Hi all! I’m writing a magazine feature on the slow decline of old school transport cafes (glamorous I know) and wondered if any folks on here fancied having a chat to help me out.
You lot seem to get very misty-eyed over the loss of a good truck stop, kind of reminds me of how people talk about old football grounds. So I know they must have been important! Some good times and some not so good times shared in those places, as far as I can work out.
I’d love to hear some memories, plus try and explain why so many of them have gone the way of the dodo…
Do drivers not have the freedom to stop on the job anymore? Are the cabs so well-equipped that there’s no need to ever leave? Are the cafes too expensive? Do people prefer a KFC?
Please comment below or email me at rmclarkrm@gmail.com if you’re interested in having a chat. Ironically, considering some of the bacon sarnies I’ve seen described on here - it wont be a proper grilling! Would really appreciate any help.
I always try stop at truck stops have my break something to eat. As it gets me out the truck change of scenery for a bit.
Don’t like mcds .
KFC is ok as a last resort.
Prefer something freshly cooked n wholesome but there becoming fewer and fewer
Most of those for me, but I have been long out of the game and the only one I think is still going is Stibbington Diner on the A1 near Peterborough. I have used it several times on trips back to England but still shocked that you have to pay for parking.
Non of that nonsense here in France, if you are a paying customer your parking is free. Mind you I was in what used to be a favourite the other day and in place of the long communal tables it used to have it’s gone all English with separate ones and a single driver at each.
Is the Coronation Cafe still going, just up the road from the Poplars on the other side? It was the setting for a TV drama many years ago where 2 trunk drivers, one from the NE and the other SW, used to meet up to break their regular runs. The conversation was all about the mistresses they both had at the farthest ends of the job.
Turned out that the ‘mistresses’ were each others’ wives.
Another couple have come to mind, one I stopped at on a couple of trips to Scotland, the Cedar Cafe at Grantshouse, lorry parking was in the long layby created from the old road.
Going back further to the '90s I was a regular at a great cafe opposite the docks in Berwick on Tweed. Paid parking was in the docks and this, with great cooking, was opposite the gates.
Back to @franglais’ point. Of course lorry drivers are gossips, often alone all day they love to yarn at night, except the English it seemed. There was an old joke in France that an English Transport Cafe which had 13 tables, was full after the 13th driver arrived.
The opposite is/was true in France where longtables were often filled from one end in an orderly manner by the waiters (yes, we are waited on table here). You sat where you were put but the craich was great, very sociable. I don’t do many NO now but I have an extensive list of favourites which caused my great disappointment the other day, I won’t be there again.
In the Routiers the chairs were so close together I had to time it to use my knife and fork to the diners sat either side of me or we would clash arms.
Jack;s Hill near Towcester was always a popular one with us. Good breakfast and evening meals, plus bar if staying overnight. When I started in the 70’s there was also a dormitory there as sleeping in cabs was not allowed, although not often enforced.
Noake’s Cafe on the A13 near Rainham was also a popular stop. DJV had their offices there.
My own personal favourite from way back when was Normans on the (old) A1 just north of Ferrybridge. I also remember Godmanchester (complete with obligatory strippers) and the ones either side of the A1 at Alconbury in the pre 4 lane days.
