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WHIT WOOD TRUCKSTOP

17th February 1994
Page 46
Page 46, 17th February 1994 — WHIT WOOD TRUCKSTOP
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CM'S roving gourmet samples some West Yorkshire hospitality at the Whitwood Truckstop where Rita's all-day breakfast satisfies the heartiest of appetites.

Investment in the Whitwood Truckstop has topped £300,000 since December, thanks to the installation of diesel tanks and pumps as part of a new Keyfuels agency. The vehicle park, which can take 110 trucks, has just been resurfaced at a cost of another £1 00,000.

The signs from the end of the slip road at J31 on the M62 guide you the mile or so along an industrial site earmarked as a freight terminal. Whitwood attracts all sorts: in the entrance hall was a picture of a visiting character from a TV soap who I should have recognised, but as she didn't drive a Range Rover I couldn't put a name to the face.

The cafe had a Friendly atmosphere; a number of the staff were taking a break in the dining area which gave a welcoming feeling.The most appealing sight on reaching the counter, shortly before 15:30hrs on a wet and windy afternoon, was a pot of fresh coffee. I took it as an aperitif before sampling the cuisine.

A French gourmet on the telly was busy trying to convince a band of sceptical drivers to eat sandwiches rather than a business lunch. Ignoring him, I joined several other late-afternoon stragglers by plumping for the all-day breakfast. Two fried eggs, three rashers of bacon, two sausages, fried tomatoes, beans, fried bread, two rounds of toast and that large mug of Fresh coffee came to just £2.40. The bacon was fine, the sausages were tasty although very well done and the eggs were first class.

One of the first things you notice is that everywhere is clean and tidy. Mervyn from GE-BE Transport in Kings Lynn gave Whitwood's a clean bill of health. He was on his first visit, and with a wife who works for his local Environmental Health Department he tends to take hygiene seriously. "I would certainly pull in again now that I've had a look," he said. Southwell didn't hold with the idea of the staff joining customers in the dining area; this correspondent would never eat in a place where the chef went out for lunch!

Ray Tubb, a driver from Motherwell Bridge Services at Immingham, claims to have been one of the First customers through the door when the truckstop opened 10 years ago and he's been a regular ever since. He says it's a good place to stop overnight. Parking up for the night costs £5 (sleeping accommodation is not available) and for entertainment there are two well patronised pool tables, a video lounge and a bar with comfortable lounge where a pint of lager will cost you 21.42.

Fraser Smith, who drives for AE Costin Haulage out of Wolverhampton, had noticed one drawback, however. Although he said the toilets and showers were well maintained, he was concerned about lack of overnight access. "I was once accompanied by the wife who needed to use the facilities at around 2am," he said. "She wasn't best pleased, but you never know when you might need them in a hurry." But on the whole he reckoned it was one of the best truckstops he'd been to. Smith is a regular customer, often visiting twice a week, and is a big fan of the gammon which is "as big as a steak". He also came up with a useful idea for truckstop operators everywhere: 'They could do with a cash point. You can never park outside the bank with one of these rigs."

7 Sound off returns next week.


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