Motorway Transport Motel
Page 46
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A healthier breakfast than most leaves CM's lean and hungry gourmet, Steve McQueen, still lean but not hungry after a visit to Alveston's Motorway Transport Motel on the A38.
Ah'though owner-driver Rex Coleman ad parked up the night before in a ruckstop some miles down the road, he had driven his low loader to the Motorway Transport Motel and Cafe before having his breakfast.
Simon Rose, a locally-based driver with RJ Cooper From Whitcombe near Gloucester, rates this truckstop breakfast above any others, and says he always makes it his target at breakfast time. The truckstop, is on the A38 at Alveston, and is run by former lorry driver Stephen Dayman and his wife Gloria. With such favourable testimonials, plus evidence drawn from a previous encounter by president of the United Road Transport Union Mike Billing ham, I put on my judge's hat.
It was nice to eat a breakfast For a change without feeling I was taking on board my lunch as well. That's not to say the proportions were insubstantial. The two rashers of lean-cut bacon; a sausage; egg done to a turn; tomatoes; beans; two bitsof fried bread and two rounds of toast testify to that. The price, when accompanied by a more than substantial mug of tea or Fresh brewed coffee, was 22.85.
Somehow the meal was enough without being too heavy on the waistline. Perhaps this was one of the reasons why the cafe recently won a national "Heartbeat Award" for its healthy Food menu. A wide range of extras were available, but I was content to pass on the mushrooms and potatoes listed under the breakfast options. Lunchtime healthy eating includes a range of wholemeal sandwiches, and sweets are heavy on the fresh fruit. After digesting the evidence, I concurred with the opinions of fellow judges Rex and Simon that the food at this cafe was worth the time and effort to skate past the breakfast tables at some of the other truckstops on the way. It also has a traditional homely Feel about it. "I like the warm atmosphere of the place. It's comfortable and there are tablecloths. There are some non-smoking tables and a bar in the evening where you won't see any sign of muddy boots," says Rex, who has been a regular visitor For over eight years. Tradition invades the bedrooms as well. Two single beds in the First, and three in the largest room, evoked memories of overnight stops From bygone days.
However, the rooms were airy and clean, with tea and coffee making facilities included which gave them more of a guest room appearance at a small bed anclbreakfast establishment. So did the overnight b&b price of 215 which includes the full evening meal.
Sleeper cab users might regard 28 as expensive for a stop off, but that includes the evening meal and breakfast. Whichever is chosen, a comfortable stay seems guaranteed by the well-equipped and cared for shower room and toilets, not to mention the attractions of the rather plush looking lounge. Happy hour at 1 9.00hrs offers a pint of beer at V , while the promise of free sandwiches while guests take a sup should preserve the smiles a little longer. The open offer to lay on provisions for drivers arriving after 20.00hrs iF they phone in advance, is a nice touch.
Simon, who has been on the road two years, was particularly impressed with the flavour of the bacon. Rex, who has been on the road longer than he was prepared to admit, concurred and was as generous as a British ice dancing judge watching Torvill and Dean at the Olympics. He awarded top marks to the chef.
At the Norway games, a rutted ice surface contributed to lower than expected marks for some of the competitors in the final placings. In Alveston, a poor surface also influenced the judges, as the potholes in the lorry park robbed the Dayman pair of a [perfect sweep of fives.