What would you want in a Biker Café?
Discussion
A decent ride there and back is important to me more than anything else. Clean and tidy premises. My favourite places are normally situated at airfields because I like planes and aviation. I’m not too bothered about the cost of the food because I’m not going every week, so an extra quid or two doesn’t make too much difference.
Kemble near Cirencester has a great cafe and some interesting planes including a 747 breakers yard. Wellesbourne has a Vulcan bomber to poke around and Old Warden near Bedford has all sorts of older planes flying in and out.
There’s always a number of other bikes to look at if that’s your thing, the riders tend to be old timers like me though. No patch clubs or doughnuts in the car park.
Kemble near Cirencester has a great cafe and some interesting planes including a 747 breakers yard. Wellesbourne has a Vulcan bomber to poke around and Old Warden near Bedford has all sorts of older planes flying in and out.
There’s always a number of other bikes to look at if that’s your thing, the riders tend to be old timers like me though. No patch clubs or doughnuts in the car park.
Biker9090 said:
Cane back from my first bike night of the year at The Iron Bull on Thursday.
The whole place is now effectively taken over by bolshy t
ts in waistcoats saying "Fukarwe" or "Savages". Shame as it used to be a nice place.
So somewhere that doesn't allow glorified gang colours would be nice......
The whole place is now effectively taken over by bolshy t
ts in waistcoats saying "Fukarwe" or "Savages". Shame as it used to be a nice place.So somewhere that doesn't allow glorified gang colours would be nice......
The Vale Cafe in Rothbury is thankfully devoid of types like that, a good mixture of all sorts gets there on a weekend.
The Cafe isn't a hipster type affair either.
The Iron Bull isn't far from me, I've never been - anywhere called Iron Bull Roadhouse suggests it is somewhere I'll not want to be, looks like I might be correct.
Newlands Corner and Portsdown Hill are probably my favourite places near me - lovely views, both are not exclusively biker stops.
If I'm on my T140 somewhere flat to kick it over is preferable - but that's probably a niche requirement.
Newlands Corner and Portsdown Hill are probably my favourite places near me - lovely views, both are not exclusively biker stops.
If I'm on my T140 somewhere flat to kick it over is preferable - but that's probably a niche requirement.
Personally apart from a decent parking area, a building with a bit of character / memorabilia etc. Good wholesome basic grub that can be ordered quickly and easily.
Every time I go to the Super Sausage there's a queue out the door, so I just don't bother ordering anything.
Went to Caffiene & Machine recently, great venue, but it was being run by teenagers, and it was a disaster area as far as food ordering was concerned. Food was good when it arrived, but it took an hour and a half !!
Every time I go to the Super Sausage there's a queue out the door, so I just don't bother ordering anything.
Went to Caffiene & Machine recently, great venue, but it was being run by teenagers, and it was a disaster area as far as food ordering was concerned. Food was good when it arrived, but it took an hour and a half !!
BlackG7R said:
Went to Caffiene & Machine recently, great venue, but it was being run by teenagers, and it was a disaster area as far as food ordering was concerned. Food was good when it arrived, but it took an hour and a half !!
I had a similar experience. It's a cool place with a nice vibe, not the usual fat, old blokes talking bks. But the staff were a bit gormless and it felt like it was leaning towards being a bit cliquey. The game has changed with car/bike places now. I went to The Motorist for the first time on Sunday. Really nice facilities, cool shop, food was class, great staff, family friendly but thankfully not family-orientated (we were with friends and their kids). 0% beer on draft which is quite rare. Very busy so I ended up in the muddiest part of the field but not really an issue. On the way there I passed Squires, which I'd heard of but never been, and my first thought was 'cant think of anything worse'.
BlackG7R said:
Personally apart from a decent parking area, a building with a bit of character / memorabilia etc. Good wholesome basic grub that can be ordered quickly and easily.
Every time I go to the Super Sausage there's a queue out the door, so I just don't bother ordering anything.
Went to Caffiene & Machine recently, great venue, but it was being run by teenagers, and it was a disaster area as far as food ordering was concerned. Food was good when it arrived, but it took an hour and a half !!
Food at Super Sausage is certainly basic - I went once after it won the MCN "best cafe" award and was not impressed. Every time I go to the Super Sausage there's a queue out the door, so I just don't bother ordering anything.
Went to Caffiene & Machine recently, great venue, but it was being run by teenagers, and it was a disaster area as far as food ordering was concerned. Food was good when it arrived, but it took an hour and a half !!
Common theme of poor food and drink in most bike cafes, probably extreme but exemplified here
https://www.itv.com/news/meridian/2024-04-27/biker...
https://www.itv.com/news/meridian/2024-04-27/biker...
Omaruk said:
Common theme of poor food and drink in most bike cafes, probably extreme but exemplified here
https://www.itv.com/news/meridian/2024-04-27/biker...
UB40.https://www.itv.com/news/meridian/2024-04-27/biker...
I wouldn’t go as far as no bikers, but I try and avoid the the type of place that turns into a static type meet (cars or bikes), the fun comes from riding or driving it rather than listening to people talking through their adenoids about their pride and joy or giving unsolicited opinion.
Just give me lots of parking, clean facilities, a nice atmosphere, and decent slice of cake or bacon roll and coffee for under £10.
Just give me lots of parking, clean facilities, a nice atmosphere, and decent slice of cake or bacon roll and coffee for under £10.
HairyMaclary said:
Basically the Bike Shed in London but not in London.
Plus decent bacon. I went to the 1066 at the weekend and the bacon was crap. Every bike cafe is the same. Cheap greasy spoon ingredients and most of the time not cheap. Squires was the same.
1066 Cafe is apparently a rat hole.Plus decent bacon. I went to the 1066 at the weekend and the bacon was crap. Every bike cafe is the same. Cheap greasy spoon ingredients and most of the time not cheap. Squires was the same.
Edited by JulianHJ on Sunday 28th April 19:32
the-norseman said:
I'm wife/kid free this weekend so thinking about popping to Bike Shed London as its about an hour 20 away, just to go experience it once. The 2 or 3 lads I usually ride with aren't available so going to go as a billy no mates, as long as the weather forecast is correct.
It is a genuinlely good experience there. Yes, it's relatively pricey and hipsterish but it's still fun. Even riding in London is an experience if you've not really done it before. Biker9090 said:
It is a genuinlely good experience there. Yes, it's relatively pricey and hipsterish but it's still fun. Even riding in London is an experience if you've not really done it before.
I've driven at 4am-6am on a Porsche day out but not ridden, hope the weather holds off and I do go. MDUBZ said:
I wouldn’t go as far as no bikers, but I try and avoid the the type of place that turns into a static type meet (cars or bikes), the fun comes from riding or driving it rather than listening to people talking through their adenoids about their pride and joy or giving unsolicited opinion.
Just give me lots of parking, clean facilities, a nice atmosphere, and decent slice of cake or bacon roll and coffee for under £10.
That's partly the problem. It's like mountain bikes. I don't want to be sat or stood around talking about widget. I want to ride. Stop, relax then back on and ride. Not going through the life cycle of a conversation with a stranger - hello nice bike, walk around why you got it, light chat where you realise you have nothing in common, exit point where you are trying to disengage with him but he's hanging on to the chat. Leave..Just give me lots of parking, clean facilities, a nice atmosphere, and decent slice of cake or bacon roll and coffee for under £10.
Yes I know I'm a miserable type..
Hugo Stiglitz said:
That's partly the problem. It's like mountain bikes. I don't want to be sat or stood around talking about widget. I want to ride. Stop, relax then back on and ride. Not going through the life cycle of a conversation with a stranger - hello nice bike, walk around why you got it, light chat where you realise you have nothing in common, exit point where you are trying to disengage with him but he's hanging on to the chat. Leave..
Yes I know I'm a miserable type..
Are you my long lost twin Yes I know I'm a miserable type..
Whilst you are here Hugo, are you the Abarth owner that has fitted a lowering kit to your Sabelt seats?
Very off topic I know
I made the trip down to Bike Shed London today skipped quite a bit of the M1 and went via Dunstable first before dropping onto the M1. As I got off the M1 it still said an hour I thought no chance... even filtering through traffic it still took an hour to get to Shoreditch.
Venue is quite big, staff really friendly, service was very quick and not super expensive either. I had a burger at about £15 and a 0% beer.
I will go again with other people. It does seem like quite a social place, noticed loads of non bikers walking in off the street.
I think they are missing a trick by not having an on site photographer when you come in though.
On a separate note delivery drivers on scooters are an absolute menace, one nearly rear ended me and then a few seconds later he nearly wiped out a cyclist.
Venue is quite big, staff really friendly, service was very quick and not super expensive either. I had a burger at about £15 and a 0% beer.
I will go again with other people. It does seem like quite a social place, noticed loads of non bikers walking in off the street.
I think they are missing a trick by not having an on site photographer when you come in though.
On a separate note delivery drivers on scooters are an absolute menace, one nearly rear ended me and then a few seconds later he nearly wiped out a cyclist.
Gassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff