regards dave.
Anyone care to try Colonel Gaddafis, in the layby opposite Cassington Quarry o the A40?
screaming alice:
Re the Commercial Motor bit - From the days when there was time to stop ! I think I have got this right, most of these cafes i used, not all. One or two had gone before I got there. One of the first I tried was at Dordon where the London Manchester trunkers changed over. The building is still there but i cant remember the name, like a hut, with the gable end towards the road, on the Leicestershire side of the A5. The M1 was open but where I worked we still had 6LWs a short while so it was safer on the old road! Up till the early 70s you left the MI near the old Crick X roads to pick up the M6 at Gailey, which was about 44 miles and took you approx. 2 hours, without stopping off in any cafes! One of the old hands who taught me was still running to Liverpool up the A41 all the way!
A5 -to Weedon. At Redbourne was the “Bridge cafe”, open till the late 60s, good food, busy place. Then came the “Watling Street”, by the M1, with the old line of the Roman road running along behind it to the right of the A5 going north, lorry park was like a ploughed field after the summer of 2013, bit better now. Just up from this on the R.H. was the “Crow’s Nest”, good cafe if you could get in there, with a very steep lorry/car park, did a big breakfast where mushrooms were standard if you wanted them. Then the “3 Sisters” (6 ■■■■, the locals called it) biggish place on right, then came Markyate - roadway through village was only 15 ft wide or so and by-pass came late 50s, a few years before I started but the old hands used to talk about it. Just on corner on old road into the village was Harts garage and cafe. At other end of the by pass was the “Packhorse” cafe next to Packhorse pub, good cafe, featured in a film called “If”. Then came the “Ranchway” cafe on the right with a pylon in the middle of the lorry park, late night telly always on, Horse and Jockey next door? On tthrough Dunstable and down Chalk Hill, the “Sentinel”, next, one at Hockliffe (where the A50 forked right, lovely road to use, for Northampton and further beyond), then “Brickhill” I don’t really remember, and the “Pullman”, brick rebuilt 1950s, I stayed in digs once or twice, in between cabbing it. After Bletchley you had the “46” situated at the 46th milestone out of London, lately for the tipper boys, maybe an Indian Restaurant now, not sure, then the “48” a.k.a. the “Gluepot”, and a bit further on a good one called the “Nelson”, which became “Super Sausage” or something similar, and next was the “Towers” which became the"Trees", now since late 60s “Jacks Hill”, 60 miles out of London at Towcester. It was one of the 5 Tower cafes chain built for waggon drivers in the War, the others were at Biggleswade A1, Basingstoke, A30, Beenham, A4 and the “Lantern” at Milton Common, A40. As far as I knew anyway. Most of them were a bit run down/shambolic towards the end! At Weedon Beck some of the night trunkers turned off to pick up the A5 later and there were plenty of cafes along to Brownhill, but I never ran that way much. Back to the A5 - only a couple now still going “Watling Street” and the “Hollies” and the old “Coronation cafe”, since rebuilt, renamed, not sure about the many others, like the Birdcage (Aviary), Jubilee, etc. - all a long time ago. I have about 30 photos of old UK Cafes, not great shots, some of the cafes stood derelict, like the Triangle at Stibbington and Gardners cafe I think it was, at Long Compton…but not sure how to post them. Good luck. Churrs Drives Al
thaks al just brought back my memery of my first night out wiht my little case . the latern milton a40 1960 .
Hullo all,
Just before I went off for me Winter Jollies last year I saw that Kate’s Cabin was closed. So I was quite surprised when I got back this year to see it had opened up again. I was doing a job down to London, so on my way back up I called in. Wow the layout is still the same and the Bogs are still very basic, but you notice the difference as soon as you go in, the Staff are really polite and happy. The whole place looks different now, it’ s immaculate, floor scrubbed, Tables and Chairs spotless, Cutlery clean and wrapped in a napkin. The breakfast I had was great, A nicely Fried Egg, Two Rashers of good Middle Back Bacon, Fresh Baked Beans, Pork Sausage, Toast and a Mug of Nescafé. £4.95. Good value I thought.
Today I took my Missus down to Heathrow ( she’s gone to Brasil for six weeks) so on the way back up to home, I called in again, it was getting late 21.40 this evening, I went in and said are you still open, " Yes " said the Govener, we shut at 22.00 hrs. So I had another good meal. The Govener JOE, obviously can’t throw money at what was a bit of a disaster, but as things pick up he will go ahead and modernise the place. I for one really hope he gets the customers in, he really seems to be trying, and is a really nice Guy to chat to. They still have a big Parking Area, and I think it’s about £16.00 a night. I saw tonight 9 English Lorries and 1 Froggy Wagon in there. I wish him the best of Luck.
Cheers, Archie.
Hullo all,
Just before I went off for me Winter Jollies last year I saw that Kate’s Cabin was closed. So I was quite surprised when I got back this year to see it had opened up again. I was doing a job down to London, so on my way back up I called in. Wow the layout is still the same and the Bogs are still very basic, but you notice the difference as soon as you go in, the Staff are really polite and happy. The whole place looks different now, it’ s immaculate, floor scrubbed, Tables and Chairs spotless, Cutlery clean and wrapped in a napkin. The breakfast I had was great, A nicely Fried Egg, Two Rashers of good Middle Back Bacon, Fresh Baked Beans, Pork Sausage, Toast and a Mug of Nescafé. £4.95. Good value I thought.
Today I took my Missus down to Heathrow ( she’s gone to Brasil for six weeks) so on the way back up to home, I called in again, it was getting late 21.40 this evening, I went in and said are you still open, " Yes " said the Govener, we shut at 22.00 hrs. So I had another good meal. The Govener JOE, obviously can’t throw money at what was a bit of a disaster, but as things pick up he will go ahead and modernise the place. I for one really hope he gets the customers in, he really seems to be trying, and is a really nice Guy to chat to. They still have a big Parking Area, and I think it’s about £16.00 a night. I saw tonight 9 English Lorries and 1 Froggy Wagon in there. I wish him the best of Luck.
Cheers, Archie.
i heard Raglan Services being pulled down, both side A449…?
daibootsy:
i heard Raglan Services being pulled down, both side A449…?
Both been closed for a while now so I’m not suprised. 
Its only been a Little Chef and a fuel station for a few years,as you say its been shut quite a while.Used to be a good place thirty years ago.
Cheers Dave.
Archie Paice:
Hullo all,
Just before I went off for me Winter Jollies last year I saw that Kate’s Cabin was closed. So I was quite surprised when I got back this year to see it had opened up again. I was doing a job down to London, so on my way back up I called in. Wow the layout is still the same and the Bogs are still very basic, but you notice the difference as soon as you go in, the Staff are really polite and happy. The whole place looks different now, it’ s immaculate, floor scrubbed, Tables and Chairs spotless, Cutlery clean and wrapped in a napkin. The breakfast I had was great, A nicely Fried Egg, Two Rashers of good Middle Back Bacon, Fresh Baked Beans, Pork Sausage, Toast and a Mug of Nescafé. £4.95. Good value I thought.
Today I took my Missus down to Heathrow ( she’s gone to Brasil for six weeks) so on the way back up to home, I called in again, it was getting late 21.40 this evening, I went in and said are you still open, " Yes " said the Govener, we shut at 22.00 hrs. So I had another good meal. The Govener JOE, obviously can’t throw money at what was a bit of a disaster, but as things pick up he will go ahead and modernise the place. I for one really hope he gets the customers in, he really seems to be trying, and is a really nice Guy to chat to. They still have a big Parking Area, and I think it’s about £16.00 a night. I saw tonight 9 English Lorries and 1 Froggy Wagon in there. I wish him the best of Luck.
Cheers, Archie.
hiya,
Nice to hear the Kates Kabin has reopened I overnighted there for years as did a lot of BRSers
when the digs where there good place in those far off days It had started to slip when I called
in there when driving my car up from London just before it closed down it was dirty and dear
nice to see the new management is making the effort.
thanks harry, long retired.
Dave the Renegade:
Its only been a Little Chef and a fuel station for a few years,as you say its been shut quite a while.Used to be a good place thirty years ago.
Cheers Dave.
But do you remember The Castle café on the old road before they built the dual carriageway?
harry_gill:
Archie Paice:
Hullo all,
Just before I went off for me Winter Jollies last year I saw that Kate’s Cabin was closed. So I was quite surprised when I got back this year to see it had opened up again. I was doing a job down to London, so on my way back up I called in. Wow the layout is still the same and the Bogs are still very basic, but you notice the difference as soon as you go in, the Staff are really polite and happy. The whole place looks different now, it’ s immaculate, floor scrubbed, Tables and Chairs spotless, Cutlery clean and wrapped in a napkin. The breakfast I had was great, A nicely Fried Egg, Two Rashers of good Middle Back Bacon, Fresh Baked Beans, Pork Sausage, Toast and a Mug of Nescafé. £4.95. Good value I thought.
Today I took my Missus down to Heathrow ( she’s gone to Brasil for six weeks) so on the way back up to home, I called in again, it was getting late 21.40 this evening, I went in and said are you still open, " Yes " said the Govener, we shut at 22.00 hrs. So I had another good meal. The Govener JOE, obviously can’t throw money at what was a bit of a disaster, but as things pick up he will go ahead and modernise the place. I for one really hope he gets the customers in, he really seems to be trying, and is a really nice Guy to chat to. They still have a big Parking Area, and I think it’s about £16.00 a night. I saw tonight 9 English Lorries and 1 Froggy Wagon in there. I wish him the best of Luck.
Cheers, Archie.hiya,
Nice to hear the Kates Kabin has reopened I overnighted there for years as did a lot of BRSers
when the digs where there good place in those far off days It had started to slip when I called
in there when driving my car up from London just before it closed down it was dirty and dear
nice to see the new management is making the effort.
thanks harry, long retired.
I can remember when the building that is there now was built around 1968-69, they built over the top of the original KC, which they managed to use right up until the last minute before they knocked it down with minimum disruption to business. Stayed there a lot during my time up & down the road, always remember one summers night there was a Guinness tanker on the park the driver was on the top with a bottle on a string he was filling cups with the liquid gold, he was everybody’s friend that night. Happy days.
Archie Paice:
Hullo all,
Just before I went off for me Winter Jollies last year I saw that Kate’s Cabin was closed. So I was quite surprised when I got back this year to see it had opened up again. I was doing a job down to London, so on my way back up I called in. Wow the layout is still the same and the Bogs are still very basic, but you notice the difference as soon as you go in, the Staff are really polite and happy. The whole place looks different now, it’ s immaculate, floor scrubbed, Tables and Chairs spotless, Cutlery clean and wrapped in a napkin. The breakfast I had was great, A nicely Fried Egg, Two Rashers of good Middle Back Bacon, Fresh Baked Beans, Pork Sausage, Toast and a Mug of Nescafé. £4.95. Good value I thought.
Today I took my Missus down to Heathrow ( she’s gone to Brasil for six weeks) so on the way back up to home, I called in again, it was getting late 21.40 this evening, I went in and said are you still open, " Yes " said the Govener, we shut at 22.00 hrs. So I had another good meal. The Govener JOE, obviously can’t throw money at what was a bit of a disaster, but as things pick up he will go ahead and modernise the place. I for one really hope he gets the customers in, he really seems to be trying, and is a really nice Guy to chat to. They still have a big Parking Area, and I think it’s about £16.00 a night. I saw tonight 9 English Lorries and 1 Froggy Wagon in there. I wish him the best of Luck.
Cheers, Archie.
I really do hope he gets the custom too Archie, it used to be a favourite, if occasional, stop for me in the old days.
However, 17 wagons overnight? I can’t help thinking, with my French hat on 
, that he would do a lot better to knock the 16 quid on the head and give free parking in exchange for the purchase of a full, good, non greasy evening meal. I would never pay for parking anywhere. I don’t care who’s paying.
I wonder if the ‘froggie’ ate in there or just paid the 16 and fended for himself. If so he might have been pleasantly surprised at a good English roast dinner.
Just got back from a trip to England, all stopovers at relatives (apart from a less than delightfull meal at the Brewer’s Fare at the top of Jubilee Way) but I was so happy to spend the night at Vivonne, south of Poitiers on the way back. Lovely grub, good company, and…free parking. 
Dave the Renegade:
Its only been a Little Chef and a fuel station for a few years,as you say its been shut quite a while.Used to be a good place thirty years ago.
Cheers Dave.
Funnily enough, I drove past there yesterday morning ( had been to Wales and was going to Ross on Wye) and wondered if the Travelodge was still open there? The place looked like a right dump.
On a positive note, it was nice to see that there are still several truckstops/cafes along the A449 and A40, and not just elephant meat dealers.
Muckaway:
Dave the Renegade:
Its only been a Little Chef and a fuel station for a few years,as you say its been shut quite a while.Used to be a good place thirty years ago.
Cheers Dave.Funnily enough, I drove past there yesterday morning ( had been to Wales and was going to Ross on Wye) and wondered if the Travelodge was still open there? The place looked like a right dump.
On a positive note, it was nice to see that there are still several truckstops/cafes along the A449 and A40, and not just elephant meat dealers.
Where about’s are those Nathan,other than the Highway Star at Whitchurch between Ross on Wye and Monmouth I can’t think of many.
Cheers Dave.
I really do hope he gets the custom too Archie, it used to be a favourite, if occasional, stop for me in the old days.
However, 17 wagons overnight? I can’t help thinking, with my French hat on , that he would do a lot better to knock the 16 quid on the head and give free parking in exchange for the purchase of a full, good, non greasy evening meal. I would never pay for parking anywhere. I don’t care who’s paying.
I wonder if the ‘froggie’ ate in there or just paid the 16 and fended for himself. If so he might have been pleasantly surprised at a good English roast dinner.
Just got back from a trip to England, all stopovers at relatives (apart from a less than delightfull meal at the Brewer’s Fare at the top of Jubilee Way) but I was so happy to spend the night at Vivonne, south of Poitiers on the way back. Lovely grub, good company, and…free parking.
[/quote]
Evening all,Spardo, totally agree with you. Why, even today is the standard of “grub” in the UK so poor? Pub, Hotel, Cafe, and our “delightful” M way service , ( ah service…now there is a real breech of trades description), the products they palm off on the public, its all straight off the back of a lorry, 3663, Phillip Dennis, Blakemores etc. A greasy steak and a pile of chips, with embalmed lettuce seems about average, then of course are the exotic specials, built in a food factory with the taste removed… but the lyrical descriptions are the best about them, the standard does not vary…only the price!
When I went down to Bordeaux to collect my LB76, with the Deere and trailer, I indulged myself in stopping at places I remembered…heck many had gone! But where I did stop, and stay, I was never asked to pay for parking, the food was enjoyable, and individual, and the company …reasonable!
When I got back to dear old Blighty…I was asked to remove my "vehicle " from the parking of a “chain” eatery, close by Aylesbury, as they only served families on Sundays!!!
Welcome home!!
Cheerio for now.
Saviem:
I really do hope he gets the custom too Archie, it used to be a favourite, if occasional, stop for me in the old days.
However, 17 wagons overnight? I can’t help thinking, with my French hat on
I wonder if the ‘froggie’ ate in there or just paid the 16 and fended for himself. If so he might have been pleasantly surprised at a good English roast dinner.Just got back from a trip to England, all stopovers at relatives (apart from a less than delightfull meal at the Brewer’s Fare at the top of Jubilee Way) but I was so happy to spend the night at Vivonne, south of Poitiers on the way back. Lovely grub, good company, and…free parking.
Evening all,Spardo, totally agree with you. Why, even today is the standard of “grub” in the UK so poor? Pub, Hotel, Cafe, and our “delightful” M way service , ( ah service…now there is a real breech of trades description), the products they palm off on the public, its all straight off the back of a lorry, 3663, Phillip Dennis, Blakemores etc. A greasy steak and a pile of chips, with embalmed lettuce seems about average, then of course are the exotic specials, built in a food factory with the taste removed… but the lyrical descriptions are the best about them, the standard does not vary…only the price!
When I went down to Bordeaux to collect my LB76, with the Deere and trailer, I indulged myself in stopping at places I remembered…heck many had gone! But where I did stop, and stay, I was never asked to pay for parking, the food was enjoyable, and individual, and the company …reasonable!
When I got back to dear old Blighty…I was asked to remove my "vehicle " from the parking of a “chain” eatery, close by Aylesbury, as they only served families on Sundays!!!
Welcome home!!
Cheerio for now.
[/quote]
Allo Allo, les Kermits avons arrivee, bonsoir mes amis, M.Spardo et M.Saviem. I called in again last Friday evening as I was doing a car delivery job that day. Joe the new bloke is still eager and I wish him all the best in his new venture, at Kate’s Cabin. I do however agree wholeheartedly that France is most definately the place to be if you are a Driver. I completely agree with M.Saviem that the Motorway Services are an utter disgrace in the UK, but then we must realise that they are manned mostly by people that can’t even speak English, let alone cook anything. I know of no other supposedly civilised country in this world that can be as bad as the UK in this field. In my younger days in the Kitchen on a P&O Liner I was taught my trade by a Frenchman, a fine Chef de Cuisine, M. Jaques Connil. Then later on, on these same Ships we had to use Packet Soups and Frozen Foods and Frozen Pastry. Cost Control was the answer. But, as you both mentioned in your neck of the woods, there is no Parking Fees, the food is always delicious, the bread always fresh, the Wine is always a delight, with no mention of Cost Control. Maybe it’s just an English thing.