Regarding Liverpool dock canteens I worked for Liverpool Wharehousing and Jarvis Robinson in Liverpool in the 60s and always down the docks ,the canteens where quite good and it was like bedlam some days the banter with the canteen girls was great but you would not like to fight them in Lancashire parlance there was some bonny lasses worked there could give as good as they got ,the lad who said he refused butter on his roll because he had seen on a school visit to the co-op butter factory what they had done to it (was that the one at Irlam) was lucky the girls must have been in a good mood ,they let him live,hard work but fun times as well I am convinced I had the best years for trucking 1963-2012 plus trailer boy with Alfred Dexter 1957/8 I don’t think I could /want to do driving now, no characters not many laughs watched all the time no thank you glad to go
the thing i remember best about the dock canteens was the wall of heat when you stepped inside , especially in the winter months .good grub though , and cheap .
Spot on rigsby it could be bitter cold down those docks and it is true the heat hit you as soon as you walked into the canteen To the young drivers it was the same as it is going on holiday to a very hot country as you come off the plane the heat hits you smack in the face. I was watching the movie ALFIE with Michael Cane a while back and the Transport Cafe they used was the old Busy Bee a very famous cafe very popular in the 50/60s I believe,I went there once early 60s just before it closed I think it was on the A41 at Watford could it have been closed to build a by-pass? It was always mad busy open 24/7 does any one remember this famous cafe ? Another claim to fame there was /is a filling station /cafe on the A62 Oldham-Huddersfield road at Stanedge I used to drive a WoolWagon in Birkenhead twice a week to Dewsbury I always called in on the way back to sample one of there excellent meat pies ,one afternoon who walked in but Freddie and the Dreamers I think there was 4of them and they made a 10 minute movie which basically involved Freddie hitting a golf ball through the open window and landing in a drivers dinner they picked the biggest driver in the place to be the victim and then the driver had to pretend to get mad and chase them out the cafe they should have stole my pie then they would have seen mad I don’t know what it was all about ,but some where there is a minor movie with me in it perhaps one day it will surface and I will become famous and young women will throw there underwear at me as I walk down the red carpet Sorry have to go Matron wants to issue my pills
dexterboy:
Thanks Dave I am glad someone else remembered Jonnies in Northampton as I said a true gent
He sure was,if you remember he was always full,ok if you were on regular runs but if you were tramping like I and hundreds more you had to be in the right place at the right time to get a cancellation,happy days,good camarardery,out of the cab a few drinks with mates,sadly gone.
regards dave.
Rummaging in my old bits and pieces today, I came across these three photos I took on 4th August 1970. The first two are outside the Gate Transport Cafe (as was) at the top of the hill at Dunkirk on the A2 just outside Canterbury. The last picture shows a Maudslay showman’s wagon at Whitstable, taken the following day. Robert 
Here is a couple of well known Cafés I remember from the 60’s and 70’s, both have now changed a bit in appearance now and even the surroundings are different. I wonder if anybody else remembers these two places. Not Larry he’s barred as I know he will know them both. 
Is the first one Musslebugh ?
Archie Paice:
Here is a couple of well known Cafés I remember from the 60’s and 70’s, both have now changed a bit in appearance now and even the surroundings are different. I wonder if anybody else remembers these two places. Not Larry he’s barred as I know he will know them both.
The first one is on the front at Portobello[Edinburgh] I think.Forget the name.
regards dave
dafdave:
Archie Paice:
Here is a couple of well known Cafés I remember from the 60’s and 70’s, both have now changed a bit in appearance now and even the surroundings are different. I wonder if anybody else remembers these two places. Not Larry he’s barred as I know he will know them both.The first one is on the front at Portobello[Edinburgh] I think.Forget the name.
regards dave
Bugger, I got Musselburgh and Portobello muddled up !
Archie Paice:
Here is a couple of well known Cafés I remember from the 60’s and 70’s, both have now changed a bit in appearance now and even the surroundings are different. I wonder if anybody else remembers these two places. Not Larry he’s barred as I know he will know them both.
Archie can I give them a clue ?, Regards Larry.
Lawrence Dunbar:
Archie Paice:
Here is a couple of well known Cafés I remember from the 60’s and 70’s, both have now changed a bit in appearance now and even the surroundings are different. I wonder if anybody else remembers these two places. Not Larry he’s barred as I know he will know them both.Archie can I give them a clue ?, Regards Larry.
Hullo Larry, Looks like everyone remembers the Portobello Cafe (now a chop sued house). The old municipal toilets where we used to get a ■■■■, Shave and Shampoo have been pulled down. It’s now a small rest and recreation area, very smart though. The second one though, I remember as a Green corrugated tin covered Cafe. Best Mince and Mashed Potatoes you could ever wish for. Parked up now for the night on Dunnet Head.
Archie Paice:
Lawrence Dunbar:
Archie Paice:
Here is a couple of well known Cafés I remember from the 60’s and 70’s, both have now changed a bit in appearance now and even the surroundings are different. I wonder if anybody else remembers these two places. Not Larry he’s barred as I know he will know them both.Archie can I give them a clue ?, Regards Larry.
Hullo Larry, Looks like everyone remembers the Portobello Cafe (now a chop sued house). The old municipal toilets where we used to get a [zb], Shave and Shampoo have been pulled down. It’s now a small rest and recreation area, very smart though. The second one though, I remember as a Green corrugated tin covered Cafe. Best Mince and Mashed Potatoes you could ever wish for. Parked up now for the night on Dunnet Head.
Quite correct defo good Mince & Mash lovely gravy as I recall, Scremerston Café as it was in the old days, Regards Larry.
Did the Scremeston Cafe ( which was known as Ruby’s ) pack up as soon as the Berwick by-pass opened in the early 80s or did it stay open for a while ?
haddy:
Did the Scremeston Cafe ( which was known as Ruby’s ) pack up as soon as the Berwick by-pass opened in the early 80s or did it stay open for a while ?
As far as I know it did stay open for a while , Its now a modern day coffee shop, Mind you Ive been past a couple of times lately & it allways seems to have people in there, Regards Larry.
Lawrence Dunbar:
haddy:
Did the Scremeston Cafe ( which was known as Ruby’s ) pack up as soon as the Berwick by-pass opened in the early 80s or did it stay open for a while ?As far as I know it did stay open for a while , Its now a modern day coffee shop, Mind you Ive been past a couple of times lately & it allways seems to have people in there, Regards Larry.
Well I’m laying here on athe most Northerly Point of the UK. With a battle of Glenphucket whiskers, seeing the sun set on the sea. Slangeevah, I told you he’d know them, hic
Archie Paice:
Lawrence Dunbar:
haddy:
Did the Scremeston Cafe ( which was known as Ruby’s ) pack up as soon as the Berwick by-pass opened in the early 80s or did it stay open for a while ?As far as I know it did stay open for a while , Its now a modern day coffee shop, Mind you Ive been past a couple of times lately & it allways seems to have people in there, Regards Larry.
Well I’m laying here on athe most Northerly Point of the UK. With a battle of Glenphucket whiskers, seeing the sun set on the sea. Slangeevah, I told you he’d know them, hic
I hope you are well stocked with food & drink, I don’t think M&S Has a shop there Eh, Ha Ha, Enjoy your stay Archie, Ive just returned from Oban , Regards Larry.
I travelled back along the A47 on Thursday and noticed a few old cafes (a couple still running). I parked up for the night at Guyhirn at the Shell garage next to the Coffee Tree cafe. Was this always it’s name? I went in to see if they were still doing food (at 7pm) but instead were holding a clairvoyant night. I didn’t foresee that happening. 
It looked a bit tired inside anyway, but on paying to park at Shell (£15 that Matthews pay me back anyway) found I got free food and hot drink anyway. Nice clean shower but thankfully it was a hot evening as the water was cold.
Another cafe further back towards Dereham, is a large boarded up site with a closed filling station attached. Looks like it could be a good 'un if it was restored.
Bobs Cafe Ryton on Dunsmow old A45 just before M45. That was a Cafe i will always remember even though its gone. When i was a kid and used to go with my late Father he would be tipping somewhere in Midlands (Car Parts) and also tipping at Rootes Cars no longer there as Rootes ha ha but always rember the white wall beside the Factory that had the name Rootes and was still there when i passed 8 years ago. Anyway EVERYBODY stopped at Bobs on way back to London including my Dad.When i grew up and started doing Trunking work always if i was near to Bobs thats where i would stop to eat and sleep. They used to have aone long room with about 30 beds and a massive metal stove in the middle that was the heating i know what some of you are thinking but i can tell you it was warm,cosy,comfatable compared to lot of the Pigstys that were around in them days.As a young Driver i learnt a hell of a lot from the older Drivers that would be passing through the night at Bobs.
dexterboy:
Spot on rigsby it could be bitter cold down those docks and it is true the heat hit you as soon as you walked into the canteen To the young drivers it was the same as it is going on holiday to a very hot country as you come off the plane the heat hits you smack in the face. I was watching the movie ALFIE with Michael Cane a while back and the Transport Cafe they used was the old Busy Bee a very famous cafe very popular in the 50/60s I believe,I went there once early 60s just before it closed I think it was on the A41 at Watford could it have been closed to build a by-pass? It was always mad busy open 24/7 does any one remember this famous cafe ? Another claim to fame there was /is a filling station /cafe on the A62 Oldham-Huddersfield road at Stanedge I used to drive a WoolWagon in Birkenhead twice a week to Dewsbury I always called in on the way back to sample one of there excellent meat pies ,one afternoon who walked in but Freddie and the Dreamers I think there was 4of them and they made a 10 minute movie which basically involved Freddie hitting a golf ball through the open window and landing in a drivers dinner they picked the biggest driver in the place to be the victim and then the driver had to pretend to get mad and chase them out the cafe they should have stole my pie then they would have seen mad I don’t know what it was all about ,but some where there is a minor movie with me in it perhaps one day it will surface and I will become famous and young women will throw there underwear at me as I walk down the red carpet Sorry have to go Matron wants to issue my pills
I remember the Busy Bee Café I was only in it once and that was 1960, Allways busy & well named I would say, Regards Larry.
The café on the A62 Standedge Road , can you remember what it was called ■■?< Regards Larry.