Orwell Crossing Lorry Park Use it or lose it!

UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUMS THE UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUM (INTERACTIVE)
21

NewLad:

tompadua:

the flying foden:
may be the owner of Orwell crossing should have a run up to the red lion at Northampton and see how it should be done .

Carl took your advice and stopped in at the Red Lion on Wednesday night on the way back from Stafford. He did not comment but had a sandwich and smiled when the server walked through the kitchen door and shouted at the top of his voice “2056 Sausage Sandwich” Carl asked “why are all the Lorries parked on the road?” When the parking out the back was mostly empty, Richard a Turners driver said I’m not paying if I don’t have to. It’s the same all over.
I hear C4 are doing a film from here about drivers lives and what they have to put up with.

Strange as I drive for Turners and they pay parking upto £15 I use it all the time even if I have to add to it.

When I worked for them, they paid 100% of any parking charges including if you stopped at a services

22

Silver_Surfer:
Fast food joints in the states just totally own the offerings over here which are in the main woeful. I appreciate food is probably cheaper over there but you’ve only got to watch man v food with Adam Richmond to see what they can do with pretty simple good quality food. If they had the food right, at a mid range to top range price, people would come surely.

Reputation.

Sausages need meat in them!

I’ve never stopped there but have driven past a few times & seemed busy enough to me.

Having just spent three weeks driving coast to coast in the US and eating at every establishment imagineble I can only disagree with this post. Was glad to get back, could slowly feel American food killing me. They make everything unhealthy, even down to pouring high fat dressings and cheese on an otherwise healthy salad. The best meal I had was at the end in Boston airport! So to sum it up I think in the main American food is terrible! We may not have so many places to eat here but put the effort in find a place and it’s much easier to eat decent food.

23

I blame Switch and his cookery videos! You can rustle up a four course meal for £15 a night in your own cab! :slight_smile:

24

tompadua:
Just seen this poster at Orwell 28th -29th September for Gathering of the Griffin a little truck meet for Scania’s run by Rob 07903155898 or gotg37@hotmail.com Sad to find out I missed the Eastcoast Truckers Crowfield truck Rally a couple of weeks ago which was a great success, I was told and they raised £2500.00 for the “blood bikers” I may ring Rob in the morning to see if I can sneak in just to see Simon Wasp sing “On the trail of the lonesome pine” on the Karaoke.
Simon is on Orwells facebook page and so is the owner carl and hell has he lost some weight, 11 stone and that seems to be why the drivers I talked to tonight think he won’t be around for long
:frowning:

Morning!!! :smiley: :smiley:

Glad to hear my poster has caught some attention.

Opinions will always vary about Orwell truck stop. Not many seem to vouch for its survival.

The lorry park is clean and not full of potholes.
Showers and toilets are excellent.
Dining and bar facilities are very clean and tidy.
Food? Well, opinions vary, as does people’s tastes. Personally, I have no issues.
Costs? Well, personally, I’ve probably only paid to park half a dozen times or so, but that’s not because I’ve avoided it.

I have been involved with Crowfield truckrally (which incidentally, is nothing to do with East coast truckers) since its been held at the Orwell in 08. The venue has given the show a fantastic platform, and then of course last year I started the Griffin show, which again benefitted from the excellent facilities.

From my own opinion, maybe the first impressions aren’t reliable ones? As drivers, we get treated as 2nd class citizens. At least at the Orwell the facilities are tailored for drivers.

I know that Anne and Karl have tried meeting the needs of all, but if yr a McDonald’s in the lay by kinda driver, no matter what they provide it won’t be enough.

No axe to grind here, we all different.

25

Do you own the truckstop Mr Vain?

The prices for food is pathetic, the quality is ZB at times and the service is ZB

26

trubster:
Do you own the truckstop Mr Vain?

The prices for food is pathetic, the quality is ZB at times and the service is ZB

Er, no.

27

Luke. What did you think of American coffee and about fifty ways to cook an egg.
Did you try the grits or potatoe hash browns.
And did you dine at the truck stops on your trip?
Last time i was there it was Dennys, Wendys, Tachobell or Pancake House.And no photos of your trip.
They know how to make a good clam chowder.

28

In the states most pilots and flying js have a dennys which is just burgers and stuff. The petros and ta tend to have restraunts but its standard american fare of steaks and burgers.
Theres a few good indipendent truckstops about and its often not to hard to park in retail parks and wallmarts etc and be a short walk from various restraunts.
American dinners may be big but the menu is very limited and on the whole not very healthy.

29

Parking… £12
Sunday roast (carvery)… £7.50
Shower… Free

Some of you lads are very hard on this little joint, makes me think are you just having a moan, did you fall out with one of the staff, or what?

I have just eaten the carvery (Sun) and I honestly can’t complain. The roast beef was tender, tasted excellent and I could pile as much roasties and veg as I could fit on the plate.

One thing I always check in any eating house is the spaners! I gotta say they were gleaming unlike some of the major owned brewery joints I’ve been in.

I will agree the staff could do with some P.R training but I didn’t find them rude, just a little thick. But then what would you expect! It’s a truck stop.

The toilets were spotlessly clean and showers top notch.

Wifi wasn’t working, problem with router but I can live without that.

Now consider any of the S#*t holes up or down any motorway in the UK and tell me this place is bad. Their overpriced, overcrowded, toilets mostly stink of ■■■■.

So overall in my opinion this is not a 5 star joint but for a trucker who’s away up to 6 weeks at a time it’s a little gem. 9/10

30

Outandabout:
Some of you lads are very hard on this little joint, makes me think are you just having a moan, did you fall out with one of the staff, or what?

Not at all. I make a point of not arguing with staff unless I want extra ingredients in my food

Do you work there or know the owners, just seems strange to resurrect a old thread

Outandabout:
I have just eaten the carvery (Sun) and I honestly can’t complain. The roast beef was tender, tasted excellent and I could pile as much roasties and veg as I could fit on the plate.

Not tried the carvery so couldn’t comment

Outandabout:
One thing I always check in any eating house is the spaners! I gotta say they were gleaming unlike some of the major owned brewery joints I’ve been in.

I have to agree with this point, I have said nothing to the contrary

Outandabout:
I will agree the staff could do with some P.R training but I didn’t find them rude, just a little thick. But then what would you expect! It’s a truck stop.

I don’t think they need training, they should be sacked… In a place that charges over a tenner for a meal, 12 pounds for parking and you are looking for repeat custom, customer service is the winner of business. When I have been in, I have dealt with people who didn’t understand a word of English as well as being treat like ■■■■

Outandabout:
The toilets were spotlessly clean and showers top notch.

another point I can not argue with at all

Outandabout:
Now consider any of the S#*t holes up or down any motorway in the UK and tell me this place is bad. Their overpriced, overcrowded, toilets mostly stink of ■■■■.

At least at an MSA you expect to be ripped off, I get 20% off at moto and roadchef MSAs and it works out cheaper than the Orwell crossing. The last time I had food at the Orwell I vowed never again. That was after giving the place a 3rd chance.

Outandabout:
So overall in my opinion this is not a 5 star joint but for a trucker who’s away up to 6 weeks at a time it’s a little gem. 9/10

You have your opinion and I have mine. I said 6/10 and still think that was generous.

31

Do you work there or know the owners, just seems strange to resurrect a old thread

First off trubster this is not about you personally, (sry to disappoint) it’s about the negative posts about this truck stop. A fair few posts downright slander it.

No I don’t work there or know any of the staff (again sry to disappoint)

If you had read my post in full you would have clearly read that " I have just eaten the carvery"

Meaning I have just been there “Today” !!!

Glad I didn’t see this thread before going or I may have drove on. I have stated its not a 5* joint it’s but definitely not as bad as portrayed on this thread.

I’m delighted to hear you have a 20% discount at certain M/way services, well done!

Does that include 20% off the £26 a night they charge you to sit beside an Eastern European who needs to keep his engine running in order to watch movies on his laptop?

Or the stench of ■■■■ as soon as you open your window? and I missed the part where you shared about the stinking holes they call toilets! As for showers in most UK M/way services! Well I tried that once!

Now this is a personal reply to your post!

32

I think as a facility it’s one of the better truckstops .on the few occasions I have stopped there the only let down has been the staff a bit grumpy or not engaging ( but not a real problem) and the food any thing but the carvary is not great. but parking and facilities I can’t fault it

33

I don’t have any axe to grind with Orwell, yes it may be a bit overpriced, the grub is ok, but it’s a big all singing and dancing kinda place, showers are top, but at £3 if not parking, you’ve gotta think, if your passing and I want dinner shower and a tea your talking best part of £15’ :open_mouth: !
Sometimes I just think a lot of drivers just need the simple things, decent food, reasonable price, clean showers, and 90% are back to their cabs.
So having a grand building, complete block paved parking area & massive open space cafeteria serves no purpose as only to bulk the price up.
Stibbington diner - The Red lion j16 - Kate’s A1 nth - colsterworth - just a few to mention, no aires & graces, just does what you need without being to overpriced…!
Just my opinion :wink:

34

all truckstop owners should visit,York Truck Stop & The Stockyard M18, and follow their example,

35

gunnerheskey:
I don’t have any axe to grind with Orwell, yes it may be a bit overpriced, the grub is ok, but it’s a big all singing and dancing kinda place, showers are top, but at £3 if not parking, you’ve gotta think, if your passing and I want dinner shower and a tea your talking best part of £15’ :open_mouth: !
Sometimes I just think a lot of drivers just need the simple things, decent food, reasonable price, clean showers, and 90% are back to their cabs.
So having a grand building, complete block paved parking area & massive open space cafeteria serves no purpose as only to bulk the price up.
Stibbington diner - The Red lion j16 - Kate’s A1 nth - colsterworth - just a few to mention, no aires & graces, just does what you need without being to overpriced…!
Just my opinion :wink:

Up until the Stibbington comment you had my respect but please Stibbington diner is not even worth 0 out of 5!

36

Stibbington ‘Diner’ …S**t food , nuff said

37

so does the orwell crossing owner still think were a bunch of thieves pocketing the night out money?

and here’s the article he says it in just incase i’m accused of slander
commercialmotor.com/latest-n … ing-crisis

38

scotstrucker:
so does the orwell crossing owner still think were a bunch of thieves pocketing the night out money?

and here’s the article he says it in just incase i’m accused of slander

Doubt it mate, I’m sure he’s dead.

39

scotstrucker:
so does the orwell crossing owner still think were a bunch of thieves pocketing the night out money?

and here’s the article he says it in just incase i’m accused of slander
commercialmotor.com/latest-n … ing-crisis

No wonder its stuggling if he failed to grasp what our night out money is for what else did he not bother to find out about.

40

chester1:
what else did he not bother to find out about.

Living to an old age. Hes dead.