Little Chef

[Polarbear]

Does anyone remember them? They used to be my go to for breakfast when on a rally. I absolutly loved them. The breakfasts were epic.

Just saw this that brought it all back to me...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-68796980
____________________
Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[Howling Terror]

Jubilee Pancake, cuppa T and a pee.

Enough to keep you going for 2 tanks of fuel.
____________________
Diabolical homemade music Bandcamp and Soundcloud
Singer songwriter, Artist and allround good bloke Listen to Andrew Susan Johnston here
The Harry Turner Project

[DaddyStu]

Only one I recall going in was the overpriced one in Builth Wells.
____________________
Daddystu
Zontes 125-G1 (part-ex'd). Yamaha Tracer 700.

[to v or not to v]

the death of the old greasy spoon cafes.
____________________
current bike Yamaha Thunderace.
its old and fat, but its a damned good ride. the bikes not bad either.

[Polarbear]

[struan80]

I loved a Little Chef Breakfast. Macd and all that shit doesn't cut it.

[MCN]

Blumenthal ran a few for little chef.

I think the company was a genuine love for what they were doing. But people's needs changed.

They food they served was good. Service was good.

Radio 4 did a wee skit on chef chain about two weeks ago. Very interesting to hear the owner's candid opinion on what evolved.

I think then Rona hit them hard too. Just as they had began a new leaf.
____________________
Disclaimer: The comments above may be predicted text and not necessarily the opinion of MCN.

[Prawny]

The last time we went to one was on an overnighter with the family probably 2015ish not long after the TV series I found out later? It was great, food was really nice, service was good I thought things were looking up for them. Sad really, used to love stopping at the one in Welshpool on the way to Barmouth as a kid.
____________________
Yamaha Vity 125 (gone) Kawasaki ER6N(dead) 2022 Royal Enfield Meteor 350 (nicked) 2003 DL1000 V Strom

[Easy-X]

Another thing to consider: more cars were travelling on main roads than motorways when Little Chief was at its height. Cars were also crap and did poor mpg so ppl stopped more often.
____________________
Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[Freddyfruitba...]

[Polarbear]

[A100man]

I often preferred the Happy Eater..
____________________
Now: A100, GT250A, XJ598, FZ750

Then: Fizz, RS200, KL250, XJ550, Laverda Alpina, XJ600, FZS600

[A100man]

this one..

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a2/HappyEaterlogo.png
____________________
Now: A100, GT250A, XJ598, FZ750

Then: Fizz, RS200, KL250, XJ550, Laverda Alpina, XJ600, FZS600

[Polarbear]

[Tarmacsurfer]

Aye, the post rally "Olympic breakfast" was a thing

Never thought much of the Happy Eater chain, they were conceived purely as a competitor for the Little Chef hegemony and blew it hard. The food in the Little Chef was reliably mediocre but always acceptable (a bit like Maccy D's) but I always found the Happy Eater chain to be exceptionally hit or miss, more usually miss.
____________________
I'm immortal. Well, so far.

[temeluchus]

I briefly worked in the Little Chef in West Meon as a yoot. I believe its Loomies Cafe now.
____________________
Some shite cruiser. Now with guns and FREEDOM!

[stinkwheel]

We used to stop at a little chef in Wales after the dragon rally every year for a fry-up. It's now a starbucks, we don't stop there any more.

Used to love them as a kid because they gave you a lollipop if you finished your dinner.

I also used to like a Wimpy. The burgers were actually tasty.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[A100man]

When I was first repping (with my Vauxhall Belmont company car) I was given a £2.50 lunch allowance. Sufficient, if I recall, to cover a Magnificent 7 burger. Also if you were home after 7pm you were allowed to claim for a dinner!
____________________
Now: A100, GT250A, XJ598, FZ750

Then: Fizz, RS200, KL250, XJ550, Laverda Alpina, XJ600, FZS600

[blurredman]

[Easy-X]

The Austin Maxi my dad used to have would beg to differ.
____________________
Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[A100man]

[blurredman]

[A100man]

[Lone-Wolf]

[Capt Sisko]

I remember them well form the 80s and had many a good meal / break from driving/biking in them. Then the quality of the food declined* and the prices went up, just as McD expanded, supermarkets opened up restaurants and Costa, Subway & co were doing deals with petrol stations.

Over priced, poor quality, not quick and peoples expectations had changed. The writing was on the wall if they didn't evolve; which they didn't.

*Did anyone ever actually find out which award their 'Award Winning Sausages' actually won? It certainly wasn't one for taste, ingredients, cooking or quality!