It was definitely the Blue Star adjacent to the A1/A1M roundabout going north but the Hilltop rings a bell.Was the Hilltop on the same plot as the Blue Star or were they two different places?I never stopped there,too close to home.
There was a Blue Star petrol station near the A630 turn-off to Sheffield at Warmsworth further north.
I should know,I used to fiddle home from there regular in the 60’s and 70’s. 
It was the “Blue Star” cos, I used to stop there in the 70,s and I remember it was also a c/o for some night trunkers and the one that springs to mind was “Sutherlands of Peterhead” they ran Blue & Red Daf 2800,s and did a hell of a trunk (in them days) Gt. Yarmouth to Peterhead. 
This was a 3 way trunk / Gt. yarmouth to Blyth - Blyth to Carlisle-Carlisle to Peterhead. 
Sorry lads. It was definately the Hilltop. cos I used to stop there in the 50s and I’m older than you and I know best. So there
charlie one:
Sorry lads. It was definately the Hilltop. cos I used to stop there in the 50s and I’m older than you and I know best. So there
.Ok Charlie.I do remember having a little red book with a list of cafes and digs in and the Hilltop was in it.It was also advertised in the Headlight magazine I think.
I didn’t start driving for a living until 1967 so I’m a young 'un mate. 
As an afterthought Charlie you will remember the old Tonys’ cafe at Grantham then.Some old trunking tales came out of there. 
as somebody who spent a lot of his early italian days frequenting the bakehouse, i have to admit the place did leave a lot to be desired, but then so did a lot of other eateries on that road, the food was ok but i was no expert on french cuisine, (unlike some of the others on here), it tasted good to me, (cockroaches aside), i used it because of the craic we would have there not for the star rating, the patron, raymond, was the local mayor, undertaker, as well as the baker, if sensitive ears were offended, tough ■■■■■, we enjoyed ourselves. there was another restaurant up the road if you were that precious.
i nearly forgot, HAPPY NEW YEAR.
Yes Chris,I do remember Tonys at Grantham.The original cafe was really good but unfortunately when he built the new one on the A1 it went down hill fast and turned into a little chef. When I get more time I will tell you a few tales about Tony’s. Re the Bakehouse I notice a few feathers are ruffled. Good. It does not hurt to have a little free for all now and then. Happy News Year to everyone.
Well “Chris Webb” I remember the “Little Red Book” as I had one as well and although the digs were usually reasonable and some better than others I remember I stayed in Brigg one fri. night and there was only 2 in the book and (yes you,ve guessed it) I picked the worst of the two! 
Of all the rooms she put me in mine was a “Residents” room which had two paddies that came in at way past midnight the worse the wear for drink and I ended up stopping them (or trying to) from knocking lumps out of each other and I had to sleep with one eye open all night to keep an eye on my case and belongings
The residents turned out to be workers from the steel works who were on the building site at Scunthorpe when they were extending the steel works.
Needless to say when I came down for breakfast in the morning she said “we will see you again sometime” to which the reply was a definite “NO” not on your life and as for the breakfast I wouldn,t have given that to animals let alone human beings. 
I also remember one I stayed at near the steel works who (again had residents) who wouldn,t make an evening meal after 5pm because she had a regular clientele and wasn,t bothered about the drivers who would be her saviour when the “Residents” had gone to other work and moved on.
That was another disaster cos when I got up the following morning I was covered in bites and lumps as it appeared that I was not the only inhabitant of the bed that night
It goes without saying that these two immediately had lines put through their ads in the “Red Book” and anyone who spoke about these places were told in no uncertain terms to avoid em like the palgue
SUPERCUBE:
as somebody who spent a lot of his early italian days frequenting the bakehouse, i have to admit the place did leave a lot to be desired, but then so did a lot of other eateries on that road, the food was ok but i was no expert on french cuisine, (unlike some of the others on here), it tasted good to me, (cockroaches aside), i used it because of the craic we would have there not for the star rating, the patron, raymond, was the local mayor, undertaker, as well as the baker, if sensitive ears were offended, tough ■■■■■, we enjoyed ourselves. there was another restaurant up the road if you were that precious.
i nearly forgot, HAPPY NEW YEAR.
Was that a typo SC?
(cockroaches aside),
should have been (cockroaches on the side) - very crunchy
Nothing wrong with a few cockroaches.I’ve eaten them all over the world. A nice dressing and they go down a treat.
Hi all , perhaps I did come down on the poor old Bakehouse a bit hard. I suppose it’s because I saw the transformation from what it was in the 60’s. But I don’t make appologies for what it turned into but must add that is only my opinion. I did however stop sometimes in the morning if it was quiet because the breakfast of oeuf et jambon au plat was good and washed down with a few glasses of red and a cafe calva’ did set me up for the rest of the morning. I must admit to being a regular patron of Le Logis-neuf at the entrance to the village, as were my two brothers. Being french speaking did make it easier for us to mix. You also dicovered that one Spardo and I think you’ll agree it was a bit more ‘cordon bleu’ so to speak. Then thats the good thing about being a routier,you have the choice of when and where you eat.
While I have the chance, A HAPPY NEW YEAR to all and I wish you everything that you’d wish for yourselves.
The cafe on the Bawtry road just off the A1 on the left was surley Janes cafe if my memory serves me right, Jane was a Beautiful young lady that was a part time model, she was a good enough reason for stopping there for breakfast or dinner, but for those that did not appreciate buty, the food was also excellent, one of the best cafe’s that i have ever stoped at.
7368lee:
The cafe on the Bawtry road just off the A1 on the left was surley Janes cafe if my memory serves me right, Jane was a Beautiful young lady that was a part time model, she was a good enough reason for stopping there for breakfast or dinner, but for those that did not appreciate buty, the food was also excellent, one of the best cafe’s that i have ever stoped at.
It was (is?) 73, you’re dead right, but weren’t there 2? The other being a bit further on, or am I showing my age again.
Welcome to TN mate.
Charlie One:
Nothing wrong with a few cockroaches.I’ve eaten them all over the world. A nice dressing and they go down a treat.
Ah yes, but too much dressing makes them soft and chewy. 
TIR Original:
I must admit to being a regular patron of Le Logis-neuf at the entrance to the village, as were my two brothers.
Not sure if that was the name of it or the village, but certainly it was on the right hand side just before it. On a Sunday night it was a race between the Bakehouse crowd and them as to who got away first.
I’m surprised no-one has mentioned Mac’s at Woolhampton nr Newbury and the Towers just up the road from it towards Newbury. Mac’s was always my first port of call for breakfast on the way home after having a night out in London, that is if you could get in the parking area, it was nearly always full of sugar wagons or tippers. Another favourite of mine was the Red Lodge on the A11 when heading down to London having tipped in Norwich, with a call into Ken Thomas’ cafe on the A47 at Guyhirn on the way up there having tipped in Northampton.
What about the Towers at Biggleswade and Basingstoke? (The Best Knights rest at Towers) The Golden Arrow at Froxfield and The Ridgeway at Marlborough.
There was a decent cafe at the side of a Shell garage on the A1 northbound just below RAF Wittering but can’t remember it’s name.It was a favourite parking ground for Morris Brothers from Bircotes,near Doncaster and they used to fiddle home from there…
And me then take the backwacks to Corby coking plant next day for a load of Benzene for Staveley.
Another bit of tax-free in the old skyrocket. 
Chris Webb:
There was a decent cafe at the side of a Shell garage on the A1 northbound just below RAF Wittering but can’t remember it’s name.It was a favourite parking ground for Morris Brothers from Bircotes,near Doncaster and they used to fiddle home from there…
And me
Another bit of tax-free in the old skyrocket.
that’ll be the woodview I think? still there AFAIK
there was a resto at bethune (emilys) where we would usually make for after coming off a night boat, this was early 70s, just through the town on the left, park up, couple of hours sleep and into the bar for a scrub and a nice bit of breakfast, set you up for the day, but sometimes you could drive down there and not get parked for martintrux and sammy williams lorries, it was a very popular stop, but only for about 18mths , til emily done a runner over some money she owed to the tax man, i stopped there on way home for a quick coffee and the husband told me she was gone, he said it wasn`t worth carrying on as she had left him so much debt, the urban myth mill went into overtime then, she was seen in marseille, paris, belgium and various places in europe. the autoroute goes right over the top of where the cafe was, where we parked is now bridge supports, perhaps thats where she is, who knows?
does anybody else remember emily?
Now then TIR Original. Try to be a little consistant. First of all you make disparaging remarks about the Bakehouse with which I agree and then say you quite liked it. I rarely get riled but this time I’m a little upset. It sounds as if you want to run with the fox and hunt with the hounds.Shame on you.
C’mon Charlie,put your glasses on! 2 + 2 =4 not 6. What I said was that I still didn’t like what it became and I stand by that. Yes I did sneak in for a breakfast on the very odd occasion but only when it was (and I repeat) very quiet.
The Watford Gap statement still stands but as stated is only my opinion. As we all know one mans meat is another mans poison and there was others in agreement with me. In the pioneer days it was a good stop but like every other place that gets too well known or popular it takes the slippery slope. Any one of us could name quite a few places that fall into that category and they are not all in France. Lets see how many pop up now and how many can agree on them!