Last week, the MEN published a story about the rise and fall of Little Chef restaurants that at one time could be found everywhere in Great Britain.
Before McDonald’s, Starbucks and Costa came onto the scene, a rare and much anticipated treat was a stop off at the nearest Little Chef. First opening in 1958, the restaurant chain became famous for its Olympic Breakfasts, which was their take on a full English, as well as its Early Starter and Jubilee Pancakes.
In the 1970s, the roadside restaurant chain’s expansion continued. In and around Greater Manchester, Little Chefs popped up at Astley, Knutsford, Adlington, Disley, Burtonwwod and Piccadilly Station. By the late 1990s, there were 439 Little Chef restaurants serving hungry motorists across the UK.
Read More:Long before McDonald’s and Starbucks sprung up in Manchester, there was the Little Chef
However, in the early 2000s the restaurant’s fortunes began to decline and despite bringing in world renowned chef, Heston Blumenthal, to revamp the restaurants the last remaining Little Chefs closed their doors in 2018. Despite its demise, MEN readers’ comments prove there is still a lot of love for the lost roadside stop off.
Posting on Facebook, Sheila Edna Fleet said: “When we went out on days out we used to plan our rides making sure at least two Little Chefs were on our route.”
Sharron Wright also remembered the restaurant as a holiday treat, posting: “I miss the Little Chef, the Olympic breakfast was king. We would always stop on our way to Cornwall – lots of lovely family memories. This was a treat on the way – oh, the hours of planning that would go into three families in different cars deciding where to stop.”
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Lots of people also remembered receiving free lollipops as well as the pancakes being particular favourites. Mandy Hendry said: “Living in Tyldesley, as a child my step-father always took me and my sister to the Little Chef in Astley on the East Lancs for a weekend treat – it was always the American Pancakes! happy memories.”
Little Chef on East Lancs Road, Astley
(Image: cc-by-sa/2.0 – © Anthony Parkes – geograph.org.uk/p/1782189)
Anita Fuller replied: “Same here, their pancakes with ice cream and fruit were the best. Always wanted to try a Little Chef we had never been to, and the kids got a lolly before leaving.”
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While John McKee recalled: “Oh I loved Little Chef Jubilee pancakes, utterly delicious!!! Pancakes with warm cherries in a cherry sauce with ice cream. They are still my favorite desert. How I wish I could taste these again.”
Some of the stories you commented on also proved it wasn’t just the food that was memorable at a Little Chef.
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Maria Syl said: “I remember babysitting for a couple for their wedding anniversary. They literally never went out. They came back earlier than expected and the wife went straight to bed on her own. Hubby had taken her to the local Little Chef for their anniversary meal. They divorced a few years later.”
Helen Serridge remembered spotting a couple of famous faces in hers: “My daughters loved going to a Little Chef on our way to our holidays in the early ’90s. Places to eat out with children back then were very few, they were pleased one time to see the Chuckle brothers in one too.”
However, although most people remember the restaurants fondly, not everyone was completely enamored by the Little Chefs, particularly when it came it price.
Paul Kelly said: “It was fondly known as The Little Thief because of its high prices.” Margaret Witherden agreed, posting: “My husband always called it ‘Little Con’!!”
Little Chef restaurant in Knutsford, Cheshire. 9th September 1990
(Image: Mirrorpix)
Ben Stead said: “And long before Little Chef there were highway men, at least they wore mask.” While in the story comments on the MEN website, user ‘irate’ left no doubt they were not a fan, posting: “Little Chefs food tasted like cardboard – not like I’ve ever eaten cardboard. That’s why they are no longer around – trash and overpriced.”
