Praise: Little Chef

houseimprover

I know, I'm amazed myself!

I was traveling down a road when I needed to relieve myself and stopped where there was a petrol station with a Little chef attached.

The toilet in the petrol station was out of order so I trundled over to the little chef and asked to use their toilet if I bought a drink from their coke fridge.

The guy there just said go ahead and not to worry...so nice one LC there.

Anyway about an hour later still on my travels I was hungry and again the only thing on the road was a Little Chef so I thought I would give it a go. The food was actually pretty dam good and decent quality, the service was fine (not great but not rubbish) and I was pleasantly surprised as this was the first time in about 10 years I had eaten in one.

It was dead for a lunchtime though and I believe the chain is up for sale so I doubt it will be around for much longer which is a shame.

Morglin

Services on motorways, major roads et ., HAVE to allow use of their toilets, even for non customers, as it is part of the planning deal with government.

I've always quite liked LC, but they gave gone downhill in the last few years, which is probably why they have gone under.

Lin

Arlandria606

I have to admit to not having eaten in one for a few years, but despite being a bit of a food snob, I'll happily eat at a LC. Especially if there's those cherry pancakes on the go, they're very tasty.

I never understood why Heston insisted on messing around with them, though. (Then again, I don't understand most of what he does. Total nutter IMO!)

vikingaero

I haven't eaten at them for years mainly because so many have closed down. There seem to be a proliferation of Starbucks/Costa and McD's/KFC on A roads these days.

michael1983l

I won't eat at service station eateries as they always have over inflated prices. If they charged the same price as high street equivalents then I would.

hollydays

" I love Charlie " !!!!!!!

oreocookie

The last time I ate at Little Chef (would have been a couple of years ago now) I was pleasantly surprised, granted I only picked up a coffee and a breakfast but it was decent.

PZH

michael1983l wrote: »

....they always have over inflated prices....

This is the main problem with me. They charge so much for food and drink. It doesn't matter how nice it is if the price is wrong.

Look at the vast difference between a Truck Stop cafe and a "chain" cafe/restaurant. Sometimes people just need sustenance to keep them going on a long journey and not a four star gourmet meal (or at least the cost of one).

People are a lot more price conscious these days and more and more people take their own food and drink.

I know the argument that they have to keep food available and hot all the time (especially Motorway Service Stations) but a cup of tea and a burger is basic at the end of the day.



However, good to hear that the OP was allowed to use the facilities without actually having to spend a penny...

Prothet_of_Doom

Me and the wife have shared an Olympic Breakfast and then survived........all day, until supper some 13 hours later.

preable

I have not eaten in one for years! Its there prices, NO THANKS.

vikingaero

An Olympic Breakfast at LC costs £7.99. A tea costs £1.99. For £10 you can get two breakfasts at independently owned cafes with Tea or Coffee included.

The sausage at LC is tiny whereas at most cafes you get two.

The difference? Greed. A cafe owner works for him/herself and pays themselves a wage. Any profit over and above wages is a bonus.

LC needs to also pay shareholders. Remember Supermum Nicola Horlick and her failed Georginas restaurant in Barnes? This statement of hers irks me: "So although we were doing 200 lunches on a Saturday and breaking even, I need to give a proper return to shareholders."