.
keith:
Trackers and companies insisting on ’ no stopping on route to your drop’ cant have helped the average transport cafe.
I think that’s a lot of it. Many firms would take a dim view of a driver stopping for breakfast if he hadn’t reached his 4.5 hours and had enough time to reach the delivery point within 4.5 hours and would take the view that he could take his 45 minute break in the RDC waiting room.
It’s not just cafes struggling. The guy in canteen at kuenhe nagel theale says theyre reviewing whether to continue fresh food because so few drivers use it now. £1.40 for bacon butty, bun and mug of coffee bargain.
Is this behind the CLAAS factory? Because if it is there is a small truck parking sign on the swest bound sliproad I think?
I thought I knew the A14 well but never knew about this place.
I’ll stop in next time I’m near and(Zb)em if I’m running early I’ll take my breaks when and where I want!
Mr B:
It’s not just cafes struggling. The guy in canteen at kuenhe nagel theale says theyre reviewing whether to continue fresh food because so few drivers use it now. £1.40 for bacon butty, bun and mug of coffee bargain.
Bargain, not sure what it’s like down there, but up here, you don’t really get time to nip in.
Was on Stobbies T. Park, 1st job, take a trailer to Appleton and swap for a different one, great I thought, cheap breccy, then get paperwork and I’ve got like 2hrs to do 90 miles, no time for breccy then 
Harry Monk:
mickyblue:
Kates Cabin, A1 is closed and has been for a whileUseless 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.
nether do i 
keith:
Trackers and companies insisting on ’ no stopping on route to your drop’ cant have helped the average transport cafe.
I had this with Tossco at Harlow when I came off route by about 500 yards to get a proper cuppa. I got pulled by “Cooperman” when I got back and asked why. Cos tea machines make ■■■■ tea said I. Then he started saying “Well in future…” at which point I interrupted him and said “In future I’ll be having my cuppa where I want to…” end of conversation!
is this the old boss hoggs or deputy dogs cafe? cant remember wich cafe was called wot
advertising and more advertising
even if its a car with a banner on it
tt3641:
Is this behind the CLAAS factory? Because if it is there is a small truck parking sign on the swest bound sliproad I think?
I thought I knew the A14 well but never knew about this place.
I’ll stop in next time I’m near and(Zb)em if I’m running early I’ll take my breaks when and where I want!
Its on the eastbound side of the a14 on the road that runs parallel but you can access it from both sides always stop there to fuel up on way back to felixstowe an if i got time stop, for something to eat aswell. nice clean facilities but as others have said could do with the potholes being filled in…
hitch:
advertising and more advertising
even if its a car with a banner on it
ardliegh truckstop on a120 do this, they have a board attached to a car in the last layby before the truckstop
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
Never been in there, but driven past hundreds of times.
Actually, tell a lie, I have been in their parking once, wasn’t intended, had no steering and was minus a front wheel and wing on my car, buts thats another story
chester1:
is this the old boss hoggs or deputy dogs cafe? cant remember wich cafe was called wot
Doggets (Deputy Dogs) is the one being talked about here, Boss Hoggs is the one on the A12 mate
Is this the one that is just before you get to Bury St Edmunds East bound on the A14?
If so the biggest problem is lack of signage. By the time you realise there is a truck park there and actually open you’ve gone past the junction.
So first sort out signage and advertising, then make sure your facilities and food is up to scratch so people come back. I know a lot of car drivers, especially elderly, who’d prefer to use a truckers cafe than a little chef etc. but they and non local drivers need to know you are there and open.
thanks for all ya comments…
this cafe was caller deputy dogs many years ago, but that closed down,
we ripped it apart and re furbished about 5 years ago now,
signage is a huge problem, as the council are not very cooperative, but we are really looking into this
the potholes are a big thing and are a never ending problem, we would love to change the surface there and make it allot better but its funding at the moment, we are trying to make it a great place for truckers to come relax and enjoy the food etc,
oh dont forget that there is fuel there to fill up and also a great truck was, that we are also going to start washing cars there too ( trucks will have priority )
keep supporting our cafes
drive safe…
just an update on signage for the cafe,
you have to pay £1500 to the council for them to decide if you are allowed to put a sign up,
if they say yes, then it will cost £10000 per sign to put up,
then you have to have it insured for damage etc as you are liable for it,
we have had meetings with the council and the police and the local mp’s
basically the council does not want anyone to earn money from the road,
WHAT IS THIS COUNTRY DOING ■■?
kindle530:
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.
It is a transport cafe, what better sign then a 40’ trailer with a big advert on the side, either in the yard or in a local farmers field so he can keep his tillage in it.
It is a transport cafe, what better sign then a 40’ trailer with a big advert on the side, either in the yard or in a local farmers field so he can keep his tillage in it.
[/quote]
yep explored that avenue,
now apparently because the a14 is now classed as a motorway, you are not allowed to advertise anything in a field anymore, ( even though on my travels i have seen loads of trailers in fields)
it is not alowed to be advertised as a REST AREA as they aparently dont exist in this country,
its not a services because it does not have petrol pumps, only derv
there will be signs put up on a board very soon (again) but these are always taken down and destroyed by the council…
WE WILL WIN IN THE END LOL ( im now thinking the press angle, papers tv etc… ummmm )
Hey zorg2006/Kev,
You will always hear drivers saying “I know a crackin’ lay-by to park in! I don’t do truckstops.”
These are the same ones who complain that there is “nowhere to park these days”
What, no shower, food or a brew? Getting rocked about all night by passing wagons? Not for me thank you!
I’ll head for Risby’s for a hot meal, hot shower (that’s cleaned after every use) in a big room, cup of tea and a slice of cake watching the telly, then maybe have a walk round to the Crown and Castle for a pint.
There are lorry park signs heading west on the A14 outside the Calor depot but nothing heading east? Putting a sign up on the back fence would be an idea.
I have nothing but praise for your establishment and I will be back!
beanie:
Hey zorg2006/Kev,You will always hear drivers saying “I know a crackin’ lay-by to park in! I don’t do truckstops.”
These are the same ones who complain that there is “nowhere to park these days”
What, no shower, food or a brew? Getting rocked about all night by passing wagons? Not for me thank you!
I’ll head for Risby’s for a hot meal, hot shower (that’s cleaned after every use) in a big room, cup of tea and a slice of cake watching the telly, then maybe have a walk round to the Crown and Castle for a pint.
There are lorry park signs heading west on the A14 outside the Calor depot but nothing heading east? Putting a sign up on the back fence would be an idea.
I have nothing but praise for your establishment and I will be back!
good on ya mate, its me mums cafe, put the word around mate, and more any improvements you think let us know
cheers for ya reply