Michael
Your new link to Transport cafe's is interesting but of limited use to those of us who seldom stray from home. I do think, however, we should start a thread on the best Trialsmans Breakfasts. My vote would be for the 'Full English' at Truck Stop at North Petherton on the forthcoming Lands End Trial. For quality, choice and value I think it would be hard to find better 
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.Steve Nikel
Steve - As I mature in years (I get my bus pass this November) I have adopted the policy of eating meals at roughly the correct time when trialling. So no breakfast at Midnight for me at North Petherton, more a sleep in the car! However, before that policy my vote would have gone to the Salt Box at Hatton. The way those tomatoes swum through the grease was a sight to behold. One of the deals with Neil for being one his "race wrenches" is breakfast on the way to the circuit. Number 2 is The Super Sasuage on the A5 just North of Jacks Hill where the Edinburgh once started. However, no 1 isn't on that site. It's The Red Lodge Transport Cafe on the A11 on the way to Snetterton. Quantity, quality, value and humour from the staff. They have a real pinball machine as well! Trials wise that cafe the Chase Clouds started at was super, I think it was the White Fawn or something. The last couple of years when I have been spectating & taking pictures Mike and I had breakfast at the control after Crackington, Wilsley Down I think it is. That was pretty good. Michael
ReplyDeleteMy vote would go to the Cedar's Hotel in Barnstaple. Just wander past the bacon roll dept and go into the hotel restaurant. There you can get a breakfast buffet, starting with cereals, juice etc followed by the full English - as much as you want. I have a particular fondness for their tomatoes, which are properly cooked (as opposed to being warmed up) and sprinkled with oregano.
ReplyDeleteThe coffee is also pretty good.
Bit pricier than most truck stops - but it's only once a year.
we avoid Tesco cafes nowadays, ever since they put them out to contractors, IMHO they've gone downhill. for a non-overfilling brekky, with consequent reduced indegestion, I suggest a McDonalds, from their breakfast menu? Modest prices, modest but wholesome quantities....good hot drinks..... as someone who seeks out good brekky spots as part of my work schedule..for many years....I wouldn't turn one down! for triallers...I'm more familiar with good eat spots over East and North Yorkshire...not exactly renowned for it's trials reputation!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Michael regarding the Salt Box at Hatton, but I genuinely used to enjoy the breakfast there, and the sense of humour - just ask Neil about it when I used to bounce for him in Primrose back in the eighties. It's very posh and tidy nowadays, but in those days it was a genuine truckers cafe and on the night the Edinburgh took breakfast there the truckers had one room and the trialers another.At that time it was voted "The Best Cup of Tea in Britain" serveral years. For all those fathers of sons out there who have marvelled / despaired at their offsprings ability to not only eat for England, but what they ate, and when, ........ my personal ? high ?? point was when the Exeter took Breakfast at the venue filmed as "Crinkley Bottom" (actually also the site for "To the Manor Born"). Going in one year for breakfast circa 3 a.m. Matt happened to spy that in addition to all the normal breakfast items, they also seemed to have a Curry with Rice and Poppadums available !!!! I can't actually swear to it ........but that might have been the year we got our Skoda up Simms !!! Red Bull may give you wings, but for turbo power, ............ SimonR
ReplyDeleteSince its topical, don't forget that a fine Breakfast can be had at the start of the Kyrle. Symond Yat Services are clean, comfortable and put on a good spread, with plenty of choice at a very good price. Support them, as they support us by letting the Trial start there.
ReplyDeleteWhen I started this thread I had not seen the Land's End route card and had not known that we would not be visiting the North Petherton truckers cafe. What a dissapointment to not partake of the 'Full English' that I had been waiting 12 months for! While I appreciate the efforts of Jonathon Lavers contemporaries at the Rugby Club, their offering of luke warm bacon baps at £2.50 plus tea at £1 was no substitute for last years plateful for not much more! The Land's End Trial was a thoroughly enjoyable event especially without the MCC weather this year! helped along, of course, by our claim for a silver (Curse the slab at Bishop's Wood). Steve Nikel
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A fascinating thread - I like particularly Michael's review of the Salt Box Cafe at Hatton Crossroads (Derby-Uttoxeter-Burton). A venue I recall from my two attempts at the Edinburgh, '78 & '80, but also from my days as a young 'whippersnapper', from 1952 onwards, passed frequently en route to Derby in the family Austin A40 Dorset . - Those potholes within the coke-surfaced lorry park, but a cafe popular with the drivers (not 'truckers' in those days!). Of course, since then, all has been rebuilt - but has the menu changed? John Plant.
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