flishflunk:
Hiya Chris,
Pretty certain that’s where it was, it’s probably been closed now for 30 odd years. But I do have a faint recollection of another one near by. When leaving Queensferry/Shotton if you took the left fork towards Birkenhead I think there was one on the left hand side almost on the traffic lights, don’t know what it’s called though, it’s one of those stretches of roads I didn’t use that often. Think it was called Ledsham crossroads.
The cafe at Haydock was Evelyns, a bit further down at Lowton was the New Island, which I think was the last one to close.
Like the multi dodgy bit, did that a couple of times. Used to leave the rear number plate off the unit in case of photographers on bridges.
Ray
Evelyns,thats the one Ray and the New Island,brings it all back to me now.I’ve had a dodgy from the New Island back to Sheffield once or twice.You could always get a lift into Manchester and then another over Woodhead.You couldn’t do it now without a struggle.
I think the cafe that dessert driver Keith mentioned is the one I’m thinking about,not the Dunkirk.I do recall it being open as late as maybe 3-00pm on a Saturday ,having loaded out of the Summers/BSC coking plant for Sheffield.There was always a rake/herd of Shell etc.drivers from the Port in there tossing it off. Do you remember the cafe in Frodsham on the A56 way before the M was built?
Rear number plate-taking-off was a regular for me as well.
Chris.
If i recollect rightly i think the dunkirk was going till the 90s
flishflunk:
Hiya Chris,
Pretty certain that’s where it was, it’s probably been closed now for 30 odd years. But I do have a faint recollection of another one near by. When leaving Queensferry/Shotton if you took the left fork towards Birkenhead I think there was one on the left hand side almost on the traffic lights, don’t know what it’s called though, it’s one of those stretches of roads I didn’t use that often. Think it was called Ledsham crossroads.
The cafe at Haydock was Evelyns, a bit further down at Lowton was the New Island, which I think was the last one to close.
Like the multi dodgy bit, did that a couple of times. Used to leave the rear number plate off the unit in case of photographers on bridges.
Ray
Dont forget the carr mill cafe,there used to be one on the left[an old black and white one]between the new island and the greyhound r/bout closed early 70s+there used to be a small one if you were manchester bound and turned left at the greyhound it was straight facing the greyhound on the right.Come on you oldies what were the names of these two cause i just cant remember.
flishflunk:
Anybody remember these from the N.West?
The Dunkirk, near Capenhurst
Wrens Nest, Shaw
Cafe Roma, in Bury
Dusty Miller,■■ Think it was on the A56 between Ramsbottom and Edenfield but not to sure.
Ray
I remember the cafe roma,the dunkirk and the dusty miller.I think the dusty closed in the 90s an,d 2 houses built on its site,the roma was on walmsley rd near the end of the by pass.Remember the one further back outside bert hinchcliffes yard,its still going.
flishflunk:
Hiya Chris,
Now you’ve got me thinking, was this the one on the left going out of Frodsham just before the iron bridge? You could turn off the road just before it and then join the main road higher up.
There was another on the A556(A54?) between Kelsall and Tarvin I think it was,where Esso drivers did their impression of Shell drivers.
Must say that was a fair dodgy. How long did that used to take?
Ray
It was on the left in Frodsham going towards Warrington Ray.It’s 40 years ago since I was in it but I’m pretty certain it was in the centre.
The last time I fiddled home from the New Island to Sheffield was about 1978.It was a friday and I was loaded for Lancs Tar Distillers at Litherland for a saturday tip. I was parked up by 3-00pm,legal and was lucky enough to get a lift into Manchester,Ardwick Green in a tipper.I walked to the start of Hyde Road and got a lift to Flouch with a Barnsley driver and one into Sheffield from there.I remember I daren’t get my car out of the depot until all the office staff had gone so it must have been before 5-30pm.I remember all this as one of our drivers was tipping at Clayton Aniline on the saturday morning so I got a lift back over with him.He dropped me where the A6 comes out of Manchester into Salford - is it Liverpool Road or Street? One of Nuttalls,not the one from Heywood,the other one,James Nuttall I think it was dropped me at the wagon and I was in LTD for about 8-00am.Not bad for a saturday,it could be a bit dodgy sometimes. I had to wait at LTD to tip as they hadn’t room for the product and came out of there about 12-00pm,so there was no rush in the end.
It’s along time since I was on the A54,but when I was on nights doing the Littlewoods store deliveries I very often got the Chester store after Ellesmere Port on a saturday and would come out of Chester on the A51,then the A54 from Tarvin to the A556 near Delamere and I do recall a cafe in that area,maybe on a hill.If you looked back you got a good view of the Welsh mountains.It was never open when I went past,usually about 0400 .
Thinking back I’m almost certain it was one of Connell and Finnegans tippers I got a lift to Ardwick in.
Good going that Chris, pity it wasn’t like that all the time, bet it was sunshining
Was the cafe in Frodsham on the corner where all the shops are?
The more I think about cafes the more I realise how many there must have been. Many I would have been in once only and countless others would not have been in at all. Remember some names but not all. Do you remember Jacks cafe on the left Between Whaley Bridge and Buxton going Via Long Hill. Used to go that way when doing Bakewell/Derby etc. with loads of timber because the loads were to high to go through Chapel because of the low bridge. Just thought there was another cafe somewhere on the left after leaving Whaley Bridge on the A6 for Chapel, can’t think of the name but Im sure it was round the back of a Bungalow just off the main road.
Hi Daf Dave,
Remember a cafe between The New Island and the Greyhound. The one I’m thinking of was not that far from the Greyhound roundabout set back a way from the road. Unfortunately can’t remember the name even though it was the building for a long time after the cafe closed. But I do remember it had an old Commer parked outside it for years. Mind you the Commer might not have been all that old then.
Yes Ray the Frodsham cafe was where the shops were.I never used the one on Long Hill but there was a cafe on the left between Whaley Bridge and Chapel,a bungalow type building.It would be a calling place before going over Rushup Edge and Mam Tor to Sheffield.
And yes it was sunshining when I had that New Island dodgy.If there was any snowfall overnight and yer motor was at Hyde or around Manchester/Stockport it was "make yer mind up"time. I’ve caught the train from Sheffield Victoria to Manchester once or twice and walked to Ardwick or got the bus to Belle Vue/Longsight/Hyde.If I was parked on the lorry park at Stockport I’d just change trains at Piccadilly,no problem .
flishflunk:
Good going that Chris, pity it wasn’t like that all the time, bet it was sunshining
Was the cafe in Frodsham on the corner where all the shops are?
The more I think about cafes the more I realise how many there must have been. Many I would have been in once only and countless others would not have been in at all. Remember some names but not all. Do you remember Jacks cafe on the left Between Whaley Bridge and Buxton going Via Long Hill. Used to go that way when doing Bakewell/Derby etc. with loads of timber because the loads were to high to go through Chapel because of the low bridge. Just thought there was another cafe somewhere on the left after leaving Whaley Bridge on the A6 for Chapel, can’t think of the name but Im sure it was round the back of a Bungalow just off the main road.
Hi Daf Dave,
Remember a cafe between The New Island and the Greyhound. The one I’m thinking of was not that far from the Greyhound roundabout set back a way from the road. Unfortunately can’t remember the name even though it was the building for a long time after the cafe closed. But I do remember it had an old Commer parked outside it for years. Mind you the Commer might not have been all that old then.
Hi Chris,
Used to get the train back myself sometimes, Manchester Victoria to Leeds usually. Most of the time it was not a problem as there was nearly always several of our lorries passing through Leeds. Used to use Hartshead services until they started charging.
Now then back to cafes, you might be able to answer this one Chris. It’s been mentioned about cafes around the Flouch area, but was there another cafe between Flouch crossroads heading towards Sheffield, maybe several miles down the road. Remember stopping somewhere along there several times late 60s early 70s but for life of me I can’t think why.
Ray
Cafe,s near sheffield?
In the 70s when you came over woodhead down to r/bout and turn right towards m1 there used to be a cafe on the left set back off the road,what was the name of it anyone any idea.
regards dave.
hiya,
tell you what BigG-Unit the Kernel must have done a good brekkie for Del and Rodders to come all the way from London, it was good though used it regular in the 60s and early 70s, like all the good grub stops, gone.
thanks harry long retired.
There’s a cafe on the left hand side of the road about a mile after turning off at the Woodhead roundabout, called Langsett Cafe… thats not the place is it ?
I 've always wondered if this was ever a Transport Cafe, opposite is a narrow lane heading to Strines, and an old pub facing if that helps.
Instead of altering the Flouch crossroads in the late 80’s, did they divert this section off to build in the roundabout ? as just a few yards to the left of the roundabout looks to be the old crossroads, and what could have been the old Woodhead road now leading into a dead end.
Hi Tipit
You will remember this one–Georges cafe on High lane on the way towards Disley just round the bend where simpsons sausage works used to be after you have gone through Hazel Grove.You will have been in there with your dad I would have thought at some time.All the tippers used to park on the main road opposite on their way back loaded from buxton it is still there but it is now a house.
flishflunk:
Anybody remember these from the N.West?
The Dunkirk, near Capenhurst
Wrens Nest, Shaw
Cafe Roma, in Bury
Dusty Miller,■■ Think it was on the A56 between Ramsbottom and Edenfield but not to sure.
Ray
The Wrens Nest at Shaw nr Oldham is now an Indian takeaway with a car wash at the rear.
Hi Stanfield, yes I’d forgotten about that one, the only one I ever remember going in though was near Salford Racecourse or was it Casino ?
Lamb’s were working on a job to Agecroft Power Station at the time, and around 5 or 6 of them all called in together, around 1964.
flishflunk:
Hiya Chris,
The Dunkirk was on the way to Queensferry, but on the left hand coming from Stanlow between A41 and A540. Just had a thought, if you went to where the M56 (until recently) ended then turned right, back towards Stanlow refineries, it was just up there on the right hand side. Handy place for going back to Manchester on a Dodgy, so I’ve been told
Your right boys that was the Dunkirk but who remembers the cafe behind the garage on the opersite side of the road two hundred yards towards Stanlow? We used to stop there most weeks after collecting steel from shotton for the continent mid 70s till mid 80s but for the life of me cannot remember the name.
Regards Keith.
[/quote]
…That would have been “Joyces” transport cafe, (behind the JET filling station.)
A whitewashed prefab type building in the middle of the large parking area.
flishflunk:
Hi Chris,
Used to get the train back myself sometimes, Manchester Victoria to Leeds usually. Most of the time it was not a problem as there was nearly always several of our lorries passing through Leeds. Used to use Hartshead services until they started charging.
Now then back to cafes, you might be able to answer this one Chris. It’s been mentioned about cafes around the Flouch area, but was there another cafe between Flouch crossroads heading towards Sheffield, maybe several miles down the road. Remember stopping somewhere along there several times late 60s early 70s but for life of me I can’t think why.
Ray
Hi Ray and Dave.Yes,when you turned right for Sheffield at Flouch about a mile further on at the top of Langsett hill on the right is/was a pub called the Wagon and Horses and opposite was a cafe,but it was mainly for hikers/ramblers who had been walking round Strines/Bradfield.It wasn’t a transport cafe,there was no park to speak of.Further down on the left at the bottom of the hill was a transport cafe run by two women,a smart little place it was,where your tea came in a teapot and there were flowers on the table .Whatever,the snap was great,there wasn’t a lot of room to park and I cannot for the life of me recall it’s name which is daft as I’ve been in it so many times. IIRC there were some photos on the wall of Woodhead including the viaduct near where you turned left for Glossop.Here’s a pic taken at the back of the Wagon and horses.I can recommend the walks round here,the traffic noise coming from wagons going up the hill is soon gone.
And the one I was thinking about near Shotton on the left coming back towards Stanlow is the one mentioned by Deesider - Joyce’s.I remember the filling station now.
I can rest now.
TIPIT:
There’s a cafe on the left hand side of the road about a mile after turning off at the Woodhead roundabout, called Langsett Cafe… thats not the place is it ?
I 've always wondered if this was ever a Transport Cafe, opposite is a narrow lane heading to Strines, and an old pub facing if that helps.
Instead of altering the Flouch crossroads in the late 80’s, did they divert this section off to build in the roundabout ? as just a few yards to the left of the roundabout looks to be the old crossroads, and what could have been the old Woodhead road now leading into a dead end.
TIPIT.
No the place i was on about was demolished yrs ago and there was no road to strines or any pub nr it.Thanks anyway.
regards dave.
flishflunk:
Hi Chris,
Used to get the train back myself sometimes, Manchester Victoria to Leeds usually. Most of the time it was not a problem as there was nearly always several of our lorries passing through Leeds. Used to use Hartshead services until they started charging.
Now then back to cafes, you might be able to answer this one Chris. It’s been mentioned about cafes around the Flouch area, but was there another cafe between Flouch crossroads heading towards Sheffield, maybe several miles down the road. Remember stopping somewhere along there several times late 60s early 70s but for life of me I can’t think why.
Ray
Hi Ray and Dave.Yes,when you turned left for Sheffield at Flouch about a mile further on at the top of Langsett hill on the right is/was a pub called the Wagon and Horses and opposite was a cafe,but it was mainly for hikers/ramblers who had been walking round Strines/Bradfield.It wasn’t a transport cafe,there was no park to speak of.Further down on the left at the bottom of the hill was a transport cafe run by two women,a smart little place it was,where your tea came in a teapot and there were flowers on the table .Whatever,the snap was great,there wasn’t a lot of room to park and I cannot for the life of me recall it’s name which is daft as I’ve been in it so many times. IIRC there were some photos on the wall of Woodhead including the viaduct near where you turned left for Glossop.Here’s a pic taken at the back of the Wagon and horses.I can recommend the walks round here,the traffic noise coming from wagons going up the hill is soon gone.
And the one I was thinking about near Shotton on the left coming back towards Stanlow is the one mentioned by Deesider - Joyce’s.I remember the filling station now.
I can rest now.
Chris.
Thanks anyway but the place im on about was only about half a mile from the r/bout.
regards dave
Do you remember the cafe in Frodsham on the A56 way before the M was built?
and was lucky enough to get a lift into Manchester,Ardwick Green in a tipper.I walked to the start of Hyde Road and got a lift to Flouch with a Barnsley driver and one into Sheffield from there.I remember I daren’t get my car out of the depot until all the office staff had gone so it must have been before 5-30pm.I remember all this as one of our drivers was tipping at Clayton Aniline on the saturday morning so I got a lift back over with him.He dropped me where the A6 comes out of Manchester into Salford - is it Liverpool Road or Street? One of Nuttalls,not the one from Heywood,the other one,James Nuttall I think it was dropped me at the wagon and I was in LTD for about 8-00am.Not bad for a saturday,it could be a bit dodgy sometimes. 
…That would have been “Joyces” transport cafe, (behind the JET filling station.)