Motorway Pub

[Rowlf]

I see Wetherspoons have been given the go ahead for a licenced bar and restaurant on the M40. My first thought was 'OMG' but then thinking more about it there are pubs just off most junctions of the motorway system anyway. On the positive side folk will be able to get better and cheaper food than in the Services.

[cashman]

I aint sure about better food. But certainly cheaper. I rate wetherspoons food on the high side of crap.

[Rowlf]

Well most of what the services sell is no better. In Europe the services are far better than ours. Always lovely salads and fresh fruit as well as well cooked food. Certainly put ours to shame. And they all sell alcohol.

[cashman]

Originally Posted by Rowlf

Well most of what the services sell is no better. In Europe the services are far better than ours. Always lovely salads and fresh fruit as well as well cooked food. Certainly put ours to shame. And they all sell alcohol.

Yeh i remember the Belgian service i stopped at in the 80s, ordered steak n it was disgusting, when i complained i was informed its Horse meat yeh get served here as steak.

[Less]

Originally Posted by Rowlf

Well most of what the services sell is no better. In Europe the services are far better than ours. Always lovely salads and fresh fruit as well as well cooked food. Certainly put ours to shame. And they all sell alcohol.

Well, there you go, owt with salad and straight away 50% of the population goes yuck.

We are the children of hunters and gatherers, the men ate meat and on the odd occasion they met the women, the girls always ruined it by saying, 'Would you like some lettuce with that?'

The only reason the guys said yes, was because without saying the women had gathered a magnificent feast they wouldn't get their ends away.

Thus showing that the human race only survived because of vegetables, (or was it nagging women?). Eat your greens or your species won't survive!.

[jaysay]

When I used the motorways 7 days a week we never used the service stations for food, we had quite a good idea where all the best greasy spoons where situated

[Less]

Originally Posted by jaysay

When I used the motorways 7 days a week we never used the service stations for food, we had quite a good idea where all the best greasy spoons where situated

Sadly another long lost memory, little wooden huts that wouldn't get a food and health certificate these days, but bloody hell, they knew how to make a bacon and egg butty and your spoon would stand up in a strong mug of tea!

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by Less

Sadly another long lost memory, little wooden huts that wouldn't get a food and health certificate these days, but bloody hell, they knew how to make a bacon and egg butty and your spoon would stand up in a strong mug of tea!

Ya health and safety, have a lot to answer for Less, can't ever remember picking up anything nasty from one of these places, just down to earth very tasty scran

[Gremlin]

Do you remember the little green hut on the A57 east of the M6 near Thelwall viaduct?
I remember it in the very early 60,s and it is still going strong today,
Always full of hungry lorry drivers and usually a motorway patrol car out side and two coppers having a free lunch in the kitchen.

Only two minutes from the motorway for those in the know and far better than the Lymm truck stop other side of the viaduct with rip off prices and couldn't care less staff.

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by Gremlin

Do you remember the little green hut on the A57 east of the M6 near Thelwall viaduct?
I remember it in the very early 60,s and it is still going strong today,
Always full of hungry lorry drivers and usually a motorway patrol car out side and two coppers having a free lunch in the kitchen.

Only two minutes from the motorway for those in the know and far better than the Lymm truck stop other side of the viaduct with rip off prices and couldn't care less staff.

Hell is that still going Gremlin, always made a B line for that if we were working that area

[Gremlin]

Do you remember Dirty Dicks on the A6 at Garstang, not bad grub and the Mayfield opposite?
The Mayfield is now the Crofters hotel and I went to a haulage meeting there recently, lager was £3.80 a pint. I came home sober but still was daft enough to have three pints.
The old Jungle on Shap was a good eatery and a place to rest the motor before the big climb with my old Scammells Highwayman.
That closed the day the M6 over Shap opened and it now a caravan park.

[Less]

Originally Posted by Gremlin

That closed the day the M6 over Shap opened and it now a caravan park.

Bloody caravans!
Another reason to hate them.

[jaysay]

I used to like Dusty Millers which was on the Bury Road out of Rawtenstall on the right just after the first turn of from the M66. a proper greasy spoon,

[Gremlin]

Originally Posted by jaysay

I used to like Dusty Millers which was on the Bury Road out of Rawtenstall on the right just after the first turn of from the M66. a proper greasy spoon,

And just further down the road was the cafe at Hinchliffes yard which was still open about 6 weeks ago when I passed.

Dusty Miller was replaced by houses a while back.

Do you remember the Lazy Trout Jaysay? it was on the A49 some where near Craven Arms.
They had a Minah bird which could beat anybody at swearing.
A pal of mine goes down that road every week or two and he says it is still open.

The good ones will survive.

[Sunflower49]

I can see why they've provoked a reaction but then, places selling alcohol are everywhere near roads anyway. Some petrol service stations have alcoholic drinks on sale now don't they ?I'm sure I have seen some shops in actual service stations selling beer and wine.

They should make sure the drink driving warnings are plentiful and perhaps provide free or discounted soft drinks for drivers.

I actually really like Wetherspoon pubs-I think they've improved a LOT in the last few years and they're a welcome sight when I go to an unfamiliar town. I know there's things on the menu I can consume for a start which is always nice.
I don't think they're bad value either-sure the food isn't brilliant, but you don't expect brilliance for their prices. I've had more untoward experiences with upmarket places where you pay a lot for food, where it should be very good and hasn't been worth the money.