Little Chef

[Richard A Thackeray]

Most of us will have memories of eating in one at times. maybe even a favourite branch?

For the record, ours were;
1. 'Goat Gap', near Clapham, on the A65
2.  Ilkley, again on the A65 (arguably at Burley-in-Wharfedale, as it was between the 2)
3. Bolton-Le-Sands, A6 (between Morecambe & Carnforth)
A history of the brand here, & its demise, due to changes in motorists eating habits

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-68796980

 

[markemark]

Olympic breakfast. That is all.

 

[Drago]

Used to be one in Old Stratford I'd bimble down to for brekkie after a night shift.

 

[Gunk]

Olympic breakfast. That is all.

Named the Olympic because of the sprint you did to the toilets after you’d eaten it.

 

[Sharky]

Fond memories of the Little Chef on the A2, near Gravesend. Living in a nearby village in the early 70's, all the "youngsters" would socialise at the local pub. On closing time, we would often drive down to the Little chef for a midnight meal.

 

[oldwheels]

Tyndrum in Argyll for an early breakfast after an overnight drive on the way home.
Milton Dunbartonshire was also used for breakfast and a handy toilet stop on the way south.
Further from home there was one about the outskirts of Builth Wells again for breakfast mostly but some other meals after a Trade Fair at Builth and Llandrindod Wells as everywhere else was closed due to a few thousand people wanting food.
[Apologies if I have the spelling a bit wrong}

 

[Ian H]

I had my second-worst fish & chips at one on the A5 somewhere near Milton Keynes. The two near here are now both Starbucks.

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

I know that this wondrous building had been used as a Little Chef, photos are online

 

[markemark]

It’s a shame as the model worked. People did and still do want food on journeys. I think their restaurants became tired and dated and lost out to garages which had massively improved in store food and better offerings from Starbucks and Greggs etc. I feel if they had modernised they could have survived.

 

[Cycleops]

Let's face it they were pretty diabolical. I ate there perhaps once or twice and that was it. Apparently they went down as motorists would rather seek out a Burger King, McD's or KFC.
Just to remind you what an Olympic breakfast was, two rashers of bacon, an outdoor-reared (yes, really) pork sausage, two free-range griddled (whatever that may be) eggs, mushroom, sauté potatoes, griddled tomato and Heinz baked beans.

 

[Drago]

I had my second-worst fish & chips at one on the A5 somewhere near Milton Keynes. The two near here are now both Starbucks.

That'll either be the Old Stratford one to the North, or the Fenny Stratford/ Bow Brickhill one to the South.

 

[EltonFrog]

I went to the one in Bicester quite a few times, about 18/20 years ago. One day I ordered an early starter breakfast, I was informed by the waitress that they had no eggs, so looking at the menu I said out loud to myself, what shall I have? And the waitress, suggested without the slightest hint of irony that I have an omelette.

 

[PK99]

Let's face it they were pretty diabolical. I ate there perhaps once or twice and that was it. Apparently they went down as motorists would rather seek out a Burger King, McD's or KFC.
Just to remind you what an Olympic breakfast was, two rashers of bacon, an outdoor-reared (yes, really) pork sausage, two free-range griddled (whatever that may be) eggs, mushroom, sauté potatoes, griddled tomato and Heinz baked beans.

I remember arriving back on the overnight ferry after 3 weeks camping in France. We, and a line of other cars, went to the Little Chef North of Portsmouth for breakfast.

It was closed.

"Welcome Home" said one of the other drivers...

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

When I was a kid Little Chef was the only roadside cafe that my Mum trusted - for whatever reason

we generally carried on until we got hungry and then decided to stop at the next one

It was a standing joke - and generally true - that we would pass several and then decide to stop at the next one
and then not see one for ages and ages

I did like the jubilee pancakes!
I used to have to go to an old mill (Tulketh Mill) in Preston from time to time for work and I often used the "A" road route instead of the motorway so I could stop for a jubilee pancake and a cuppa on the way!

 

[Bonefish Blues]

Article on BBC, also a Sounds Prog which was excellent.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-68796980

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001xvkh