transportcafe.co.uk/risbys_t … arket.html
this is a family owned cafe and is in a great place on the a14 at risby lots of parking for trucks and great food
come on people support our cafes or we will loose them
also please tell me on here what cafes can do to keep open and do a better service for us truckers, and tell them behind the counter at RISBYS they dont bite lol
It’s not a bad place but you could drive past it a million times and not even know its there. Maybe that’s the problem
Kates Cabin, A1 is closed and has been for a while
Mr B:
It’s not a bad place but you could drive past it a million times and not even know its there. Maybe that’s the problem
this has been a prob since they got the cafe, it all comes down to the council not allowing signage on the a14 telling people about it…
fighting a loosing battle 
Derek Cooper up the road have a good advertisment in their yard, all the cafe have got to do is something similar to them. Basically, make a gap in the hedge and put an advert up.
I went there today, thanks to the disgrace of a lorry park (no tarmac/concrete, just deep puddles and mud, ■■■■■■■■ would be a help.) i just had a 45mins sleep rather than eating in the rather highly priced cafe.
Was going to have a look round the tattoo shop the other week, but thats closed down.
Still, would be a shame if it shut.
three weeks ago i was looking for an overnight on my way to lakenheath and did not want the laybye on a1065 (cars all night) or red lodge pot holes deep enough to lose a transit in whilst they nick your diesel. risby would have been fine, still i know now (until i forget)
mickyblue:
Kates Cabin, A1 is closed and has been for a while
thank [zb]
Any transport cafe with pictures of lorries on the wall should be shut down by law. 
I’ve stopped there a handful of times in the past and have to say it’s one of the best I’ve been in. Good clean facilities and the food looks fine. I don’t remember it being overly pricey but I don’t have more than a cuppa tea and a cake usually. You can get the truck washed too and I think it’s a reasonably secure yard with a proper fence round it? It’s not my neck of the woods usually but if I’m in the area I try and fit a break in there, would be a real shame if it was lost.
Just wanted to add that it’s not far off the A14 and it’s not a mission to get back on either lads so it won’t cost you any time.
thanks for the feedback,
the price is ok compaired to some others but you get what you pay for, and due to the high costs of running the cafe they are not bad,
i will talk to the owner and mention the probs with the park as i agree,
in the last couple of months the wash has got a new manager ( english ) and he is doing a great job cleaning the trucks and if for any reason ya have a probhe will sort it,
the owner is thinking of ways to improve the cafe, and was even thinking of shutting it and turning it into a burger bar type outfit,
there is a function room out the back that is not being used at moment, and poss another room being adapted for something else, maybe a shop or something,
any idears
cheers
kev
also not forgetting there is the fuel depot next door to fill up,
a great site for all ya needs before returning to felixtowe or up the road
I don’t think there’s much you can improve on to be honest, although Mr B makes a very good point about letting people know you’re there! How about copying one of the big boys and having some sort of loyalty scheme a la McDonalds? Five meals get one free, five cuppas get one free etc?
44 Tonne Ton:
I don’t think there’s much you can improve on to be honest, although Mr B makes a very good point about letting people know you’re there! How about copying one of the big boys and having some sort of loyalty scheme a la McDonalds? Five meals get one free, five cuppas get one free etc?
great idea
keep them coming, your voices WILL make a difference
I stayed there recently, thought it was quite nice and the staff were friendly.
For me, I get my parking paid back, so would like an option to pay higher parking and get a better meal voucher, can’t remember exactly what it was there, but didn’t cover the grub.
When doing a night out, I like my food, shower and brew paid for by the company, ie included in the parking cost 
Food - I had the curry with a beer - was good, showers were warm and clean, parking was a little rough but that doesn’t bother me too much, I think too many trucks jacking round on that kind of surface causes a lot of problems for most truck stops.
Just had a thought after reading the Waywest cafe thread. I see there’s a snack van operator touting for business now in that area. How is a decent cafe with the overheads it has ever going to compete with one of those? And at least 95% of those wagons are ■■■■! You gets what you pays for…
waynedl:
For me, I get my parking paid back, so would like an option to pay higher parking and get a better meal voucher, can’t remember exactly what it was there, but didn’t cover the grub.
When doing a night out, I like my food, shower and brew paid for by the company, ie included in the parking cost
hi there is an option for this, it should of been explained to ya, i will let them know…
im also now thinking of doing some sort of charity event there, in the summer,
keep ya comments coming
cheers kev
zorg2006:
waynedl:
For me, I get my parking paid back, so would like an option to pay higher parking and get a better meal voucher, can’t remember exactly what it was there, but didn’t cover the grub.
When doing a night out, I like my food, shower and brew paid for by the company, ie included in the parking costhi there is an option for this, it should of been explained to ya, i will let them know…
im also now thinking of doing some sort of charity event there, in the summer,
keep ya comments coming
cheers kev
I think there was a tier system, but didn’t go quite high enough to fully cover meal IIRC.
Other truck stops are similar, like Carnforth, £2 meal voucher… Rather pay more for parking and get food covered, that’s why I like Lincoln Farm and Red Lion and Standeford Cafe etc, but not Truckers Rest (even have to pay for your shower here) or Whitwood (see last)
cheers for ya coment wayne i will get in touch with them and let them know
drive safe mate
mickyblue:
Kates Cabin, A1 is closed and has been for a while
Useless place, I went in once and ordered Carpaccio of Maldivian long-line caught yellow fin tuna on a bad of Rio Grande valley avocado creme fraiche followed by Hereford organic blackcurrant souffle with a swirl of Kentish apple and sorrel sorbet and the bloke didn’t have a clue what I was talking about.
Council’s in their infinite wisdom will tell you that they are the only ones who can put signs up. If you put your own sign up then they will write to you telling you that they will fine you if you don’t pay to have them put up a sign for you. It’s just another ‘greed’ issue that stifles anyone that hasn’t got a few quid already from trying to make some money for themselves. GREAT BRITAIN ! The coucils charge something ridiculous like £2000 for a sign to be put up. Every greasy spoon has that money spare as you know