Squires Cafe

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Discussion

8potdave

Original Poster:

2,280 posts

212 months

Tuesday 14th April 2015
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Thinking of heading over there tomorrow evening with a mate or two. Is there a decent crowd at this time of year or does it kick off more next month? Working out whether to go there or just blast around the peaks.

SAS Tom

3,398 posts

173 months

Tuesday 14th April 2015
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A lot of people seem to go. I have no idea why. It's terrible.

When you start biking round here everyone talks about it so you think you should go. Once you arrive you wonder why you actually made the effort.

One Amp Andy

1,462 posts

189 months

Tuesday 14th April 2015
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I never go anywhere near any ' biker cafes ' after getting collared pulling wheelies at some chav girls on the way out of hen & chickens near maghull. Police magnets.They were ugly too, the chavs and the police.
Was going past the Raven on the A41 the other night, on my way down to Plymouth, must've been a bike meet night, stloads of bikes.....and lo and behold, lots of rozzers sneaking about. BTW I was pulling a bitumen tanker, so pottered past immune to the cops as they were fixated on the bikes. Managed a heady 56mph.

Triaguar

831 posts

212 months

Tuesday 14th April 2015
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SAS Tom said:
A lot of people seem to go. I have no idea why. It's terrible.

When you start biking round here everyone talks about it so you think you should go. Once you arrive you wonder why you actually made the effort.
Depends what you want,don't know what you find terrible about it. Certainly would not go for the fine dining, but as a destination for a quick ride out I find it pleasant to meet other bikers to swap ideas and spot some interesting bikes. To the OP if it is sunny tomorrow there will be hundreds of bikes there. Give it a whirl make your own mind up.

Tim85

1,742 posts

134 months

Wednesday 15th April 2015
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I go from time to time. Usually just for,a coffee break if I'm heading out passed that way. Definitly tone it down around there. Police often wait,either side of the entrance. The foods pretty bad but they do make a nice coffee.
It's alright if you just want a chin wag and a brew but the roads getting there aren't anything to go for.

bogie

16,342 posts

271 months

Wednesday 15th April 2015
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Most of these popular bike meet places are similar. Not made it up to Squires yet as the road there is not interesting for me versus some other biker stops on routes

Handy meeting place if you are meeting friends, have coffee/piss and then go for a ride out. Sometimes nice to wander round looking at interesting bikes, but after a couple of visits, usually the same every week

...some seem to have it as part of their routine, and after a 30min ride there spend 2 hours talking and ride home again...every week

its always been like that though as long as I can remember...blokes escaping from their missus and hanging out with mates have just replaced the pub with bike cafe, although sometimes the bike meet is the pub car park too

With so limited free time, I prefer riding, not standing outside a cafe talking wink

Hooli

32,278 posts

199 months

Wednesday 15th April 2015
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Dull roads to ride around there, cops are always about, food is ste & the hot drinks are only warm.

No idea why people go tbh.

MonkeyBusiness

3,912 posts

186 months

Wednesday 15th April 2015
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Hooli said:
Dull roads to ride around there, cops are always about, food is ste & the hot drinks are only warm.
No idea why people go tbh.
This. Went last week and wished I'd headed in the other direction.

Mr OCD

6,388 posts

210 months

Wednesday 15th April 2015
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Only been once and that was to meet an ex-plod motorcycle instructor there for some advanced riding tuition. I didn't think it was any worse than most bike cafes / stops I've been too over the years, but then I don't stop for long as prefer to be riding rather than sitting around talking bks.

Rivington is similar round where I live ... always got bikers going up there and in Summer its rammed solid. But it's st, the roads round it are barely driveable in a car let alone two wheels... but like you say the typical Sunday rider who rides for 30 mins... parks up on their shiny crotch rocket with brand new leathers for 2 hrs then fks off home... I've got a mate who does exactly that, its fking embarrassing! They won't ride far because he doesn't want to get caught out in rain, doesn't want to get bike dirty, doesn't want to put too many miles on it and so on ...

But hell I'm not going to knock it ... how would I buy used low mileage sport bikes otherwise if everyone used them! biggrin

Hooli

32,278 posts

199 months

Wednesday 15th April 2015
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Mr OCD said:
Only been once and that was to meet an ex-plod motorcycle instructor there for some advanced riding tuition. I didn't think it was any worse than most bike cafes / stops I've been too over the years,
There is that. Biker cafes appear to be a standard level of ste for food & roads.

8potdave

Original Poster:

2,280 posts

212 months

Wednesday 15th April 2015
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Well we went in the end and quite enjoyed it. Been away from bikes for a lot of years it was nice to be part of 'the scene'again, but yeah as far as a ride goes the roads were prettt lame. I ended up coming home down the A1 as it was dark but feel like I need another ride tomorrow on some good twisties biggrin

dukeboy749r

2,539 posts

209 months

Thursday 16th April 2015
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Just for once, I'd love to read about a 'bike cafe' that did decent (and reasonably-priced), food, amazing brews, both fancy and not and was in a nice part of the UK, so many people could get there and back, on a selection of routes..

Sigh

A few places exist - but bikers made the cafe/s in Finchingfield popular, they haven't gone out of their way to appeal to bikers

andburg

7,214 posts

168 months

Thursday 16th April 2015
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Hooli said:
Dull roads to ride around there, cops are always about, food is ste & the hot drinks are only warm.

No idea why people go tbh.
amen..

been 3 times, it's ok if you are staying outside and not stopping long.

I prefer to go somewhere clean with half decent food.

At last years Yorkshire Pudding Rally loads went through to squires for breakfast, I left them to it, rode a mile up the A19 and and had a much nicer experience at the strawberry fields cafe.

I don't understand why we as bikers tend to like / accept substandard food in grubby surroundings!

I've always said if i won the lottery I'd buy a big old pub with a flat car park, get the bays repainted for bikes and keep it clean with a simple menu...

Breakfast
Best Breakfast (better bacon / sausage, black pudding)
Vegetarian breakfast (for the weirdos)

Drinks



darkyoung1000

2,025 posts

195 months

Thursday 16th April 2015
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dukeboy749r said:
Just for once, I'd love to read about a 'bike cafe' that did decent (and reasonably-priced), food, amazing brews, both fancy and not and was in a nice part of the UK, so many people could get there and back, on a selection of routes..

Sigh

A few places exist - but bikers made the cafe/s in Finchingfield popular, they haven't gone out of their way to appeal to bikers
I believe sir is looking for Seaways Cafe on the A166 towards Bridlington just East of York....! smile
That gets my vote over Squires every time, good tea, decent food (and puddings), cracking roads and views. Oh yes, and sheep skin rugs.
The only drawback is that it closes at 4pm.

Cheers,
Tom

SteelerSE

1,885 posts

155 months

Thursday 16th April 2015
quotequote all
dukeboy749r said:
Just for once, I'd love to read about a 'bike cafe' that did decent (and reasonably-priced), food, amazing brews, both fancy and not and was in a nice part of the UK, so many people could get there and back, on a selection of routes..

Sigh

A few places exist - but bikers made the cafe/s in Finchingfield popular, they haven't gone out of their way to appeal to bikers
The Deepcut cafe is just round the corner from Pirbright Bends in Surrey - a nice little spot and a classic greasy spoon.

Otherwise the H Cafe near Dorchester (the Oxfordshire one) has some nice roads nearby and is a good spot.

Try http://www.ifancyafryup.co.uk/

Hooli

32,278 posts

199 months

Thursday 16th April 2015
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H cafe used to be Foxes didn't it? Much better food than Squires back then.

TypeR

1,122 posts

238 months

Thursday 16th April 2015
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I went to H cafe once, and never again. Poor food, grubby tables & cutlery and bogs that look like something from a 50's factory. I don't know why bikers put up with it. Put up some bike posters on the wall and you've got a biker cafe? People need to try harder.
Just 2-3 miles down the road from the H is the Waterside Cafe at Benson Lock. Right on the Thames, great food, clean & tidy and very good value too. Well worth a visit if you're in that area.

dukeboy749r

2,539 posts

209 months

Thursday 16th April 2015
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darkyoung1000 said:
I believe sir is looking for Seaways Cafe on the A166 towards Bridlington just East of York....! smile
That gets my vote over Squires every time, good tea, decent food (and puddings), cracking roads and views. Oh yes, and sheep skin rugs.
The only drawback is that it closes at 4pm.

Cheers,
Tom
Superb - cheers Tom!

dukeboy749r

2,539 posts

209 months

Thursday 16th April 2015
quotequote all
SteelerSE said:
The Deepcut cafe is just round the corner from Pirbright Bends in Surrey - a nice little spot and a classic greasy spoon.

Otherwise the H Cafe near Dorchester (the Oxfordshire one) has some nice roads nearby and is a good spot.

Try http://www.ifancyafryup.co.uk/
A proper guide to all such 'good' (recommended) venues is a must then!

John D.

17,702 posts

208 months

Thursday 16th April 2015
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TypeR said:
I went to H cafe once, and never again. Poor food, grubby tables & cutlery and bogs that look like something from a 50's factory. I don't know why bikers put up with it. Put up some bike posters on the wall and you've got a biker cafe? People need to try harder.
Just 2-3 miles down the road from the H is the Waterside Cafe at Benson Lock. Right on the Thames, great food, clean & tidy and very good value too. Well worth a visit if you're in that area.
I go to ogle bikes and a can of coke. Find the roads around H Café fairly dull so don't think it worth the trip often. Never heard of Waterside Café or Benson Lock, will check it out.

Loomies is my favourite as the roads are a bit more fun (still not the greatest). I live between the two (Reading) so at least have the choice.