Cliff Ton 10,454 Posted January 12, 2020 Report Share Posted January 12, 2020 This subject has appeared in various threads over the years, but now the NEP have done a feature of photos of Little Chef restaurants around Nottinghamshire. I can honestly say I never went in any of them, but I've never been a high-mileage driver. https://www.nottinghampost.com/news/local-news/what-happened-little-chef-restaurants-3714309 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
benjamin1945 16,139 Posted January 12, 2020 Report Share Posted January 12, 2020 Practically lived in Little Chefs for more than 20 years 70s and 80s right across the country,, loved em,,good food always knew what you were getting,, Hit the road early,,drive for about an hour,,then LC breakfast with good coffee,, ash tray please,,then fit for whatever the day would bring,, Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jill Sparrow 10,303 Posted January 12, 2020 Report Share Posted January 12, 2020 Only visited occasionally, usually to break the journey when driving up to north Yorkshire. They were always clean, the service was good and the food dependable. I've never seen the inside of a MacDonalds! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
benjamin1945 16,139 Posted January 12, 2020 Report Share Posted January 12, 2020 Had a couple of interesting encounters in Little Chefs..............one with Nicholas Parsons in the Norwich one........and one with a former well known 'Gangster' (who paid for me Breaky) in one at Redhill..........wish i was still on the road and using them........ahhh...... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
fogrider 179 Posted January 12, 2020 Report Share Posted January 12, 2020 I first went into that amazing one at Markham Moor in 1965 whilst working on the A1 upgrade. I remember the boss telling me how special it was. As an 18 year old I didn't give a s**t about it - I'm now very pleased to say it's a listed building. The one at Redhill was a regular stop when getting back to Nottingham from "up North". In their latter days we stopped using them, poor service, poor value. Anyone remember Myra's Major café at Carlton on Trent ? My favourite truckers café, Very interesting post, thanks. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beekay 5,134 Posted January 12, 2020 Report Share Posted January 12, 2020 Thank you CT., an interesting glimpse into local Little Chef history. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Oztalgian 3,269 Posted January 12, 2020 Report Share Posted January 12, 2020 1 hour ago, Cliff Ton said: Little Chef restaurants around Nottinghamshire. Often used the ones at Blyth or Markham Moor for breakfast after an early start heading north. For the life of me I can't remember a Little Chef at the Ollerton roundabout on the A614, must have been after we left the UK. Remember the Limes café near the Bilsthorpe turn off and a café near the White Post Inn that a lot of rockers used to use when racing up and down the "ramper". Quote Link to post Share on other sites
benjamin1945 16,139 Posted January 12, 2020 Report Share Posted January 12, 2020 Also did a lot of interviewing up and down the country in Little Chefs..........even disciplinary meetings.......once sacked 4 Somalians in the one on the A45 in Northampton........they were not happy to say the least...... 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
loppylugs 8,427 Posted January 12, 2020 Report Share Posted January 12, 2020 I'm glad they weren't waiting for you outside, Ben. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jill Sparrow 10,303 Posted January 12, 2020 Report Share Posted January 12, 2020 37 minutes ago, benjamin1945 said: .once sacked 4 Somalians in the one on the A45 in Northampton........they were not happy to say the least...... Left with egg on their face, eh? 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beekay 5,134 Posted January 12, 2020 Report Share Posted January 12, 2020 56 minutes ago, Oztalgian said: Often used the ones at Blyth or Markham Moor for breakfast after an early start heading north. For the life of me I can't remember a Little Chef at the Ollerton roundabout on the A614, must have been after we left the UK. Remember the Limes café near the Bilsthorpe turn off and a café near the White Post Inn that a lot of rockers used to use when racing up and down the "ramper". Hi Oz., just for info, the Limes cafe is still there and doing well if you please. However, can't say the same for the other. It's now a Chinese and also what looks like a motor parts shop. Have been in both in my time being on the road. Happy days eh? Beekay. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
benjamin1945 16,139 Posted January 12, 2020 Report Share Posted January 12, 2020 22 minutes ago, loppylugs said: I'm glad they weren't waiting for you outside, Ben. Something similar Loppy..............lol 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Stavertongirl 1,719 Posted January 12, 2020 Report Share Posted January 12, 2020 My dad once told me him and my mum were in a queue and he heard a voice behind him that seemed familiar. When he looked round it was Henry Cooper and his wife. Dad was tickled pink to meet him, he always watched him when his matches were on telly. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philmayfield 6,115 Posted January 12, 2020 Report Share Posted January 12, 2020 We came past the Little Chef at Markham Moor yesterday, the listed building with geometric roof, and it’s recently reopened as a Starbucks. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mary1947 2,079 Posted May 12, 2020 Report Share Posted May 12, 2020 The Little Chefs were owned by the Hotel chain "Trust House/Forty" the only reson I know this is because the master worked as a sevice engineer for the fruit machines,. The hotel group also owned master's firm that he worked for. Which was based at Leed's. It was said the the owners were part of the Italian Mafia note the name "FORTY" but please don't quote me on this as I can't say if its true or not. All I know from what i have been told one of the master's bosses was out with another man's wife and next day his car had been left on bricks with out it's wheels, plus a note (not sure what it said) but it was a warning, I did hear though that next time it would not be his car. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nonnaB 4,894 Posted May 12, 2020 Report Share Posted May 12, 2020 1 hour ago, mary1947 said: The Little Chefs were owned by the Hotel chain "Trust House/Forty" the only reson I know this is because the master worked as a sevice engineer for the fruit machines,. The hotel group also owned master's firm that he worked for. Which was based at Leed's. It was said the the owners were part of the Italian Mafia note the name "FORTY" but please don't quote me on this as I can't say if its true or not. All I know from what i have been told one of the master's bosses was out with another man's wife and next day his car had been left on bricks with out it's wheels, plus a note (not sure what it said) but it was a warning, I did hear though that next time it would not be his car. Mary I showed your post to my husband who had a little chuckle about the car wheels. He knew Carlo Forte ( not forty) and knows the story of how the chain began during and after the war. It was fascinating. The story about the wheels could be true but it's a common thing to prop cars up with bricks to get the wheels. They say in Naples if you stop,walking in the street they'll pinch your shoes ( and other variations). 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beekay 5,134 Posted May 12, 2020 Report Share Posted May 12, 2020 Nonna,. you can drive through Lewes at sixty miles an hour and they can still remove your wheels and wing mirrors Hope you and yours are keeping well. How's the cacti doing? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nonnaB 4,894 Posted May 12, 2020 Report Share Posted May 12, 2020 BK cactus is fine we've given it a haircut and given away loads. They'd got too many.. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.